Wordless Wednesday: Fall in Full Swing

All Good Things are Wild and Free

In the Catskills by Thomas Doughty
"Generally speaking, a howling wilderness does not howl: it is the imagination of the traveler that does the howling." - Henry David Thoreau

Unless, of course, you travel with dogs. Then maybe it's more than your imagination.



I didn't have work on Friday, so I packed up the dogs and drove up to Chester. We went to Hacklebarney State Park, where I've hiked many times. It was about 70 degrees, warm and sunny, but you could feel that fall breeze starting to creep in.






The trails were slick in some spots from the recent rain. And the rivers that cut through the park were flowing fast. It made Nali nervous, but Dexter wanted to get closer and dip his feet in.



I think the leaves were starting to change colors -- but I can't be sure. I spent most of the hike focusing on not falling down. This was Denali's first real hike and she pulled with all her 40 pounds the entire time. She was in harness, so that's exactly what she should be doing, but it made the walk pretty intense.



Going uphill with two dogs pulling was a relief. Going down hill, or trying to maneuver over the rocky trail, was borderline scary. In hindsight, I should have avoided the rocky areas. I was asking for a sprained ankle, but somehow managed to make it out in one piece.



We only went about four miles, but it was pretty warm and I was beat. Denali could have went another ten, I bet. Dexter was content either way. On the way home, I stopped at Alstede Farms for some cider, apple pie, and honey. Nothing beats locally grown food.

All in all, a perfect kind of day.

Colors of Autumn

After hiking six miles around the Watchung Reservation with my point-and-shoot, I can safely state that it was a solid investment. To say it takes good photos would be an understatement. It's so compact and light, I had no trouble letting it dangle from my wrist the entire time. Definitely easier on my back than lugging around my D-SLR gear.

Even the cheesy panorama setting produced some pretty awesome shots.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with my new hiking buddy. Although Dexter was a bit annoyed by my frequent stops for photo opportunities.

"Can we go!?"

Fall's Fury

Without any warning, the weather seems to have flipped from melting-hot midsummer to damp-and-dreary, late fall. It's a shock to everyone's systems -- I lost count of how many friends are reporting colds, or just feeling cold.

Yes, it is cold. But it's not winter cold (thank goodness)... not yet. The rain and wind don't help, but believe me... come late January, you'll be wishing for temperatures above freezing. I don't really mind these dismal days. It's an excuse for extra coffee and wearing sweat pants with over sized, fluffy socks.

Inside becomes a sanctuary during the rain. I've got pumpkin spice scented candles and little bits of autumn decor around the house. I hope to gather a few more bits and pieces as Halloween approaches -- we certainly need some Jack-o-lanterns and horror-themed items.

So for those of you sick of this weather, or literally sick from this weather, hang in there. Enjoy your blankets, soup, cookies, and movies. It will pass and we'll be able to hit the pumpkin patches and hiking trails again. At least, for a little while, before winter steamrolls us all into hibernation.

Summer Wrap-Up

Today is August 31st and I can feel summer drawing to a close. My friends are going back to their respective schools; others are settling in at jobs. My day to day life won't be much different as the seasons change, but I feel different. The humid summer haze has lifted, leaving cool, breezy days.

We're approaching my favorite time of the year. Labor Day through New Years; I love autumn weather, pumpkin picking, hiking, drinking apple cider and eating pumpkin pies. Before you know it, it's Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just typing this has made me all giddy.

It is still summer, though, so I'd like to wrap up by sharing some of my favorite summer photos. More will surely follow after our Labor Day Festivities, but for now, enjoy: