A fall walk with Reily and Arlo

About a month ago I went up to the hill to take Arlo and Reily for a walk in the woods with me.  I love our system of trails out there, and I knew that the best part of fall was coming to an end, and wanted to enjoy it while I could.  It turns out Reily is getting pretty old....he was limping a bit before we got back.  But as always, him and Arlo had a great time together- and it was a beautiful day!!  I always feel so great after a walk in the woods.  It is my best therapy!  And walking with dogs I think is my favorite...I can just think and relax, but I'm not completely alone either- and they can be rather entertaining!
Now it is the day before Thanksgiving, and Katie, Matt and the kids are here!  I am headed to Winona in a bit, with Arlo to go see them.  We will see how Arlo does with mom's new kitten- a little orange one, that is very sweet and cuddly.  Turns out that it is a girl, too!  I miss my Kunguk.  Cat Cat- (named by Jim) the little cat that wandered in off the cornfield not long after Kunguk disappeared, has grown and is starting to get a bit fat.  He eats obsessively, since he was pretty starved when we found him.  Him and Arlo are the best of friends.  They even play with toys together...it is rather odd. Arlo hardly knows how to be around other cats though, as Cat Cat just lets him do whatever he wants to him and loves him unconditionally.  I wish Arlo would learn that this is the exception and not the norm.
But- off to better things today!!  I can't wait to play with my niece and nephew!! It has only been about 2 1/2 weeks since I have seen them- but I have missed them!!

The lingering end of summer

Walking around my yard, there are still a few surprising signs of that which is ending- such as a great supply of tomatoes, just picked yesterday from my garden! For being the middle of October, I am pretty impressed with my pickings.  For a few scraggly tomato plants, planted way late in the season, and from the clearance aisle of Fleet farm for less than a dollar apiece, I would say I managed quite well this year! My favorite being the cherry tomatoes, which I have been picking and popping into my mouth everytime I pass by for the last couple months.  Pure candy.  I just can't seem to get enough. I did not get any tomatoes until well after people were giving me tomatoes by the loads, but come, they did! And I quite enjoy having these fresh veggies well into the fall!  I still have quite a few green ones on the plants, but I think I will risk the frost, and see if I can wait a bit longer for them to ripen.  Next year- I am planting some early plants, and a few later ones as well!

 part of my yard

 My beautiful MUMs that Jim bought me.  These things are still going strong!...despite all the pine needles falling on them!

 In the garden

The back yard has been leveled!  Boy does it look a lot better!  And now with it flat, we can mow it next summer and avoid the jungle that grew there! Thank you Mr. tractor.  Yet again, you have saved me hours and hours of moving dirt.

Seasonal Finds on an October Walk

After school today, I went to a meeting for our "Fall Harvest Dinner next week- celebrating healthy and local foods.  The meeting was held in my classroom, and a parent of a kid I had 2 years ago came to help organize our dinner.  She also brought some delicious home-made soup that she will be serving at the dinner next week! After that I had to rush home, because Jim is in Nevada this week, and poor, poor Arlo has had to suffer for a whole day the fate in which most dogs do every day.  He was left inside all alone while we went to work!  No day at the shop with visiting postal workers who give treats, employees who pet him, Jim who plays with him, and his two beds to choose from. The poor creature.  He was a bit wild upon being let out, so I decided to find a trail I knew to exist not far from home.  I'm glad I did- because I think I will be visiting it much more!  Along the way, I decided to look for things that mark the time of year it is....that beautiful autumn which is already beginning to slip away!  So, here are a few of the pictures I took today....so you can feel like you went for a walk too!  I always feel SOO much better after a walk in the woods!

 the only puddle for miles.....of course Arlo waded in it.

 It doesn't look like it in this picture- but this is going to make one great skiing hill this winter!....other than that rock!

Christopher and Sarah- Getting Married!

 Kiesel Horse- the chosen wedding island!

 So nice out, I just couldn't resist the water!

 There were really neat little spider webs in the sand...that just caught the sunlight and made a prism effect!

 Helping Grandma off the boat!  These photos really make me laugh!!