Celebrating Fall

One hundred ninety-six miles later and we were home again where I found this beautiful card from Kari waiting for me. It's so gorgeous and the photo doesn't quite do it justice. Thank you so much, Kari! I simply love it. Imagine it perched in my header because that's where it is between the posies and the pumpkin.

This is going to be such a photo rich post that I will try not to make it text rich as well. Here's the basic story...John felt that the foliage would be better north of here so we struck off for Rangeley via

's hometown. You'll see the theater where he got his start and a picture of the Municipal Office. (No, I don't know him, but I know a number of people who do. It's a two degrees of separation thing.)

A detour high on a ridge provided some of my favorite pics of the day of wagons and mums and pumpkins. We stopped to pick up Italians at Jack's and then went to Sandy River for a picnic. We climbed through the forest to find the old swimming hole where I used to allow my children to jump thirty feet for a dip...ackkkk!

The foliage was much better north of here and, because of construction on Rt.4, we were able to enjoy it even more. We hadn't realized that Rt.4 is a dead end at a boat marina on Rangelely Lake, but we found our way again past Suzanne's vegetable stand over Height of Land and then made our way home. Basically, we traveled in a big circle. The day ended with ice cream, as all perfect days do, and the local Farmer's Market.

We had a fun day! Thanks for looking at my pictures. You may click on any to enlarge. Since Blogger is really smoking after all this uploading, I may not post for a few days, but I'll be around to visit you soon.

Blogroll Fun

Say, I don't know what's going on with my blogroll, but I love it! I didn't do anything different to it since I first set it up the new way a few days ago (except for changing the font colors) and now, as of yesterday, I have these wonderful little pictures. It has been quite distracting sometimes, I confess, but what's not to love about being enticed by such lovelies?





l–r Penny, Lovella, Teresa, Miss Mari-Nanci


I have been highly distracted since visiting Melissa's 20 Things to Treasure in Autumn, too. Oh my! The beautiful blogs out there. They go on and on forever! I've just reached my own name on the list and hope to get to all who participate. Speaking of which, dear ones, Melissa says that anyone can keep right on signing up. So do it if you're at all interested. I think that I've found something new on every single list.

We're off today for a leaf peeping tour and a #14 from said list. Hopefully, I'll have some good pictures to share before week's end.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Final Blooms of Summer

This is a blatant rip-off of a photo that was posted at Turkey Feathers called September Days. I loved that photo so much that I tried to emulate it in some small way.

Busy Tuesday, you have a great one.

Twenty Little Things to Treasure in Autumn

Melissa has been sponsoring 20 Little Things to Treasure in Autumn at The Inspired Room. Though I'm late to the party, it's been fun to pull some thoughts together.

1. Autumn colors — the crimsons, yellows, and oranges that fade to russets, golds, and coppers
2. Fresh, crisp air
3. The scent of burning leaves and woodsmoke
4. Cozy bedding — quilts and fleece blankets and sheets
5. My favorite flannel nighty
6. The opening of the tree canopy revealing views lost for months
7. Long walks through fallen leaves — swish, swish, swish
8. Apples, pumpkins, and the gathering of harvest foods
9. Reading beneath a throw while curled up on the sofa
10. The slant of light that enters the house from a sun now lower in the sky
11. ***Hot drinks sipped by candle glow in the longer evening
12. Baking the first apple pie and the first pumpkin pie
13. Fryeburg Fair Day
14. An autumn picnic
15. A hayride to the top of Hall's Hill where we can view the foliage and the White Mountains while the harvest moon rises
16. Mums, glorious mums
17. Farmer Whiting's Market
18. Christmas Fairs
19. The little ones on their way to school chattering like squirrels
20. The honking of Canadian geese on their way to warmer climes

Source allowed to stand

Source allowed to stand


***




Pumpkin Spice Mocha

Ingredients per cup:
* 2/3 cup coffee
* 1/3 cup cream or half and half
* 1 1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1 TBS Splenda or sugar
* 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
* Whipped cream for top, if desired

Brew coffee and add remaining ingredients. May need to reheat in the microwave for desired temperature. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

Have a wonderful Monday and don't forget to visit Melissa!

Give Me Jesus

In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise, give me Jesus...

So many have experienced the storms of life this past week, both figuratively and literally. Brin of My Messy, Thrilling Life posted this powerful video of Hurricane Ike images. It was made by her uncle. "Give Me Jesus," sung by Fernando Ortega, is playing in the background. Perhaps the song is based on Philippians 3:8 where it says "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

It's good to know that things don't remain bleak forever.

Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
~Psalm 30:5


Source

My prayer for all the victims of the storms has been that the Lord will restore what has been taken away.

Have a blessed Sunday and a blessed beginning to a brand new week.

("Give Me Jesus" has been added to my playlist just for the weekend. ETA: Nope, longer!)

(Comments are off.)