I’ve been watching for the leaves to change and so far I am a bit disappointed. I do see some very vivid colors in places, but not much around here where I live. The past couple of years the trees were so bright and I’d walk down by the lake almost every day to get some new photos.
So far, there isn’t much to see at the lake and when I took a walk this past week I got a shot of one tree that seems to always have good color, but it was only partially turned.
Some Fall ColorA walk in the woods
I’ve read that hot, dry summers are not good for producing great Fall color and that is exactly what we had for summer weather this year. So far, I think it might be true. I meant to take my camera and get some shots of one area where I saw some beautiful trees, but I forgot the other day and now the wind and rain has come, so I don’t know what’s left. I guess I’ll just wait and see how the color turns out.
But it is possible to get nice photos of green trees as well.
This past week has been very rainy. With the remnants of tropical storm Nicole dumping over 5 inches of rain here yesterday and a few inches the day before, the gorgeous day we had Wednesday was just a good memory.
It was so beautiful that I took the cats for a walk. My landlady recently had someone come out and cut some trees for her to use as firewood so they made a path through the back of the yard in the woods. It’s a nice place to go for a quick walk and my two cats love to follow along.
They run and climb the trees chasing each other and then just flop down on the rocks watching me. I am not as graceful and they probably wonder why I am so slow, but I stopped to get some photos of some mushrooms I found. I had wanted some foliage photos, but it’s just not a great year for that. Or maybe it’s too early, but I don’t think so.
Cats in the woods
When we get to the end of the man-made trail, I cut into the trees where it’s easier to walk, except for all the branches that have fallen, and that’s where Fontana decided to rest on a mossy rock.
Beautiful Fontana
She looked so regal with her long dark fur on the bright green moss. I am a terrible animal photographer and I thought for sure she’d hop down before I got a decent shot of her, but I am very happy with this one. I even caught Richie in the background resting on his own rock.
It’s hard to believe that we adopted them 9 months ago. Instead of spending their days in little cages, they now have the whole big woods to roam. I think they are happy. And it was a beautiful day.
I am finally adding some more photos of the Antrim, NH Home and Harvest Days celebration.
Our Main Street Pizza parlor, “Rick and Diane’s” Brick Oven Pizza, always has a float – that’s Rick (on the right) and someone else twirling the dough as the float goes by. Rick also goes to the elementary school and lets the kids practice making pizza. At least he did when my son was there. I used to live in the house where he grew up, and his father built.
Rick & Diane's Pizza Float
Each year skateboarders come from all over – I’m not sure where they were from this year – come and compete in downhill timed events on Summer Street. It’s fun to watch and although the hill doesn’t seem too big, they really go quite fast and with all the weaving in and out of the cones, they are out of breath at the bottom.
The Skateboard Competition
I have a few more photos to share but that will have to wait.
I hate to think that the “holidays” are right around the corner, but this is the time to be planning your cookie swap party. My link below, with lots of great ideas for hosting one of these types of parties, says to not wait too long since the holiday season gets busy quick.
I had never been to a “Cookie Swap” party until a co-worker at the elementary school, where I worked in Florida, hosted one. As I recall, there were only a handful of people who attended, but we had so much fun.
I don’t remember exactly what the rules were, but we all baked our own special Christmas cookies (they don’t have to be “Christmas cookies”, but they must be homemade!) to bring and then shared with everyone. I can’t even remember which recipe I made to share. I think we drank cocoa and ate cookies all afternoon in an air conditioned house..!
I know that we did have to bring copies of our recipe to share and a certain amount of cookies so that everyone would have some to take home. I guess it depends on how many people are attending. The point of the party is to give each guest a variety of cookies to take back home with them. At least that was the point of our party.
I still make the cookies my friend Kathryn brought – she named them after her daugher Rosie because as a young girl she loved to help make them. There is lots of rolling to make the cookies into little balls, but the end result is worth it.
Date Balls (aka “Rosie’s Cookies”)
2 sticks of butter
1 8oz pkg. chopped dates
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups Rice Krispies
Powdered Sugar
Melt the butter in a large saucepan, then add the sugar and dates. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and add nuts, cereal and vanilla.
Let cool.
Make into balls and lightly roll in powdered sugar. Keep in a coverred container.
If you are having a party, I’ve made some new invitations that are for sale in my Narrow Road Store, and if you need more advice about how to host a Cookie Swap party, check out the links below these products.
New England's Narrow Road 