Happy Halloween!

No tricks. Many treats.

Costumes for little ones (and big) and party time on one closed street here in Black Mountain NC...where many treats are handed out. Ironically it's Church Street...but only has the side of the Methodist Church to attest to it's name.  Most other churches in town are on Montreat St. One nearby church has offered it's parking lot to the kids' family cars...and set up tables for those with treats to share them.

It was rainy at noon on Tuesday at the Lakeview Center...but some color had finally appeared on trees and bushes!

 By Wednesday morning the apartment complex had at least one bright tree

 A salute to our Canadian friends, by our own little maple leaves.

The maples look fine, but dogwoods have washed out this year.  Here's a really long train with 4 engines pulling it (I didn't wait to see how many were pushing it.

And along State Street (from the History Museum) there's now some color.  I've headed to other mountain areas soon to check for more color (see yesterday's day trip photos!)

And for those who celebrate the thinning of the veils between the worlds, may your ancestors feel your love and bring you many blessings in the next turning of the wheel.

A local day-trip

 Just after turning onto the Blue Ridge Parkway from US 276 outside of Brevard NC, there's the Looking Glass Falls on your right.  Easy to park and look at, and if you're interested in the walk down the stairs, it's easy enough to get to (and of course walk back up the stairs!)

 we enjoyed wonderful colors in the trees all along the parkway on Mon. Oct 28, 2019.

 But our aim was to go have a much Munch at the Pisgah Inn before it closes for the season on Oct 31.

 we were told at 1:45 that they were taking no more names for the waiting list, as they had so many already waiting and they stopped serving lunch at 3:30.  So we had the option of waiting till they opened for dinner at 5:00 pm, or getting "take out." And that's what we did...and were able to sit immediately in the sandwich shop without waiting. My friend got a chef's salad, and I had a veggie burger with some awful fries that were overly spiced and didn't stay hot in temperature.  But my real goal was to get a slice of French Silk Pie, so I was happy.

A nearby case showed Bruce O'Connell, who had rescued me when I wanted a glass of water, having finished off my ale.  He brought me a pitcher and poured it himself. The person at the counter only had bottled water for sale.

 I admit I didn't have quite as nice of a view as those in the main dining room, seeing this montage of photoes of older inns.

 It has upgraded the patio in the last few years, but it's hard to believe that it looked like some of these pictures (of the Inn, as well as the restaurant.)

 After lunch we mingled with the crowd still waiting to get in for their lunches...

  Fall foliage is the name of the game, which attracts Leaf-Peepers, and we were part of that crowd.

 There's a helicopter just over the horizon, which flew by our group.

 There goes the helicopter!

 The walk to the terrace between the hotel and the restaurant.

 Steps going up to the restaurant.

 We had found parking that was not too far, but just look at those fir trees poking their green heads above the oaks which are in full color!

 As we pulled into an overlook, I only had eyes for this stunning Sourwood tree, from which local honey is made and often sells out quickly.

OK, I'm going to edit down from the original 42 photos, so you won't fall asleep!

Another sunset with moon and Jupiter

 Grand-dog Zora on the front porch...

 While son does some serious scrolling on his phone...

Looking at the many faces of Mesa Verde

 Closest neighbor has 3 dogs and chickens which I hear in the mornings.

 The backside of Mesa Verde has many faces as the day goes by.

 Then the moon appears after a gorgeous sunset  which I missed, over Sleeping Ute Mountain.

Someone told me later that the planet in conjunction with the moon had been Jupiter.  I've never seen it with my naked eye! (I'm still betting on Mars or Venus.)

Four Corners and the moon

 There was the moon to the south as we drove home back to Colorado...past the Four Corners turnoff. We said we'd not visit it, and just say we didn't. The meeting of the 4 states is commemorated on the ground, and we figured we'd not really enjoy it after dark.