Change

   Two major changes this week.  Okay, maybe not major, but changes nevertheless.  Changing the clocks.  And the change of seasons. 
   I'll start with that semi-annual dance of trying to make more use of daylight hours, by saving some for later.  Actually,  not so much semi-annual any more.  I don't know, should I use the phrase semi-annual, even for things that happen at weird intervals, but still only twice a year, or is there a better phrase?  Anyway  the change is tonight.  It used to coincide with the Church's General Conference, at least within one week of Conference either way.  I don't remember when exactly, but within the last few years, it was "adjusted" to earlier in the spring, and later in the fall.  If I am smart, I will use the change "backwards", and get an extra hour of sleep.  If I am "normal", I will probably stay up a bit later than usual, and feel it all day tomorrow.
     As a history nut, I understand the origins of the practice, but I am also one who believes it is a practice that is no longer useful.  Does it serve any real purpose anymore?  Is someone making money off of it?  Does it really help "save" daylight?   Or is it still useful saving energy by shifting lighting and heating concerns in "afterwork activities"?  I love the old joke about the old Indian man when told about Daylight saving time.  Responds with "only the government would believe that cutting the end off the blanket, and sewing it to the other end makes the blanket longer".
   The other change is much more fun.  Fall.  Has long been high on my list.  Warm enough to still do stuff outside, but cool enough that you can still do stuff outside.  Yes, I enjoy hot sunny days at the lake.  Don't have a boat, and family has never been invited to spend the day on a boat, but a good long swim and some cliff jumping is a great time!
   However, off the lake, outside activities in Arkansas require sweating.  I love the fact that we are green.  I love not feeling like water is ever a real worry.  I wish it could come without the high humidity.  Oh, well.
   Fall, on the other hand, allows many of those same outdoor activities, with less humidity, more common breezes, and general weather patterns that I just love.  Oh, and don't forget the colors.

 

This year, the change was fast.  We had a fairly long summer.  It stayed warm unseasonably late for our part of Arkansas.  It had been somewhat dry, so many of us worried that the Fall change would be minimal.  It does affect Fall tourism in our state, since many travelers come to see the leaves change.  These pictures show why.

 

 

 

 

It happened this week!  Last week, there were some hints of change.  The gums and maples were slowly shifting to tones of red, other trees were losing their bright green of summer, and changing over to tones of yellow.  But the dominant view was still green.

 

   Then, we have had some rain, the temperatures dropped into cool ranges down into the 40's at night, 50's through mid 70's in the day, and this week.......THE CHANGE!

 

Monday, the picture was normal.  Tuesday, still mostly greens, but by Halloween  the picture had changed, and now many of the trees behind our house are nearly bare.  Leaves will fall for weeks to come, and the colors will still be nice, but the view was Thursday, Friday and today.  By this time next week,  who knows?  Winter will come, and with it other natural beauties that give this great state its nickname.  We ARE the Natural State!