Scarlet
Burnt Sienna
Tangerine
Russet
Goldenrod
Ruby
Colors of Autumn

Scuffling my feet along my street at dusk tonight, I was absorbed by Autumn.
I remembered running and jumping and playing....the scent of woodsmoke
drifting across alleys and yards used to be how we knew Autumn. Luckily no one in
my neighborhood uses an electric leaf blower....so it is just the scratching of
the old metal leaf rake across the dry, crisp leaves. Oh, jeweled Autumn.

Where have I been these past three weeks? Make a cup of tea or cocoa with
marshmallows and travel back with me.

Jonesboro, Tennessee. The heartbeat of the storytelling community with
tents and folks (thousands of them) listening to stories from morning til after
midnight....sharing stories with friends I only see once in a year but are drawn
to because of story...walking down the middle of the oldest street in
Tennessee with story and music on both sides of me like a kaleidoscope of color and
sound.

Mount LeConte, North Carolina. Hiking 8 miles uphill with Philip through the
Smoky Mountains with breathtaking beauty. I was the last to arrive in our
group of 10..Philip, usually being the first stayed by my side. (There were
moments that being eaten by a bear was preferable!) But I did make it..to the
top. There was no electricity in the cabins or the lodge, but dinner was family
style with red and white checked tablecloths and kerosene lanterns..dinner of
mashed potatoes and beef and chocolate chip cookies, I don't think anything
ever tasted so wonderful. We played scrabble by lantern light, washed up at
the pump outside the cabin, brushing our teeth into the bushes, dispensing all
food into metal containers before the bears found our leftover granola bars and
almonds, said our good nights before a multitude of stars and slept on crisp
white sheets. Following a breakfast of pancakes and ham, the journey down.
We took a different trail only five and a half miles and stunningly beautiful.

Asheville, North Carolina. Visiting with Philip's son and family..listening
to Zoe practice her piece for the Sound of Music, sharing dinner and stories.

The Airport. Saying Good Bye....once again.

Fort Wayne, Indiana. My sister, Jo, picking me up at the airport and
listening to all the stories, keeping me talking so I wouldn't cry.

Indianapolis, Indiana. The 17th annual Hoosier Storytelling Festival. Once
again with my Indiana friends and new ones from around the country. Stories
from early until late for five days...trying to find clean clothes, (does
airing out in the car for two days count??) Telling stories on and off the stage.

Angola, Indiana. Home again. School. Writing. The pumpkin patch with
Matthew, holding tight to little Jonah...watching nightfall come early...lighting
candles...thinking...remembering...missing all of you.

Woodsmoke
Wine Sap Apples
Carved Pumpkins
Dry Leaves
Candle Wax
Vegetable Soup
Scent of Autumn

Love to all, Lou Ann