Excitement!

Monday morning we wake to a deep rumbling sound out on the river. A bright white tug is pushing a short barge close to shore. They stop and lower those huge pilings into the soft mud below; the tug disengages, then turns westward leaving a crew of men. They're building our neighbor's dock.

I've been spellbound. The process has completely captivated me this week. I've taken close to 400 photos and the crew has only just begun. They're still working on the lower level's iron skeleton. Watching them weld the iron is amazing. These guys have it down to a science; it's a well-rehearsed theater. I promise my blog won't turn into a play-by-play, but I'll update you from time to time.

The upper shot shows their arrival and the lower shot is how they left it before the rains came today. The tug came back, hitched up the barge and headed for the safety of the bay during our storms. They'll be back when the lake calms down.

So this post isn't about buckeyes or butterflies, buttercups or baking, babies or birds, but it sure is bodaciously fun! (...to me, anyway!)

Orange

This morning dawned chilly and still, with temperatures in the low 40's. A ghostly mist is rising from the warm lake, shrouding everything in mystery. The barge's thrumming engines reached our ears long before its silhouette emerged from the fog. Autumn is a magical time. Pumpkin orange mornings match the orange mums appearing in cheery pots on front porches, matching the orange tips on the leaves, matching the orange Jack O'Lanterns appearing all around from local pumpkin patches. I love October.