Friday, October 9, 2026

Postcards From the Lake: A Few Days On My Own

There's something bittersweet about hitting the road for the lake and knowing it is the last time you'll be there for the next six months. The sunflower fields on the highway medians have gone brown and as I drove farther and farther north, the colors grew a little brighter. 

But it's still early. Peak should be in a few days and I will (hopefully) be here to see it! Meanwhile, I'm savoring what I can -- and really, it isn't too shabby!

This is the morning view from the front window. I never tire of looking at it. 

 

And yes, I know it looks a lot like the photo in the last post.

 

But it really is this year! Here you go, cropped, so the color pops!

 

Not all the trees are quite as bright, but there is a nice mix of reds and yellows. This is the view when I am in the back yard. I really do love the yellows!

 

Well, the red, too!

 

Apart from raking the pine needles and pulling the house together, I've been doing a few productive things! I got my cousin's fridge cleaned out and while I was there had a great chat with his next door neighbors, whom I've not seen in a few years. That was a real treat! And then there was a last visit to the farm market, which was very, very small, only slightly larger than this. 

 

(But I did score some honey nut  squash. Judee, over at Gluten Free A to Z had a terrific recipe so I bought four of them, along with some honey crisp apples.) I didn't have pomegranate seeds, but I used toasted walnuts with the apples and loved it. So did Rick.

I also spent an afternoon volunteering at the Otsego County Democrats, writing postcards. Bill and Holly were terrifically welcoming and I was glad to do something productive. 

 

(Speaking of the election, I watched our US Senate Debate. Carson and Cam don't lay into each other on a bad day like these two guys went at it. Insults and veiled racist innuendos were hurled, along with twisted facts. Michigan readers, both Bridge Michigan and Politifact have excellent fact check pieces on the debate and I encourage you to read them, even if you already have a preferred candidate.)

 

I do. He's a tad more progressive than I am but compared to his opponent, he will deliver what we need or do his best to try and not follow the patterns of the past few years. 

 

But I digress, and I know those thoughts are irrelevant to international readers and those of you the rest of the US! Instead, a sight I never thought I'd see in October! Dandelions!

 

And a fair amount of fungi. (Much of it was past its peak.)

 

I loved these two little guys.

 

And this one says it all. Fall.

 

I'll have more color for you next time! 

Sharing with:  Talking About It Tuesdays    

48 comments:

The Happy Whisk said...

Judee's honey nut squash looked very, very good. I want one to bake brownies with. Yum. Lovely photos. Yes, I get that about the last time for awhile.

Prims By The Water said...

Not as much color here as you have. I love squash. Janice

Anonymous said...

The trees look stunning!-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

Pamela said...

So many examples of why autumn is my favorite time of year! Thank you for volunteering. We voted absentee already from Japan.

DeniseinVA said...

We are seeing changes but nothing like where you are yet. Stunning photos! I liked your mushroom ones too. I saw the honey nut squash recipe over at Gluten Free A to Z. It looked delicious! Good for you volunteering. Have a great weekend Jeanie.

Cat said...

Such gorgeous colors! I don't get to see as many shades.
I also love the fungi pictures.

Jenny Woolf said...

The squash recipe looks lovely tho i've never seen those type of squash here. I'm so envious of the pomegranate seeds. Here they're not sold frozen and for some reason I never thought of freezing them myself (duh). But now I HAVE thought of freezing them, thanks to your link, so that'll be a boon!😀

Iris Flavia said...

A wonder-and colorful good-bye!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Fungi around here, at least where I have looked, have been sparse this year. I am still searching for a good puffball in prime condition. The butter and garlic are ready!

Anvilcloud said...

You have great colour across the lake. It is odd but wherever I encounter a lake in autumn, I seem to be disappointed by the lack of colour.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

It is bittersweet coming and going. We are leaving our home to go to Florida for the winter, but then I'll be sad leaving the beach and friends in Florida too. I get it. Lovely fall photos Jeanie. Enjoy your last days at the Lake for this season.

shoreacres said...

That squash recipe looks delicious. I've never heard of that sort of squash, but I often stuff our butternuts in a similar way. I'm glad you were able to get back to the lake and had some fall colors to enjoy. We're all the way down to 66F this morning! I laughed at your first fungi photo. When I glanced at it, I thought it was a tortoise!

La Table De Nana said...

same beauty here:)

Tom said...

You had some wow moments at the lake. A Blue wave in Michigan???

Nicole said...

Gorgeous photos! I love all the fall colours. I will be watching your election with interest. It feels like every time something is "the worst it could be" something new happens to hit a new low. It's so depressing and I really, really hope there is a change.

Acorn Hollow said...

You colors are so vibrant! Must feel very sad to be closing the cottage for the season.
Cathy

This N That said...

You are way ahead of us as far as color goes..We've lost a lot of leaves..six weeks of picking up leaves by our lawn care service..I hate it..Noisy dusty and dirty.Pretty time of year for sure..

Barbara said...

I’m loving seeing your Fall photos. I’m missing the colours this year.

Shari Burke said...

It's lovely to follow the seasonal changes at the lake. It's beautiful in all the seasons :-)

DVArtist said...

Yes, Judee has people on the lookout for honey nut squash. Glad you found some. How nice that you volunteered for the Otsego county Democratics. No place to do that here. We all need to do what we can because the things I read about what the "thing" is doing to upend the midterms is criminal. But enough of that I want to say how pretty your photos are. The mushrooms are so nice to see. I swear we have Dandelions year round. LOL I enjoyed this post very much have a nice day.

anno said...

Lovely glimpses of autumnal color -- and wonderful autumnal activities (including the volunteering)! How you're enjoying a wonderful weekend!

Linda's Relaxing Lair said...

Absolutely stunning captures! I would never tire of such a beautiful view from my window, either!

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Lovely photos. I love seeing fall color. We don't have much here in California.

Alexandra said...

The autumn colours are beautiful around your little piece of paradise, there is so much red! It is that time of year for lots of "one more times". Thank You for the volunteer work you do!

Lowcarb team member said...

You can't beat the glorious colours of Fall/Autumn and I did enjoy seeing your photographs from around the lake.

All the best Jan

Kari Rogers Miller said...

Oh Jeanie the beautiful Fall colors across the lake are gorgeous! AND having that view out your window is amazing. It has to be d=hard to say good-bye to that. I like all the reds, yellows, orange and browns. However, I would have never thought dandelions this time of year. Enjoy the sights while you can. Yummy to the Squash, love it stuffed . Happy October my friend.🥰🍁🌻🌻🎃

Granny Sue said...

So very pretty there, Jeanie! No wonder you love it so.
Politics...well, I will once again be voting straight blue. Won't do any good in this very red state, but i must do what I must.

Linda Sue said...

Lake colors are food! I feel fat, now. Beautiful photos. I have a squash and two honey crisp apples on my counter that I bought today, Is it autumn or do we just think alike?

Neuer Gartentraum said...

Dear Jeanie,
first of all, thank you so much for your email. It was lovely to hear from you, and I was very happy to receive it.
There is something rather bittersweet about this last visit to the lake before the long winter break. I can understand why you never tire of that view from your window. And although you may have shown us similar pictures before, I certainly would not mind seeing it again and again, especially dressed in those wonderful autumn colours.
I love the mixture of reds and yellows, but I think the golden trees would be my favourites too. There is something about that warm autumn yellow that seems to capture the sunlight even on a cooler day.
Your final farmers’ market visit sounds good as well. Four honey nut squash and some Honeycrisp apples seem like very suitable provisions for autumn, and the combination with roasted walnuts sounds delicious.
I also smiled at the dandelion. There is always one plant somewhere that apparently refuses to consult the calendar! And those two little mushrooms are delightful.
Enjoy these last days at the lake and all the colour that is still to come. I hope you get the glorious autumn finale you are waiting for before it is time to say goodbye until spring.
Warm greetings,
Anette

Joanne said...

Lots of beautiful fall colors for sure!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jeanie,
Love the views you have from your lake house.
The fall colors are gorgeous.
I love all the mushroom and the beautiful trees.
I already dropped off my ballot in the drop box, I was not trusting the mail. Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead!

roentare said...

You're making the most of these beautiful autumn days, with changing colours, lovely encounters and seasonal treats, while looking forward to one last glimpse of the lake before winter sets in.

My name is Erika. said...

When we stayed at one place in PEI we had a Detroit TV station (the only US one), and we watched it because we really wanted to see the big weather photo with the storm that moved up the eastern seaboard. Anyhow, we saw some of those campaign adds. They are as nasty as the ones here in New Hampshire. And Maine. It's really sad when people spend more time knocking down their opponent than being truthful about what they'd like to do. Lovely lovely colors. I hope it's not to cold but worth it for the those colors. hugs-Erika

Polly said...

Beautiful views. It's getting chilly here.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Wow to the colors at the lake!
It is wonderful y’all have the chance to see that beauty. Good work on volunteering. The next election is crucial to America’s health.
May

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Squash, apples and Autumn colors are iconic for the season and luckily you had them all, Jeanie.

Lorrie said...

The colour is gorgeous - like a wall of flame along the water. I'm glad you can enjoy it.
The squash recipe is where I'm going as soon as I post this.

Veronica Lee said...

Such gorgeous autumn colors!
I especially love the golden yellows you captured.
The squash recipe sounds amazing.
Glad you got to enjoy these last days at the lake before winter sets in!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I like that sign about Michigan values. In the recent past, I would have thought that all of us in the US (maybe the world) shared those values, that they were self-evident, but, sadly, no. I will be voting as soon as early voting begins.

Nancy said...

I know you are enjoying the fall colors, as I am here in Pennsylvania!
Even though this might be your last trip to the lake… enjoy every moment dear friend!
🍂✨🍂

Sami said...

Your views of the lake are fabulous and so are those Autumn colours in the trees. Fingers crossed for the Democrats, can't wait for some changes... I had to look up what honey nut squash was...I think similar to butternut squash. Have a great week Jeanie.

Lisa's Yarns said...

Wow, those fall pics are gorgeous! What a beautiful view across the lake! We are a bit further behind you, I think, but it's hard to get an expansive view like that. When I went hiking with the boys last week, we mostly saw yellows and not much red but it was still pretty.

I am so ready for the election to be behind us. I am tired of political ads!

Bill said...

Lots of colourful beauty for the eyes. Butternut squash is my favourite, never heard of honey nut but I would think it's not a big difference. Enjoy!

Hena Tayeb said...

Oh those colors are amazing. Wonderful you got out there to volunteer.

Anonymous said...

Oh, those gorgeous fall colors !!! I sure do miss those mid-west autumns. Dawn P.

KarenW said...

Oh Jeannie, us folks on this side of the Great lakes are certainly well invested in your election results.

nicole orriens said...

Saying goodbye to something, even if it's not forever, can be bitter sweet indeed. I totally get you feeling a bit melancholy Jeannie.

MELODY JACOB said...

Those autumn colours are beautiful, especially the reds and yellows around the lake. I’d be sad to leave too, knowing I wouldn’t be back for six months, but at least you got to enjoy some lovely views and a few good finds at the farm market.

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