OOPS!

I forgot to add my Gratuitous Critter picture to my Apple Pie post below.  So here it is:

"Did you say pie?"

APPLE PIE

Actually it's even better than that.  It's an apple pie with dried Craisins (an amalgamation of raisins and cranberries).

(Later: SWMBO informed me there are no raisins connected with Craisins.  They're just dehydrated cranberries.)

SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) made it yesterday afternoon. The apples within are a combination of Fuji and Granny Smith.

Now pair a slice of warm pie with some cold ice cream and you've got Nirvana.

Yummers!

VETERANS' DAY

Even in Iraq and Afghanistan it's not all shooting and getting shot at. There are also USO shows from time to time.  My grandson, of whom I'm immensely proud, Sgt. Russell Milburn, spent 12 years in the U.S. Army in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Along the way he got to have some fun.

With Louis Black . . . 

. . . and with Robin Williams.

But those were only rays of sunshine in some otherwise dangerous and dreary days.  I salute you, Russell, and thank you for your service.

WHEW!

What a relief.  The snow passed us by.  Oh we had a few flakes late yesterday afternoon but nothing stuck and the storm is now up in Colorado.

But it's a mighty crispy day.  42 degrees F. out there at high noon.  When I rose from the arms of Morpheus early this morning the temperature was sitting on the overnight low: 28 degrees.  

SWMBO had me unhook the hoses from our two outdoor water taps as the temperature was dropping last night so no damage there.  But her basil plant, which she neglected to bring into the house, got crisped.

It's a long way from those long snowbound winters I grew up with in North Dakota many years ago.  I can remember building snow forts, sliding off the second floor roof of our house directly onto huge drifts, and ice-skating for hours - - all in 20 below temperatures.  When I'd come inside, I'd sit on our steam radiator to warm my young and nearly frozen bones.  Those were the days!  But I couldn't handle those icy temperatures now.  Among other things I've lived in Arizona too many years.

I remember our first Christmas in Phoenix 40 years ago.  I posed for a photograph in the community swimming pool with a holly wreath on my head and holding a glass of champagne.  The family back in North Dakota simultaneously loved and hated that picture and finally got around to telling me I didn't have to keep telling them about my warm weather as they chilled through December and January and February and March.

Ah well.  Speaking of the arms of Morpheus, take a look at this Gratuitous Critter picture of a turtle apparently seeking warmth in a clutch of puppies!

B-R-R-R-R-R!!!

An early winter storm is scheduled to move through the northern part of Arizona this weekend.

It looked like it was already starting this morning.

The sky is alive with clouds moving briskly and much cooler temperatures.

There's a 30 degree temperature drop and some snow forecast.

I'm staying inside.

It looks like my Gratuitous Critter is feeling the chill also.

ANOTHER DAY

It's another day in the world.  We're all (most of us anyway) still alive.  Autumn continues with blue skies and sunshine here.

But wait!  An early winter storm is headed for Arizona this weekend. Temperatures are expected to drop 30 degrees.  Snow is predicted for the northern part of the state.  Perhaps a trace even here.  The seasons (as was proven by the Northeaster storm on the upper East Coast) continue revolving, regardless of man and his political battles.

By the way, I suppose . . since the Republicans did pretty well in Arizona in Tuesday's election . . that I can show you the Gratuitous Critter picture I had on hand for them.

THE DAY AFTER

An interesting election note: Representative Connie Mack lost his U.S. Senate bid in Florida to Bill Nelson.  But Mack's wife, Mary Bono Mack, also lost her reelection bid to the House.  That's two sizeable salaries lost in one family.  'Course they both have big pensions and probably are both independently wealthy.  A better retirement than mine!

Earlier in the year, Republicans had hoped to take control of the U.S. Senate.  When they nominated Tea Party candidates like Mourdock in Indiana and Akin in Missouri, they doomed that plan.  Instead of gaining control, they lost seats to Democrats.  Donnelly in Indiana, McCaskill in Missouri, as well as Warren in Massachusetts, Tester hanging on in Montana, Heitkamp apparently winning in North Dakota, Klobuchar in Minnesota, Murphy in Connecticut.  When the Democrats are joined by several Independent victors, they're likely to have a 56 to 44 edge in the Senate.

So it was a pretty good day for Democrats.  Of course, here in my state of Arizona, not so good.  Jake Flake defeated Richard Carmona for the Senate, Romney was a large winner of the state and 80 year old "toughest sheriff in the Universe" Joe Arpaio won reelection to a sixth term.

Oh well.  It's over.  Finally.  And the 2016 campaign for President begins today.  Yegods.  I'm still tired from this year's.

But to all of those Republicans, especially Tea Partiers, who were so sure about this year's results, I offer today's Gratuitous Critter picture.