Early Autumn Faves

I can't believe the first full week of autumn has almost passed!

This week really flew by for me.  We were busy every single night....tonite we are just staying home and relaxing!

In all the busyness, I can definitely find some faves......blessings from God that really gave the week a special touch. I love that we are in the new year, with the new season (my favorite weather!) and with our routines going smoothly right now.  Thanks be to God!

Join in with me and other writers as we share our FIVE FAVES from the past week.  You can link up at Susanne's site.

• SURPRISE GIFT!  Those of you who know me, know that my love language is Gifts.  I love to give them...I love getting surprised by them. I love cards, bows, etc. Well, one of my very best friends (Carla) brought a gift for me to our first small group discussion meeting. It was the little green apple-shaped bowl you see filled with raw sugar.She also included Vanilla Lemon Biscotti which I am saving for our dessert night at our next study, and 2 adorable kitchen towels with a pumpkin theme.  The card was my favorite part because she wrote me a very nice message.  It was a great surprise and very unexpected!

• BIKING DATE!  Saturday was a cloudy day at first and then the sun came out and it warmed up a little. Dave and I wanted to get some outdoor exercise in, but we didn't want to take the entire day and go hiking.  Rather, he and I took the bikes to a new-to-us section of our town's bike paths. We had so much fun! We even discovered some new walking trails around the old Shaker community and the pond near the airport. After about 5 miles, we stopped for refreshing iced mocha lattes at DD! We then biked back up a long hill.  I kept peddling even though Dave had to get off his bike and walk it!  I think my legs are in good shape due to all the hiking I've done since April! It was an awesome afternoon date. I am so thankful we live in a large suburb with a variety of local cultural and nature areas.

• COLOR! On Monday, I was outdoors after work doing some yard work and noticed my zinnias in the deck trellis.  The morning glories are still blooming every morning as they tend to last all the way until mid-November.  But I didn't know my zinnias were still in bloom until I got on that side of the house.  I love the pink. They probably don't look as vibrant in the picture as they do when one is standing next to them.  It's a blessing to still have some color near my deck! AND...now that the evenings are chillier, we are starting to see some leaves turn golden yellow and a vibrant red. I love the colors of Autumn!

photo courtesy of the William K Sanford Library website

• LIBRARY TRIP!  On Sunday afternoon, I headed to our town library to get some books. I was disappointed that the one I was in the middle of (Fly Away by Kristen Hannah) couldn't be renewed due to it being on a waiting list. I wrote down where I left off, returned it, got back on the waiting list, and took out 3 other books all of which look excellent.  I started one, shown on my side bar and it is so good!  I love to read in the evenings and now that my time outdoors is cut short due to it getting dark sooner, I will have more time to read!  It's a real blessing to live in a town that has such a large, well-run library.  We even have a reading garden now!! (not shown in pic as this is from last autumn;  but it is located just behind the fountain).  It has several benches, flowers, and a couple of tables with chairs for playing checkers or backgammon or working on a laptop.  I love it!!

Walking/Biking Trail through The Orchard
at The Crossings

• WALKING WORK-OUT!  Wednesday evening while Claire was in her ballet class, I drove over to our town park and did my walking work-out. I walked from the furthest lot down to The Flats, around the Flats, out to one edge of the wooded trail, across the main road and down to the entrance where the trail from The Orchards connects. I then walked the Orchard trail back to my car for a total of 2.3 miles in 32 minutes which is a record for me! It was an absolutely perfect autumn evening....bright blue sky, no clouds, sun just beginning to set, cool air but warm enough to work up a sweat. Once I was back in the car I rewarded my self with a small pumpkin spice coffee which I thoroughly enjoyed while waiting a few minutes for Claire's class to end. So thankful for the chance to work-out in a beautiful setting.

Trail along the main road at The Crossings

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend celebrating life....and our Lord!