It’s time again for the annual unmasking at the Masquerade Ball, when all the trees get together and reveal their true selves.  All year long they blend together in complacent, side-by-side green homogeneity. Now yellow stands next to red, who stands next to orange. Who knew?

Last year the ball was lavishly attended and everyone had their very best gowns on. This year something seems to have gone amiss. Invitations that were borne only on the wind must have been lost or misdirected because attendance has been spotty.

Some came too early to the party,

while others arrived late.

Some have yet to arrive.

Even the ones who arrived on time seem to be clad in subdued tones of shabby chic. Mother Nature was prudent and somewhat stingy with her favors this year, leaving the trees spent with not much left for their Fall clothing allowance.

There were a few thrifty souls who spent their clothing allowance more wisely.

The masquerade ball isn’t over quite yet. It’s just taking a little longer this year to get the guests to participate. I think they’re each trying to hold out as long as they can, hoping to be the belle of the ball.

Remember the cow that escaped this summer? What follows is the latest article published in our local paper. Talk about having bad cow karma ... sheesh!

It was nearly déjà vu all over again Sunday afternoon when a cow rented from a New York livestock dealer escaped and went for a run near the West Milford Equestrian Center on Union Valley Road.

Frank Battipaglia, owner of the Equestrian Center, said that the bovine escaped after a door on the truck in which it was being transported opened as the vehicle moved down the driveway.

Her excursion was short-lived, however, as she was soon wrangled and returned to Monticello, NY, from which she came with the other cattle rented from dealer Jay Rubin Livestock.

The incident was reminiscent of one nearly six months ago when a cow escaped from an event at the Equestrian Center on May 6.

That day, it had a literal run-in with a Honda on Union Valley Road, but fled the scene of the accident.

That black cow tagged with the number 0, which the center also rented from Jay Rubin Livestock, has been spotted several times over the past several months. Numerous employees and loyal riders at local equestrian centers volunteered their time to play “cowboy” and “cowgirl” and search the woods near the Equestrian Center. Though the mounted volunteers came close to roping her a few times, including once when she was spotted with a bear, she was never caught.

Sightings slowed, however, and the cow has not been spotted for a few months. Those following the story have not given up hope that she will return home.

“They can live open range for a long time,” Battipaglia said on Monday.

—from the West Milford Messenger; story by Rebecca Scanlon, Staff Writer

Overnight and this morning we’ve had over 3 inches of rain! Not sure how much longer the trees will be hanging onto their leaves. This was taken mid-week. More color to show you in the next few days!

The Mirage is a lovely hotel. It it weren’t so pricey I would stay there. You can do the following things:

See Siegfried & Roy’s Royal White Tigers.

Marvel at the lush Polynesian gardens under its 90-foot glass-enclosed atrium.

Visit the Dolphin Habitat where a group of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live. They had a baby, five months old, that we got to observe frolicking around with his Mother. He was too cute but he didn’t hold still long enough for me to take a decent pic.

I saw something last night during the commercial break in Dancing with the Stars that really, truly bothered me. The Rose Petal Cottage. A little girl taking a muffin tin out of a play oven danced across the screen in front of my eyes. Next she was putting the baby down in the crib. After that she started a load of play laundry. Uhm, did I go through a time warp? Isn’t this what little girls did 40 years ago? And I guess they still do today, but this seemed more like brainwashing than play somehow.

Are toy makers trying to subliminally send women a message? That along with the newest reports out that say breast feeding your baby for the first year + makes for better adjusted, healthier babies. Gee, why not make us all stay home and clean the house, bake, do laundry, and nurse our children. Am I being overly sensitive? I am not a feminist by any means, but this is a new century for opportunities for women, isn’t it? No, please don’t take offense if you choose to stay home as your job (because it is a job and a very worthy one at that), but why teach little girls to limit their vision?

I love the press release wording:
“We are truly excited about the introduction of the ROSE PETAL Cottage Collection,” said Kevin Fortey, vice president of marketing for PLAYSKOOL.  “The collection distinctly enables preschool

to actively nurture their imaginations through traditional role-play, in a modern setting that they can make their own.”

Uhm, okay. I think he’s grooming his future daughter-in-law, or maybe a second wife since the first one didn’t work out. [She hated housework.]

How about this:
—“empowers preschool

now have a place where they can set their imaginations free.”
[Note: underscoring is mine]

No mention anywhere of letting Little Brother Johnny play with the Rose Petal Cottage too. Nope. Not allowed. It only mentions

and not children in general. Little boys are not allowed to set their imaginations free in the kitchen, nursery or laundry areas of the world. So much for future chefs, nurses ... well, you get the idea.

I can’t speak for you, but my imagination isn’t “set free” when I do those chores. Well, maybe my imagination takes flight thinking about what fun things I could be doing instead! Does it “empower” me? Uh, no.  Something about this just struck me as not quite right. What do you think, am I over the top?