Slight Detour: Tuesday This and That

Above and below: beautiful sights I saw yesterday shortly after we returned home.

The leaves mean a lot of work ahead, picking them up and removing them from the yard, but right now they are simply stunning as they lie in colorful layers on the ground.

Over at Roxane's, the horses came from the woods when I yelled out their names. I'd like to think they were happy to see me, but horses are not quite as demonstrative as dogs.

Bridie almost ripped her Pet Lodge handler's arm off when she came through the door and eyed Bill. Foster cried and hugged and then cried some more tears of joy on the ride home.

The pups seemed to have adjusted quickly to being back home, but they also kept a close eye on us, lest we disappear again.

Meanwhile, my horses were happy for some nose rubbing and a treat.

We were pleasantly surprised to come home and still enjoy some brilliant fall color.

Leaves have and will continue to drop, but the golden needles of the tamarack groves have added a grand finale dimension to what I understand has been a magnificent fall here.

It's also fall burning season, and some overnight snow in the mountains suggests that it's wise to get those slash piles burned sooner rather than later.

I have a list of ambitious "to do's" on tap for this week. This morning, with the early daylight, I grabbed a big pumpkin, took it to the shop and started sawing away.

Twas a bit of a job, but a final blow or two with an axe split the pumpkin in two. I'll cut it into more wedges and bake it in the oven.

I'm also gung ho about going to the grocery store with a list of items for the tasty vegetable soup from Malin Head. If I can mix the ingredients accurately enough to get that same flavor and consistency, homemade soup will become a staple on the Lovestead menu.

I also picked some apples from our tree before we left. If all goes well, we'll have some apple jelly for the winter.

Lots of fun stuff to try and to do, but the leaf project will be the most urgent. Hope I can get them picked up before snowfall.

It's fun to feel renewed and excited about home projects after a trip.

Now, to get on with them all.

Happy Tuesday.

Our oak tree gets more beautiful every year.

Bill and I are just now getting back into the Gonzaga groove.

Our trip to Ireland put us a bit behind on learning about the new players and watching some preliminary games, but we watched last night's fun game against a scrappy Texas Southern.

We also spent some time yesterday morning on the Gonzaaga campus, picking up our women's season tickets and some women's posters.

The men's poster will be ready for distribution sometime later this week, which means maybe another trip to Spokane to pick up my usual batch.

While we were waiting for the ticket office to open, we met Eric Schollner, Gonzaga's athletic communications assistant.

He's a graduate intern who came to Gonzaga from North Carolina after graduating from Davidson University, and, YES, we chuckled about Davidson graduate Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors great) who ruined the ZAGS day with his sharp shooting several years ago.

We had a really enjoyable visit with Eric, who's a total sports junkie and a very personable young man. He was also nice enough to let us into McCarthey Athletic Complex to get our season tickets a few minutes earlier than we expected.

BTW: Eric's definitely happy to be a ZAG.

We also met this loving and friendly Border Collie, walking with her mom at our Spokane hotel yesterday.

Of course, a pretty Border Collie can always serve as a conversation starter, and it was fun to meet Heather who's a horse lover and artist from Republic, Wash.

Tonight's the night to forget cooking dinner and go to Sweet Lou's where you'll not only get a good meal, but you'll be supporting our two high school basketball teams.

And, more than likely, you'll get to meet the players and their coaches.

GO, BULLDOGS. GO to Sweet Lou's.