The Gypsy Caravan 2023

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Postcards From the Lake -- Sigh

October has arrived in all her glory! It may not be peak yet but it's still lovely!

 

After we dropped Rick's mom off at the airport, we continued to the lake for what will be my last visit of the season. (Rick will return for a final close in another week or so.) It was a terrific ride up, though for the most part the skies were more gray than blue.

 

 

Color wasn't at full peak, but you can get a bit of an idea here.

 

When you've been away for a week or two, you always hope that when you return, all will be well. It was nice to see our little house, standing and cozy!

 

It has been brisk in the north, that's for sure. We woke one day and it was 29 degrees and the whole area was shrouded in fog! 

 

But, of course, it lifted and we've had a good deal of sunny days and cool nights. It was mystical and very magical. You could almost imagine sprites and pixies coming out from their mushroom houses on a day like this!

 

As we were driving up, we took old roads for part of the way, going through some small towns. This derelict old hotel caught my eye. I suspect in its day it may have been rather nice. 

 

I got my MRI results -- posterial tibial tendonitis and along with a healthy list of things that include arthritis, degenerative joint disease and inflammation. The foot is healing and I'm walking a bit but was on orders to take care and not push. On these days when I've wanted a longer walk, that's been frustrating! On our way to happy hour at one of my favorite restaurants here, Rick kindly stopped and let me snap a photo of my favorite road, the one I would take walking to my cousin's. It's still not peak either, but on its way.

 

I can only imagine this in a week or two.

 

I love the Happy Hour at this spot (and truth be told, it's the only time we can afford it!). We enjoyed a glass of wine and large dish of mussels. 

 

Then, after a photo with the lobby bear, headed home for "real" dinner! 

 

My walking has kept me very close to home (as in down the driveway to the mailbox, over to the neighbor's and back), but the backyard delivered a fascinating sight -- this enormous fungi. The top one is the size of a dinner plate with the others beneath. It intrigued me.

 

I've painted some, too. On my limited walk I picked up a few leaves and did the annual leaf painting. 

 

I was rather pleased with this one, especially the spotted leaf!  

 

I'm sure the state of our new refrigerator hasn't been on your minds, but it was on ours. So far, after several days of use, we haven't noticed any leaking, so hopefully that was just a start-up fluke and all is well. 

We wake and see this -- a lovely lake, sometimes dead calm, sometimes ripples of waves, but beginning to share its bright fall colors as we greet the morning.

 

I'll have another postcard or two before we close for the season.  Meanwhile...

 

Keep looking up! 

Sharing with:   Love Your Creativity    /   Share Your Style    

66 comments:

  1. So many beautiful colours - trees and your painting.

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  2. Your leaf painting is so beautiful! You are very talented. 🍁

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  3. What beauty. Including your paintings.
    Hope they get you squared away quickly. Baby that foot.
    Enjoy your wonderful cottage and the weekend.

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  4. It's great to capture the colours. Although we are past peak, I did find some today while driving to a little hamlet to pick up our TG pies.

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  5. Your post brought back memories of our cottage on the lake in Maine. The fog rising off the water looked like majic. Karen (Back Road Journal)

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  6. Already beautiful fall colors!
    Love your leaf painting.
    Hope you heal well and as quickly as possible. I know you miss your walks. :)

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  7. The leaf painting is lovely! A keeper. I hope you get good help with that foot, such a downer when you want to walk.

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  8. Hello Jeanie :)
    That first photo is jaw droppingly beautiful and the lovely fall colours beginning to appear are much more than I have seen here. I like the misty photos too, and your fall leaves painting is really excellent, so authentic for I know I have seen leaves just like those, but not the mushroom, it's enormous and a curiosity. I'm so sorry your foot is sore, and your scan results not good.
    You will have to remember to take it easy Jeanie. I'm in sympathy with you because I can't walk far either, as my knee is painful and not likely to improve much even with anti inflammatory meds. Resting is the best medicine.
    All the best
    Sonjia

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  9. Hello Jeanie,
    Your awesome colors and trees are looking gorgeous.
    It is still looking green around here.
    Great shot of you and Rick , happy hour is nice. I would enjoy some mussels with bread. Take care walking, no need to hurry.
    Your paintings of the leaves are beautiful. Have a happy weekend.

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  10. ...the Hotel Sieting in Kalkaska, Michigan is from a begone era. Jeanie, your leaves are so lifelike.

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  11. WoW!!!! gorgeous colors, autumn is the best!! we aren't seeing any color yet but i think it should start very soon!! we used to great deals in the restaurants around is..."early bird special" but no one does it anymore. they were always 4 - 6pm and that's when we like to eat!! the meals were very discounted and came with soup, salad and a small desert. we always enjoyed it. the painting of the leaves is so pretty....i may try to emulate that!!

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  12. Lots of lovely fall foliage photos! It's getting quite colorful here too. We've had some frost and lots of foggy mornings as our nights are so cool and the water is almost always warmer.

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  13. Amazing photos, Jeanie. The foliage is incredible and your leaf art is absolutely beautiful. Foliage here is not good at all. the winds and rains take it away before the colours mature. I guess growing up in New England has spoiled me. :)

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  14. I think your colors are brighter than ours. Our poor trees are so stress from lack of water.
    I do hope your foot heals so you can get out and about.
    Wine and muscles sound perfect to me. I do love muscles.
    cathy

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  15. That is a beautiful place, even in the fog!

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  16. Dear Jeanie, your photos are absolutely breathtaking! I love the photo of you and Rick, you both look fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing, dear friend! I wish you a wonder filled weekend!

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  17. I don't know if our colors are just slow this year or if the drought has really made them less than exciting, but the colors in your photos are amazing. And that fog definitely made it very magical. Your painted leaves do look great. That spotted one looks real. Congrats on the great job. Hope the foot improves soon, and I think some of the list of results is hard to avoid when you're not 25. I've got some of those too. Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend and lovely colors. hugs-Erika

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  18. stunning colours already. Like you our leaves are not at peak colour yet. I am having an MRI on my feet this coming week. Been waiting months for the appointment.

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  19. Lovely to see your photographs, Autumn colour is always a joy to see.

    Take care with your foot, as least you are able to walk a little.

    Sending my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  20. Such pretty Fall foliage around the area. I always enjoy my visits here when you show us the Autumn beauty. Love that first picture the most - from greens to golds to oranges to reds. We've had some foggy days here too. That is such a quaint road going to your cousins. And a nice happy hour you enjoyed with Rick. The leaf painting is really pretty. I hope we see more Fall beauty in the days and weeks ahead.

    ~Sheri

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  21. Your colors are spectacular this year! Our feet are going t?o do us in Jeanie!

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  22. What an interesting hotel building! The trees are gorgeous and I can imagine the smell of fall. It is just beginning to get cool at night here, with the days still rather warm. Your leaf painting is every bit as beautiful as the real thing.Take care with your foot!

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  23. The colours of autumn are absolutely beautiful. I'm sorry to hear the outcome of your MRI. I hope that you won't be suffering too much pain and though I know that motion is important for something like arthritis or joint issues, I think it's best to listen to our bodies when they tell us what the limits are. Take care and enjoy the rest of your autumn colours.

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  24. Dearest Jeanie,
    I'm feeling so amazed at athe stunning colours of your Fall, it truly looks like ours, probably our woods shares the same trees, how lovely!
    Thank you for sharing such natural beauty and your painting, of course, which once more let us know how great an artist you are.
    Have a blessed Sunday
    XO Daniela @ ~ My little old world ~ (Dany)

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  25. Dearest Jeanie,
    I'm feeling so amazed at athe stunning colours of your Fall, it truly looks like ours, probably our woods shares the same trees, how lovely!
    Thank you for sharing such natural beauty and your painting, of course, which once more let us know how great an artist you are.
    Have a blessed Sunday
    XO Daniela @ ~ My little old world ~ (Dany)

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  26. So very beautiful--both the bright foliage and the foggy mornings. I'm so glad your foot is getting better. It's so frustrating when one can't move around easily. Your leaf painting is so cheerful and to me it has a calming and peaceful vibe. Autumn does that to me and your painting reflects that. Enjoy your time at the lake.

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  27. Good morning, beautiful fall post You have gorgeous fall colors! we had so little rain this summer that most of the leaves here just went brown and dried up Enjoy all that beauty

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  28. The colors are looking nice on your side. Over here still more green than color. Janice

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  29. Glad to hear you're on the mend. Don't overdo. If you can't walk far, take a short drive to see the color. Enjoy fall!

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  30. Your painting of the leaves captures the magic of autumn perfectly. Of course the real leaves surrounding you are pretty darned special, too. I had hoped to take a week in October or November to head a bit north for some leaf-peeping, but work suddenly is falling into my lap, and it's time to emulate my squirrels and stash away a little cash for the coming year!

    I thought of you when I read another post this morning. Look at the information and pic of the "little free art gallery." It's such a great idea. I was imagining one at the ditch. I wonder if there's any local artist who might be interested in getting one started? LOL!

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  31. The colors of autumn red so beautiful there. Your painting of the leaves is lovely. So glad you are able to walk. Do take care and don’t push it.

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  32. Gorgeous photos! And, gorgeous painting, does Fall proud. We have barely any change here, just a dusting on tree tops with a bit color. Hugs, and enjoy it while you can, Sandi

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  33. Your colors are beautiful, and so much earlier than ours. That mushroom is amazing. I have a photo I took of an interesting one framed on my kitchen shelf as decor. I love those big ones with lots of layers and interesting colors. Take care of that foot, and don't push, healing takes time.

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  34. Oh Jeanie, I had not noticed fall colors at all. Thank you for reminding me to catch them before they're gone. Your paintings and photos are beautiful. And continued well wishes for healing... may long meandering walks be part of your days soon.

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  35. Oh the fall colors are gorgeous! And I love you leaf painting with the speckles. Just what fall looks like. Glad you could make it to the cabin one more time and the refrigerator is not leaking. I can see you would enjoy a visit to that Happy Hour. Look at all the bottles of wine behind you. What a treat. That is quite a huge fungi too. Hoping the drive back to Lansing is full of beauty and you continue to heal, so you can go walking again.

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  36. Ah, these autumn colors are what l so miss from " up north". When l lived in New Hampshire, autumn was my favorite season!!! Take it easy on the foot and looks like you had a lovely visit to the lake; always was sad saying good bye to the season when my folks had our camp in New Hampshire too. Its a rough week for me, 1st anniversary of my son Mike's passing. Sister coming down Thursday to be with me this coming weekend for this sad time for me. Anyways, your fall colors warmed my heart! Dawn P. Albany, GA

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  37. It's always sad to close it up!
    I think those are wise words: take it easy!

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  38. Your leaves are peak!Ours not quite there yet.I am happy you have some relief and hope it gets better.Tests often frighten us.I think it was Louise Hay who suggested the least tests the better.Your paintings are always charming.We lost Diane KeatonJeanie..my favorite.79.Everything about her..My girl crush.RIP.Im in the kitchen baking for ourTG thinking of her…

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  39. Beautiful, beautiful colors up north. Around here? Very boring and not likely to get any better, they say...because of the drought.

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  40. I enjoyed seeing the dappled colors of summer and autumn in your photos. Also, the fog. And also your leaf portraits -- so beautiful!

    So glad that you & Rick got out to a favorite restaurant and that you were able to drive along some of your favorite roads before closing up for the summer.

    About your foot... I wonder if something like an adult tricycle (with a basket!) might allow you to get outdoors a bit more. When my various issues with arthritis/tendonitis are flaring, I can't walk, but I can ride; there have been more days than I can count where I have been grateful for my slow clunky bike and for the elliptical trainer we have in the basement. That said, tendonitis takes a long time to heal -- hang in there, and keep up with the ice and elevation!

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  41. Oh so gorgeous! Even if not at peak, it sure is wonderful to see the bright colors. Glad your foot is better but take good care.
    Loved your leaves watercolor.
    Happy Fall!

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  42. Jeanie love all your photos of Autumn...I am sure they will be in full color in a few weeks. Glad your fridge is not leaking ...and your "painted" leaves look amazing...you are so talented. It is hard to not rush through a recuperation ...ask me how I know. LOL Happy October. Kari @ Me and My Captain

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  43. Beautiful colors, I love your postcards from the lake! You did a great job on the leaves! Take care of yourself, Jeanie and don’t overdo!

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  44. I love the leaf picture too. It is so true to life. All your lake pictures are lovely. I'm a fan of magical misty mornings like these and glad you had the chance of one.

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  45. October has indeed shown up beautifully. The scenery you shared, especially the misty morning where you imagined "sprites and pixies," sounds truly magical. It's wonderful that your limited walks still yielded treasures like those enormous fungi and the inspiration for your annual leaf painting. I love the spotted one.

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  46. I do hope your foot starts feeling better and you can get back to walking. Your autumn at the lake looks darn good from my viewpoint, and I think clouds often help the look of the colors. Our fall has really just begun, probably 2 weeks or more before peak (if at all). That fungi is what I've been dealing with this year in my yard where the tree was 4 yrs ago (not like the big ones, but the smaller ones). They are a result of the organic matter beneath it, i.e., rotting tree roots. It's a struggle to overcome in a city lot, but I'll keep at it until the roots from 4 yrs ago and counting are gone.

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  47. There was a time in my life when I would go to the doc just to hear the other shoe drop!!! What now, what next, whats going on......age is not for sissies for sure. For me, age on top of daily pain, OUCH. Its like bounce from one problem to the other so I pretty much just keep my mouth shut. Hope you feel better soon. WOW....those trees. I am pretty sure we had such a dry summer we probably will not have color.

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  48. Jeanie, I really love the leaves you painted. They look so real! I also love your photos of the trees in the fog. I’m sorry to hear about your MRI. Don’t over do it and try to get some rest. We didn’t go on a color tour last fall (don’t know why), but we’re hoping to go this year IF there’s enough color. This drought has really affected so many trees.

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  49. Wonderful fall colors, Jeanie - even if it's not its peak yet, autumn shows its beautiful dress.
    I fully understand your frustration of not being able to take a decent walk. Hopefully your foot heals quickly and soon you can walk again - maybe not super long, but more than just a few yards.

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  50. The fall trees ares spectacular this time of the year and especially behind the lake!! Your painting is lovely. I hope you will be able to have the opportunity to take a longer walk soon, but it sounds like good advice not to push So frustrating - glad you enjoyed your happy hour goodies.

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  51. Such beautiful postcards from the lake. Gorgeous area, those changing colors are stunning, and always fun to see you and Rick. Your leaf art is delightful! I hope your poor foot will heal so that you can take those long walks again Jeanie. Happy Fall Days to you both.

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  52. The fall foliage looks beautiful in your area. I love the painting of the leaves. I hope you have a nice week.

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  53. I hope your joint pain doesn’t spread as mine did. Now, I have been diagnosed with poly arthralgia (multiple joint pain). It started with my right knee and spread all the way up to my shoulders. Not fun.

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  54. You’re a joy. I hope you improve. Think of you often. Using my new blog more.
    rkrsrue.blogspot.com

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  55. Wonderful pics, the colors, the fog...! And wonderful paintings, too. Glad you can walk again. And share :-)

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  56. It's breathtakingly beautiful! I love, love, love Fall!

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  57. Hi Jeanie! Oh your leaf painting is beautiful! I love fall, the colors, the crisp air...I'm sorry to hear about your foot. It would frustrate me so much if I had to limit my walking. I love the photos of you and Rick in the restaurant! ♥

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  58. those autumn leaves are just beautiful. Not something we see here in sunny sub-tropical queensland tho :)

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  59. What glorious photos from the lake. Autumn is indeed a very photogenic time of the year. Wine and cheese make any day better. So happy to see how you enjoy your days at the lake.

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  60. Such color, Jeanie! Wow! Nothing like that here. The leaves seem to be drying up and dropping.
    The lake is gorgeous. The blue is so intense. And your postcard really captures all the shadss.

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  61. Beautiful photos Jeanie, at least you're able to walk again. Your painted leaves really capture the essence of Fall, gorgeous!
    Jenna

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  62. This Florida girl LOVES seeing the leaves changing! Your water color is stunning!
    I’d love for you to join us over at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
    https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party-2/
    Followed and Pinned!
    Creatively, Beth

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  63. I am so sorry that your walking is curtailed. Hopefully, that will change soon.

    I am so happy to see all those brilliant fall colors. Glorious!

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  64. The spotted leaf is very, very cool art work. LOOOOVE it.

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