Daydreaming about autumn.

[Murfreesboro]

Oh, how beautiful!

[Andybev01]

The massive cold front in the middle of the country is pushing all of the smoke from the western fires to us on the coast.

I have to as it, it's spooky-cool.

It even compliments my plaid curtains.

[Murfreesboro]

I heard about fires in Oregon this morning and thought about you, Andy! I hope the smoke is all you get.

Those photos are indeed spooky cool!

[Andybev01]

There are a couple of worrisome conflagrations making there way to our neck of the woods, but there is a major river between us and them.

Also the winds are supposed to turn back to the east by tomorrow.

[Murfreesboro]

Is your town on the coast, Andy? My boys and I drove down the coast from Astoria to the dunes. So beautiful! It is more immediate to me now when I hear about places being endangered where I have recently traveled.

It was also a shock to me to hear about snow in Denver this week. We overnighted there on Aug 13.

[Andybev01]

My town is in the Willamette valley, north of Eugene.

I had read your travel diary when you posted it, and I would have loved to have met you in Florence.

It's only an hour away, and my brother has a vacation cabin in town.

[Murfreesboro]

Ah! Maybe another trip.

My boys and I were making up our itinerary as we went. We didn't know we would spend the night in Florence until we did it. Originally we had planned to camp at Crater Lake, but after we reached the ocean we felt it was a shame to run away from it immediately. It was the first time my younger son had ever seen the Pacific.

[Andybev01]

I completely understand, you could spend a lifetime exploring the PNW.

[Pumpkin_Head]

I feel so bad for all those suffering because of those wild fires, though.

Mike

[Andybev01]

I was wandering around the aisles at Dollar Tree today when I rounded the corner and BAM:

[Pumpkin_Head]

That looks like a pretty good find. I know that the Dollar Store here in Streator, and various others will start selling Halloween merch in the 2nd half of August. It seems that you have to really hurry if you want to find the best items as everything is completely picked over by mid October.

Online is a great way to shop IMHO, though I do like to go to 'brick & mortar' stores because it keeps people employed, and I can bring my merch home right away. I don't have for the delivery to arrive.

Mike

[HalloweenDot]

That is definitely really early, but I'm not complaining!

[Andybev01]

Our forecast for today's 112 which would be our all-time historic high of 108 degrees.

This really makes me Jones for autumn.

[Pumpkin_Head]

Actually I do like Autumn, but I am really enjoying Summer this year. I'm having guests over for 4th of July music, barbecue and fireworks, and I'm really looking forward to that.

I have my stash of fireworks purchased and ready to go next Sunday. Hopefully the weather will decide to cooperate. We've had torrential rain these last few days. It's like another 1993.

Mike

[Andybev01]

Another find from Instagram.