Leaf Peeping Adventures with a Friend

Thanks for everyone's concern about the storms that we were supposed to get, I choose to believe all your prayers and well wishes made a difference.... we got lots of rain, but no wind, and all is well!  It is still raining here today, on and off, we are still getting the showers, and it certainly looks like this moisture is going to continue for a while.  I expect we will be getting snow before much longer.

But, the skies cleared for a short while Monday, and my dear friend GT and I set out on a little adventure around her town... leaf peeping!  It was so fun, and we just were in awe of the beauty of the little town she lives in.

She took some pictures, and I took some pictures, and I will share some of the highlights of our leaf peeping in the short window of time that the skies cleared for us :)

Some of GT's pictures around town... aren't the colors vibrant and full!  We both agree we haven't seen the colors this brilliant in years.

A collaged collection of some of the pictures I took.

GT took this picture, and I love the contrast of color between the red, oranges and yellow.

 GT's dog, Tracker... watched us sadly as we left to go leaf-peeping, and was waiting patiently for our return! He is just the sweetest dog.  They have another dog too, Zeke, but he happened to be inside when I got this picture, both so sweet and lovable... love our furry friends too!

The drive into town was full of color, and the moody skies were constantly changing.



The drive along the river is a joy, every time we pass by...

Maples don't grow here naturally, but people have planted a lot of them, and they are gorgeous in the fall.

Such a vibrant palette of colors.

I think the Painter dropped a big blob of yellow right here...

Clouds gathering for a storm (and downpour it did, later...)

But while we were out on our little adventure... the drama in the skies waited for the climax until we were done ...  

This little city park is rather obscure and unnoticed... until today...when it shouted gloriously to the world with its vibrant colors.

Downtown... the most delightful, quaint little pizza place you will ever happen upon.

Have you ever seen a tree with such bright colors? Even surrounded with all the colorful trees around town, this tree seemed to glow unusually bright.

The outside seating was lavishly decked with whispering leaves.

My friend and I agreed... this tree stood out, above all other trees, with its form, brilliance, and colors.

I wonder if it is the same tree as my blazing maple?  Its colors are very similar.  But, this tree dazzled. We were in awe.  Pictures do not do it justice.



G picked us each a leaf, and we carried our little treasures home with us.

Could there be any canopy more lovely than this?

This unique little table sat quietly against the wall, buried in an abundance of leaves.

Do you notice the half-eaten apple left, perhaps as afterthought?

The pizza place was closed at the time we were there, they open in the evenings.  Such a delightful place beckoned us to return, and soon!

Sometimes beauty hurts.  Have you ever felt that way?

And sometimes leaf-peeping gets you into trouble.  We stopped at another little city park, and I held up my camera to take a picture, and the flash setting had been tripped, and so the flash triggered.  I looked away from the camera, and here came this big truck headed straight for us!  I thought it was going to hit us, and we both braced for the impact.  He squealed to a stop, barely missing us, and rolled down his window.  I rolled my window down.  He asked why we took a picture of him.  I replied I hadn't, I was just taking pictures of the trees.  He said, well I saw the flash, and want to know why you took my picture.  I finally convinced him I didn't have his picture, only trees.  He rolled up his window, and sped off.  GT and I shook our heads and just laughed and laughed.  Who knew leaf-peeping could cause such trouble!  LOL!

Beautiful, magnificent, lovely... !

It was time for our little adventure to end, as GT needed to get back home.  We were only out for a short time, but the joy we experienced together, and seeing the beauty around us was refreshing and we enjoyed a good laugh after our little "flash" escapade.

As I drove home, the skies closed in, and pellets of rain began dropping out of the sky.

We couldn't have planned our little outing at a more perfect time... and in fact, it wasn't planned at all.  I was dropping something off at her house, and she was gifting me with a bag of pears from her pear tree, and we decided spontaneously to go out for a drive.

I'm glad we enjoyed the little adventure we had.  Now as I drove home, the bright colors in the sky softened to a dull gray as the rain clouds unleashed their pent up energy.

My goodness, had it been a few degrees colder, it would be snowing...!  Not quite ready for the snow yet... but its arrival is all but imminent.  But for now, we will cherish the remaining spots of fall colors as long as we can.  :)