Among the things I did to amuse myself during my (very cold) few days at the lake in early September while Rick was still on his cycling journey, was go through old photos on my computer and take a look at some I'd forgotten. I wanted to finish this post during my most recent visit -- but with no computer, it had to wait. But now, the first of several collections to pop up here in the future -- "Fall Favorites."
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| Near Charlevoix, Michigan |
What happened to September? It's like a magician's trick -- Now you see it, now you don't! Well, we still have some time but boy, it's flying by!
I headed to the lake to welcome my new refrigerator. I suspected Rick might want to sit this trip out, having been away from his own home for so long. The new fridge is lovely and the delivery couldn't have been better. Right on time, two very strong guys managed to get it in without having to remove my heavy wooden door!
"The corn is as high as an elephant's eye
And it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky!"
~~~ Oscar Hammerstein Jr., "Oklahoma!"
Rick and I headed home for a few days -- a doc appointment for me, time for his cycling trip to Ottawa for him. It was a gloomy day when we left -- it's always easier to leave the lake on a cold, gloomy day!
It's sad, thinking that this will be my last visit to the lake. But it has been so breathtakingly beautiful, I can't complain for a second.
The cottage has been my point of safety during this Covid-ridden summer, a place where I could isolate and not feel isolated, spend time with Rick and just enjoy the water, woods, painting, reading and so much more. Now the geese are flying south, and soon I shall be, too.
After our splendid first day "color tour," I decided to check out the other ski area and a few other places for some beauty.
The Otsego Ski Club couldn't match the beauty of yesterday's Treetops in its hills and color, but the sky was finally blue!
After checking out the color there and picking up a couple of mums to take home, I headed to Michawe golf course. It didn't have hills, but it didn't disappoint.
I was intrigued by the birch trees which had lost their leaves but still looked stunning in the sun.
I can't resist all the photos. It seems like I never really saw fall last year and this one is making up for it big time!
After Michawe, I took a quick stop at another golf course, The Loon. Nothing much to see here, except this golden glade -- and it was spectacular.
Rick got home from his walk about the time I returned -- and with him, some surprises -- flowers for me!
And a book, from the Little Free Library, "A Woman of No Importance," about WWII spy/resistance worker, Virginia Hill. I've been wanting to read this and while it was a lucky guess for him, it was spot on!
Our fungi collection in the yard is continually changing. These were huge.
I enjoyed another walk later in the afternoon, this time admiring the color in my own woods.
While out, I walked through the now-fading grounds of a nearby garden shop.
I was enthralled by these glorious hydrangeas.
I finished my walk, following that well traveled road and noticing tiny changes, like the last of autumn's apples, clinging to a tree.
A curious squirrel is intent on climbing the pines that seem miles high.
And color. Everywhere you look. Color.
Home again, where I try (less successfully than usual) to capture some of the day's leaves.
And then Rick's wonderful onion pasta for dinner.
Life is quiet and good. Outside my space our country is in turmoil. We are missing the contact of family and friends we cannot see or touch. Doing things that once seemed easy -- a trip to a store, going to a movie or play or a hug from a toddler -- now seem to have an element of danger that didn't exist when the leaves drifted to the ground last fall.
I wish it could stay this peaceful forever. But I miss those hugs.
She looks so innocent, doesn't she. Don't believe it for a minute. She may only have a vocabulary of three words but she's smart as a whip. This is what the bedroom looked like after I tore my bed apart -- mattress, box and all. Of course, by then she had bolted into one of her hidey holes in the bathroom.
After trying to decide if I should find a cat care person and just leave or go get her, I managed to get her into the dreaded box and off we went. She gave me the evil eye all the way.
I have to say the color all the way north was fabulous and when I arrived, it was no less so. This is one of my walking roads.
And this, the morning view.
A friend of Rick's, George the Cyclist, camped out in our yard on his cycling journey to Carnegie Libraries in Michigan. George is an interesting fellow and writes a great blog on his bicycle travels around the world. We had a lovely distanced dinner on the porch in our jackets. The next morning, Rick and George went on a long bike ride.
They had a perfect day for it.
While they were gone, I went to my teeny-tiny post office (one window) and mailed some packages and then took a ride to the other side of the lake. That's the cottage -- from afar!
When they got back, George took off. I settled in with a book. After the stress of the ride the day before (plus, on that day learning of the terrorist plot to kidnap our governor and overthrow the capitol, just another day in these weird and wacky and wretched times) it was pure heaven to sit on the couch with my book, occasionally glancing out to see this.
When Rick finished work we went on a color ride. Oh, it was spectacular. He knows all the back roads from his rides and we saw some pretty stuff. But nothing topped the view at the ski lodge.
Everywhere I looked, it was like a painting. All the fall colors -- reds, oranges, yellows, even some browns and of course, green. If the sky had been a little more blue, it would have been the most glorious spectrum!
But to be honest, I don't think it could be much more so than it was.
It was a windy day but of course we had to record the moment for posterity! Because that's what I do.
Then we had a beer on the patio, overlooking the loveliest view. It was relatively warm -- high 60s -- and so quiet and peaceful, even though others were about.
After getting home, a quiet and delicious dinner -- Rick's homemade pizza. A new episode of "Great British Baking Show," and just enjoying the peace of the lake (that finally descended after next door's lawn and leaf-blower guys left!)
And still enchanted by the magic of fall's beauty!
If I could eat all the mushrooms sprouting up on the lawn at the lake and in the woods, I'd never have to buy mushrooms again!
Unfortunately, as I told Rick, there are three options with the mushrooms in the yard -- they either will taste great and be fabulous in soups, stews and sauces; they'll send us on a magical mushroom trip, the kind not seen since the 60s, or we'll be dead as a doornail by dessert.
Needless to say, they are my eye candy, not my snack!
They pop up every day -- more than the day before and they change, too.
Look at these, with the interesting texture. They're quite beautiful.
I was on my walk and it started to rain -- nothing much, just a sprinkle, but it looked threatening.
So, I decided to cut through the woods where at least the tree cover would keep me dry.
I haven't been in the woods in years for a walk. There are paths, most cut, I suspect, by ORVs or cross country skiers, though I've not seen any to be sure. There is a swamp attached to the woods, so you have to be careful where you walk.
I did pretty well, and I enjoyed the cover of the woods.
Until I ran out of path options. I found myself in a mossy area, which was pretty squishy!
The moss is interesting. Most is bright green, even now.
But this was a rather vibrant red.
It is a bit of a "magic land" out there these days, with changes from morning to evening. I imagine little fairies or forest people who find shelter in these mushroom houses!
I did get "out of the woods" and back home.
Dry, and delighted for taking the route!
Sharing with: Pink Saturday / Let's Keep in Touch
