Come and Gone: Nora's First October

Two additional skunk photos added Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

I have written before that I am prone to meloncholy in the fall, but this particular autumn has been overshadowed with many other things large and small. The large things are around me—unsettling at times—but not so much that my little granddaughter can't bring me joy and turn my heavy sighs to laughter. Her name is Nora, and this was her first October.

This is her at the Lewis Orchard with Mom and Dad three weeks ago. The apples were huge, plentiful, and perfect for eating on the spot.
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That day trip began with our annual trek to Country Dairy. Contrary to the sign, it is not an arm store (for prosthetic limbs) but a farm store with a cafe on the grounds where customers get a bottomles glass of ice cold milk with every meal. The old railroad track in front of the farm has been made into a great bicycle trail.

Just down the road from Country Dairy is another farm, famous for its fall activities. Nora wasn’t the least bit afraid of the zebra, the elephant, the camel, and even this goat.

She picked out a pumpkin last week...

...and last night, while hundreds of Trick-or-Treaters came running to our porch, they were greeted by this little skunk.

She wore her skunk costume for about an hour, but then she really got "into character," and the little stinker had to go inside to get her diaper changed.

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Emily (Nora's mom) bought the costume on Ebay. I'd swear she was a giant skunk trying to get away from Pepé Le Pew.
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