Monksville Reservoir, Wednesday

I’ve been busy! This time of year I have to keep up with the leaves falling or I get into trouble. I did one half the front yard on Monday and it took me so long (emptying the bags after every swipe) I only did the one side. I’ve spent the last three+ hours doing all the yards!

I’ve also managed to spend some time out with the camera as you can see by the shot above that I took at Monksville Reservoir on Wednesday. It’s peak season! I did not alter that shot at all. It’s just as it came out of the camera. Do I need to tell you the colors are beautiful this year?

I was out again this morning when it was misty and moody as the sun rose above the trees.

I love this time of year! Well, except picking up all of those beautiful leaves…

If you didn’t know it was there you would completely pass by the tiny hole in the thick wall of trees. But I know it’s there. The opening to the Kingdom of the Thorn Queen. The path through the woods.

The Thorn Queen rules this particular section of woods. The minute I walk through the hole she reaches out her thorny fingers and plucks at my jeans as I attempt to walk by. Pluck, pluck, little girl. You’d better beware. You should behave here in my kingdom.

Today she only half-heartedly tries to stop me, whereas in the past she has drawn blood. She used to frighten me but not any more. I figure with all the blood I’ve given her over the years we should be blood sisters by now.

I continue on down the path, out of reach of her thorny grasp. Still, I am mindful to watch my ways. I sense that I am being watched as I make my way through the woods.

The temperature on this day is perfect. Not too hot; not too cool. Just right. The woods are turning but it seems slow this year. Many trees are still green yet the path underneath my feet is carpeted with spent leaves which give off the wonderful earthy smell of decomposing plant matter as I step on them.

I come out of the Thorn Queen’s Kingdom onto the road that leads down to the pond.

When I reach Green Turtle Pond there are just a few fisherman. A slight breeze ripples the surface of the pond. It’s quiet and peaceful.

I always forget about this cross until I come upon it again. I wonder if it’s a beloved dog that used to like going fishing with its master? Or is Austy a person that loved fishing?

Back up the road I go until it’s time to enter the Thorn Queen’s Kingdom once again. I reach the hole where the path ends and meets the main road. The Queen doesn’t care if I leave, so she keeps her thorny fingers to herself and I exit the Kingdom unharmed.

I took the dogs for a walk in-between rainstorms yesterday. As I walked down our street I saw different things I wanted to take photos of, so after depositing the dogs back in the house I grabbed the camera and started off on my own meandering way.

As I leave the house the tiny acorns that the big oak in front has deposited on the driveway go crunch crunch crunch under my shoes. Wet leaves lay in a thick carpet and I kick them as I walk. I think to myself that as soon as the ground dries out some I should run Johnny and start picking them up.

It’s been pretty gray, rainy and dreary this week so I needed to find some color!

The wild concord grape vine is so pretty as it changes.

I love the freckles!

As always, the creeper vines give a brilliant showing.

I came across a tree literally covered with mushrooms but that is for my mushroom post. These two bright leaves were beneath it.

I continued down our street and couldn’t resist a neighbors’ pumpkin by the side of the road.

I came to the main road, crossed over, and walked down to Green Turtle Pond. It’s just now starting to change.

Like I said, it was a very gray day with little or no contrast.

I know you aren’t supposed to split the photo right in the middle, but sometimes you have to bend the rules. I just liked the rock formation and its reflection. Plus, the one orange tree still draws your eye (right?) and at least it is off-center.

Here the trees look like a big fuzzy multicolored caterpillar.

Soon we’ll get the canoe out and paddle around when the trees reach their peak.

I walked home in the 71 degree/95% humidity, came in the house and turned on the air conditioning! In October! The dogs were all lying around panting, splayed out like black carpets on the tile floor. I have to say I was ready to join them.

One hour later a thunderstorm rolled through and we got over a quarter of an inch of rain.

This weekend is supposed to turn cold and they say we will struggle to reach 60 degrees next week. Bring it on! Oh, and Mother Nature, could you please turn off the water works and up the color volume? Thank You!

ONE LAST THING ...
This morning’s sky! (Taken at 8:30 a.m.)

In the mornings I throw the windows open wide, letting in the fresh, albeit dampish air. It feels good. It smells good. The sun is just warm enough; not too strong.

By 5:30 p.m. I go around the house closing the windows. I think about starting a fire in the wood stove.

Wow. It’s autumn. Welcome!

Autumn is not only the time when the weather changes, but also the time when our cooking habits change.

We start cooking things like cipollini onions cooked with apples and bacon.

And Swiebelwahe (Swiss Onion Tart: onions, bacon, milk, eggs), one of our favorite autumn treats and also a meal we always make at the cabin.

This year we made it with in-season local onions from the farmer’s market.(The Black Dirt Region in Pine Island next to Warwick, New York has been known for its onions for decades.) It was DELICIOUS. And so good heated back up in the oven a second time.

The recipe was adapted from an old cookbook I bought on eBay about ten years ago called Tante Heidi’s Swiss Kitchen. The recipe is here. If you make it don’t skimp or cut corners by not making the yeast dough. It makes the tart!

I love autumn. It’s so easy to get caught up in!

At Skylands the other day I found a few water lilies still blooming. As I approached the canal, I heard strange little cries, then a plopping noise in the water.

Upon closer inspection I realized that it was little frogs jumping off the lily pads! Only one of them was brave enough to pose for a photo shoot.

I’d say this little guy has his camouflage down pat.