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[caption id="attachment_1260" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Exceptional foliage foreplay. Too bad I couldn&#39;t stick around until the end. "]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA1002011.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1260" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/PA1002011-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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<p>Day 2 of Nature Extravaganza with David (aka Captain Adventure) involved schlepping up the switchbacks to cool and breezy Flagstaff, Arizona. </p>

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<p>You may recall from yesterday's post that I craved an autumnal experience to remember, and the user-friendly <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/fall-colors/fall_colors.shtml" target="_blank"><strong>Coconino National Forest website</strong></a> promised me a <em>climax</em> of colors during the 2nd weekend of October.  What woman could resist the promise of a colorful climax? </p>

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<p>Unfortunately, after much hype and foreplay, Coconino didn't deliver.  Hmph.  Very<em> anti</em>-climactic, if you ask me.</p>

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<p>Captain Adventure, the eternal optimist, announced a change of plans!  We would make lemons into lemonade! </p>

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<p>I, the eternal smart ass, announced that squeezing lemons into lemonade is sooooo cliché.  Instead, we would turn lemons into lemon cream pie! </p>

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<p>Captain Adventure shot me a "What planet are you from?" look.  (It's o.k.  I'm used to it. )</p>

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<p>He then kindly obliged with, "I love lemon cream pie!" </p>

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<p>Ingredients for Day 26's Lemon Cream Pie:</p>

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<ul>
	<li>Flagstaff forest</li>
	<li>Hiking trail </li>
	<li>Yellow Aspens climaxing in sweet harmony</li>
	<li>Good company</li>
	<li>Fresh Air</li>
	<li>65 degrees and sunshine</li>
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<p>Should you find yourself short on yellow Aspens, simply substitute and get turned on by another autumn staple -- multitudes of pine cones. </p>

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<p>Ahhhhhh...</p>