Autumn Time

I don't think there is any denying that Fall has officially arrived.  In a few short weeks the temperature highs went from being in the 70s down to the 40s.  The quick drop, combined with a bunch of strong wind, has caused the fall colors to not be that abundant this year (some trees have changed colors, but many have remained green and are just falling/getting blown off that way).  We've still tried to get out and enjoy the fall weather over these last two weeks.  I'll just say right now that there are a lot of pictures ahead.  These probably would have been divided into a few separate posts, but recent events around these parts have caused editing and posting pictures to not be a high priority.  And I didn't feel like dragging them all out unnecessarily.

Ann and I headed up to the Plumber House last week in hopes of seeing some beautiful fall colors.  As I already mentioned, we were a little disappointed in that regard.  But Ann enjoyed getting to wear her new hat and mittens (and getting to be outside in general), so it made the little trip worthwhile.

I was surprised to see how pretty the flowers still looked.  I'm sure they are all dead now though, as we've started having some hard frosts since we were there.

Dancing down the stairs to the lower garden

"Hey squirrel!  Come back squirrel!"

Looking at more flowers.  I think it was after this picture that I realized the death-grip Ann had on those flowers...opps.

Pretty flowers despite the cold

Ann "playing" the piano.  We brought out our Children's Songbook for family home evening the other week and Ann has enjoyed flipping through it pretending to play the songs.

Earlier this week Ann and I headed out to Quarry Hill.  They had some pumpkins set around the sign out front.

When I asked Ann if she knew what that was, she said "no-nos" (her word for noodles).  Sorry hunny, that's just hay.

Having fun crossing the little bridge

I think this gives a good view of what the fall foliage has been like this year.  One pretty red tree, and a bunch of nearly leaf-less green trees in the background.

Walking across the bridge to the island in the middle of the pond

There were some ducks hanging out along the bank of the island and we were able to get really close to them and watch them swim and dive for food.

Hello Mr. Mallard

Watching the ducks swim around

Obligatory self-portrait shot of the two of us

Walking back to the nature center where it was much warmer :)

Ann found her Halloween costume from last year and asked to wear it.  It was kind of big on her last year so it still fit this year (she will have a different costume this year...stay tuned :)

We didn't go out much yesterday, so I finally got around to making some homemade playdough (I had been meaning to for a while).  We enjoyed playing with it for a little while.

Taste-testing (unfortunately she wouldn't stop sticking it in her mouth so I put it away; hopefully next time playing with it won't end in a tantrum).

"making two snakes!" (Oh, and if you noticed the bandages on Ann's face - they are there in attempt to get her to stop picking at the scratches she's had on her face for nearly a month, as can be seen in some of the previous pictures...hopefully she'll leave them alone long enough to let them completely heal).