Showtime

 

The end of the year means the colors of fall are bursting out.  Leaves will be filling up gutters n baskets.  Bright colors on the wall, gripping the fence, fluttering across the roads.

Soon the rods and custom cars will roll back into their cocoons for the winter.  With the fluffy white stuff on the high mountain peaks brings the gravel and salt.  The bane of the meticulous car jockey.

These show are mostly Ford and Chevy jalopies but mixed in among them are some to the beat of a different drummer.

The passion of winter, days gone by, memories relived, sock hoppin, DJ belchin, tunes palyin, it was a different time years ago.

Take a day, rewind the calendar, yearn for a simpler time when happiness was cruisin.

Crisp Fall Approaching

 

The heat is subsiding and the days are shorter.  The dog days of summer have departed.  Nights are almost cold, mid 40’s.  Time to explore the roadside stands.  The fruits of summer are on stands in the Valley.

No longer is the produce hauled by the rick.  The stand has been by the road for over a half century.  The family still goes out and digs in the dirt and bring their goods to market.  There are some things that will always remain the same.  Dig in the dirt, put some seeds in, add some water, pull the weeds, harvest and there are rewards for hard work.

Ever since recorded time man has tilled the soil for his livelihood.

The colors of fall are very distinctive.

Whether they harvest is for decoration or function.  Fall is the theme of cool crisp air.  No longer is there the fresh smell of burning leaves.  Store the fruits of summer away in a cool place and the fruits will last through the winter. 

Man is at the basic with nature.  No aspirations of control for nature has the rhythm one has to follow.  The pulse of life moves at its pace

The drought continues.  The ground is parched.  The pocket book feeling pinched.  weeds are brown.  Dirt is powder.  Dust swirls into the air.  Prayers for a snowy winter.

Some Steam

 

Summer is rolling to a close but it is no  longer the signal to start school.  Lots of things around Labor Day have been lost because of the early school starts.  Oh well, hope you had a great summer and Labor Day was kind of anti-climaniatic.

Union Pacific has a pair of big steam engines they run for various public relations.  Recently it was in Iowa for the state fair.  On its return trip to Cheyenne,Wy it came through here.  I drove out to Kansas and followed most of the way back to Denver.  It was a kick.  I am posting a few pics on here from my adventure.

The sun sets into the smoky haze near the Smoky Hill River.

The next morning it returned amid the haze of the smoke.

Sa the sun rose so did the steam off the engine.  early morning preparations have begun to get the big brute ready for the trip.

Up out of the Smoky Valley she climbs, spewing black smoke.  The sun has a glorious shimmer on the black beauty.

Side rods churn, pistons pop, steam propels, there is a magic.

When the engine stops for servicing, the spectators get up close and personal with the engine.

These old giants of railroading past are amazing to watch.  I also understand why they were replaced.  They take lots of feeding and work to keep em going.

 

Have a great one getting ready for Fall and the changes of the season…… Giddy up Ironhorse.