Color Finally Arrives

Leaves at Trail of Tears State ParkI was surprised at how little color there was this year as I’ve driven across the country. It wasn’t until last week around Louisville that reds and yellows started popping up.

We had a serious storm (tornado sirens and the whole deal) blow through Cape a couple of nights ago, so I thought most of the leaves would be blown off the trees before they had a chance to show their stuff.

Just the opposite happened: it was like the wind slapped the trees around and woke them up that winter was coming. Mother, Curator Jessica and I meandered all over the place Saturday afternoon, marveling at the changes that 48 hours had made. Jessica ignored my “are you kidding?” look and decided we should climb out on the breakwater off the Trail of Tears State Park marina. Click on the image to make it larger.

I’m glad we went. The sun kept popping in and out of the clouds until just the right combination got stirred in.

We’re on our way to St. Louis in the morning so she can hop on a plane back to Ohio and her husband and cat. I won’t tell you which one she seems to have missed more.

I’m sure we’ll stop along the way to appreciate even more color. Stay tuned.

Hope for Esquire?

Esquire Theater 11-01-2013I’ve seen some activity around the old Esquire Theater lately, but didn’t have time enough to stop to ask what was going on before Friday.

Is this going to be another tease where we think good things are going to happen or is it being prepped to become yet another SEMO parking lot.

Alas, if may be more of the tease variety. A workman told me that they were just doing routine maintenance  to make the place look a little better.

Earlier Esquire stories