Driving on

Ah, how much do I feel like writing when the internet just acted up and I lost this blog (or what was going to be this blog).

What was the topic? Think shades of green, umber, gold, rust and brown. Think of pumpkins, gourds, corn in their husks, soybeans and millet. A change in the air.

I had longing flowing sentences about the changing colors and the joy of driving over a hill and being presented with the stereotypical colors of fall in all their glory.

I have a soft spot in my heart for fall. I don't necessarily mean the colors of the northeast because in fact I have never really experienced them at their peak. Coming from Florida the change of seasons are often subtle. Some claim, in fact, that Florida does not really have any seasons. I believe that this is a misconception. Often this comes from those who do not take the time to see the incredible subtleties that take place between seasons. Florida (and I don't mean the paved areas) is not often for the faint of heart. I have visited and worked in quite a few states. Florida continues to rank as one of the less forgiving environments but... it does have its beauty. The change of seasons is marked by changes in the colors of its flowers and the changing shades of greens and brown. One of my favorite changes takes place among the Cypress. The Cypress trees turn the most wonderful shade of rust. Look for the changes maybe you are missing them.

Sunday I drove through some beautiful areas of Illinois on the way to Cave-in-Rock, Illinois. The cavern located along the sandstone bluffs of the Ohio River is impressive. The opening is the result of massive amounts of water flooding and receding along the river. Although the cavern is impressive there are just as many incredible natural formations on the outside. It is fascinating to look at the geology and formation of the sandstone. I often come across worked chert in the form of stone tools at the archaeology sites I work at. It is thus easy to forget (I just have not happened to be at quarry sites doing work) how it occurs naturally, as lenses and nodules. Therefore, it was nice seeing these in plain site along the banks of the Ohio.

Appreciate what is around you.