Some years are better than others for Autumn foliage. I can’t be sure if this season’s colors are especially vibrant or if we just happened to hit a perfect stretch in a perfect location. For whatever reason, we recently experienced peak Autumn foliage on a quick visit to Western Mass. The colors were spectacular! On this Halloween Day, I’d like to share with you a slice of Autumn’s vibrant color palette, while wishing you a happy holiday!
I may have mentioned Ms. Is enjoys animals… like, pull-the-car-over likes animals. So, of course, in choosing a farm stand whilst weekend adventuring, we had to go to the farm stand with the animals!
The overcast sky and intermittent spitting kept the folks away, so we enjoyed the place to ourselves. We fed, pet and mixed it up with the animals. It was great.
But I had serious matters to attend to…
APPLES!!!
Ms. IS can’t have them, while I can’t get enough of them this time of year. I enjoy most varieties, but I like the early season ones most and good ‘ol McIntosh is my favorite.
It’s football weather for sure when I’m snapping away on a tart mac! It’s a bittersweet feeling — or is that a tart and sweet feeling? Summer slinks away, but Fall’s brief, yet glorious window is wide open.
Gotta go out and enjoy it!
Apples also fascinate me because they are why and how I discovered grafting techniques. Grafting is a book worthy topic itself (and I’m eager to read more!), but I’m only just scratching the surface thus far. I’d like to conduct some experiments here, try my hand.
Remember Mitch?
I’m not quite sure yet if Mitch the McIntosh will become a grafting guinea pig or live out his days undisturbed come Spring (or some combination). I’ll be sure to let you know!
Back in the car, compass pointing East, Ms. IS and I reflected on a little factoid. We both grew up pretty much across the street from networks of hiking trails on protected lands.
What an incredible blessing!
Nowadays, when we come back to visit family and friends, we usually get some outdoors activity in, but most time is devoted to visiting (which is great, don’t get me wrong!). We resolved to make a better effort next year to do more extended hikes, but also the ones that are right under our noses — and bring some family along too! I guess we’ve got all winter to plan out our woodsy jaunts…
Pumpkin Carving
Boo! Now that is spookiness.
Ms. IS is a special lady. One of her many lovely character traits is her ability to find joy in the little things. (Hhhhmmmnnnn, she should find someone who insists on simplicity…)
As an example: last Fall, she divulged her passion for… wait for it… pumpkin carving! Yeah, I was surprised too.
The disclosure led to an evening of carving capers, and I, also to my surprise, found that I enjoy carving pumpkins as well.
We used plastic, disposable children’s carving “tools” last year. They were awful. Quickly into the carving session, I had random bent shards of plastic left as “tools.” After some time, we created a couple of serviceable lanterns, complete with images vaguely resembling a cat and witch.
I made a terrible jack-o-lantern last year, but it was my terrible jack-o-lantern.
This year, we busted out an actual knife. I’m not sure the advances in technology corresponded to any improvements in aesthetics though.
In time, the richness of Autumn’s color palette will give way to Winter’s more reserved hues. I can’t say I’m ready to see Fall go, I’m usually not, but I don’t push Winter away either. I wouldn’t mind a little more time though, a few more walks with the leaves crunching underneath.
