Playing tourist yesterday in a quaint New York town on the Hudson River, I saw this inviting display outside of a store. I’m not a fan of scary decorations, artificial cobwebs (since I work hard to get rid of real ones), or anything with blood & gore. This embodies my idea of Halloween. 🎃 🧡🌼🎃🧡🌼
Favorite season
a banquet for the senses
colors everywhere
Two years ago I moved from Chicago which is well known for beautiful cityscapes to the Rocky Mountains which is equally well known for its breathtaking landscapes.
Today, as I reflect upon my daughter’s wedding yesterday, the second daughter to be married this year, and my own birthday, I’m definitely thinking about what path I have chosen.
Do we choose our path, or does it choose us?
Yellow aspen leaves
shorter days cool evenings
fall is in the air.
Thinking about 2017, I’ve read so many best of lists – books, movies, cupcakes. I decided to choose best photo memories of my year. Wishing everyone a 2018 full of good memories.
January: full moon through the trees
February: First run of the day skiing with the sun and moon in full view.
March: Lenticular clouds resting above peaks as seen from Magnolia Rd.
April: Cloud formation that served as inspiration for my second picture book, Gustavo’s Big Idea.
May: A visit to the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium included many highlights but the best of all was the day at Keukenhof Gardens.
June: So many great hikes and amazing wildflowers this month. My favorite photo captures both of these – my friend Michelle’s beautiful dog Bhakti with columbines.
July: Southampton Writers Conference. I spent two weeks working on my craft with amazing mentors and peers who wrote children’s books, poetry, literary fiction, memoirs, and plays. I got to be a fangirl meeting many inspiring writers and made new writer friends who continue to provide love, support, and feedback.
August: Morning glory visited by a Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Our first high altitude garden included many successes, including vegetables and flowers that served to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
September: exquisite fall colors featuring aspens juxtaposed with pines along Peak to Peak highway – a favorite spot for leaf peepers.
October: A visit to Detroit was definitely a highlight for me personally as I spent time with my daughter and her boyfriend. A fabulous weekend with amazing people.
November: sunrise from my window. Each morning, I’m reminded how lucky I am to live in this magical setting.
December: the roof of my new garage is almost complete. It’s been a long journey building it, and I’m looking forward to my car being safe and sound inside it in 2018.
The ever changing view at this time of year is worth stopping for. The snow at higher elevations than my 8200 feet isn’t melting.
The bluebird sky and the scent of pines greeted me as I hiked the Sourdough trail, the only hiker on a beautiful morning.
Stopping along the way to admire the vibrant yellow aspens and the breathtaking vistas that surround me.
October 2 and we have snow. I’m still new to the weather patterns here in the Rockies. If you’ll notice, the mini snowman is adjacent to plants that are still happily growing.
The photos above are from a nearby hike less than twenty-four hours ago. Full fall colors and mostly blue skies. 
This exquisite flower was picked from our garden only two days ago.
And now today, I’ve woken up to snow.
I know it will melt and we’ll again see the 50’s later this week but it’s still not what I was hoping to see out my window only 10 days into fall.
When you are lucky enough to live at 8000 feet, just east of the continental divide, and are gifted with a perfect fall day for a hike, you stop to admire the beauty of nature.
The juxtaposition of a bluebird sky and green-turning-to-golden aspens is not to be missed.
Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. For me, being in nature is a religious experience. The traditional treat is apples and honey. Since my hiking group is known as ‘the hiking honeys’ and when we stopped to eat, I had an apple, I am counting today as an excellent beginning to the new year.
L’Shanah Tova
