Friday! And a 3 day weekend thanks to Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day! I'm so thrilled to have Monday off. This first month of school has been busy and a tiny bit stressful due to almost all new prek children and many are on the autism spectrum. I'm just wiped out. So....I'm pausing today to give thanks to the many blessings the Lord brought my way this past week. Some were bigger than others and here are FIVE of my FAVES. I'm linking up at Susanne's space. Join in!!
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| fall foliage at Elizabeth Point on 13th Lake in the Siamese Pond Wilderness Area Central Adirondacks |
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| 13th Lake and the Siamese Pond Wilderness Area seen from the summit of Balm of Gilead Mountain |
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| 13th Lake from the Beach Road Campsites Peaked Mt to the right of the pic |
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| my friend Jeanie on the trail up Balm of Gilead Mt (2 other hiker friends were behind us) Saturday 1 October |
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| 13th Lake from Beach Rd sites Balm of Gilead Mt is the peak to the left |
- SATURDAY HIKE! Saturday morning, my church friend Jeanie and I headed out around 8 am to meet up with my childhood friend Cheryl and one of the members of her hiking group, Deb. I had never met Deb before and what fun we had learning about each other. The mountain we were climbing is called Balm of Gilead. It's located in the Siamese Pond Wilderness Area of the Central Adirondacks so a 1.5 hour drive from my home. The summit is only 2443 feet in elevation so this hike only took us about an hour. There was one short steep section which included scrambling up some rocks but the summit had a 350 degree view and was just stunning. Fall foliage was just beginning and should be at peak this weekend in the mountains. After coming back down the 2.3 mile hike, we decided to walk the extra .8 mile to 13th lake. This lake is in the wilderness region (we could see the entire length from the summit of Balm of Gilead) and is pristine because only motorless boats (canoes, kayaks) are allowed in wilderness areas of the Adirondack Mountains. This is a state law and one we love! We explored the part of 13th Lake known as Elizabeth Point where there are 2 wilderness camping areas (tents only and no toilets.....just an outhouse) and then we drove up the road after hiking the .8 miles back to then do a .4 hike from Beach Rd and to another lovely spot on the lake. This trail also can take us up to the summit of Peaked Mt which is a longer, harder hike and one that I do want to attempt someday. What a lovely day the 4 of us had. I'm thankful for new and old hiking friends and glorious Autumn weather the Creator blessed us with.
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| deckpot wildflowers still in bloom! |
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| trellis wildflower bed still blooming! |
- BACKYARD BLOOMS! This past week, I've been able to sit in the sunshine in the backyard after work and enjoy the beauty of the backyard blooms. I think because we had such a dry, hot summer, and now a relatively warm autumn, the flowers are still blooming. I'm thankful for God's artistry!
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| image courtesy of saint anthony novato website |
- OPEN HOUSE SUCCESS! The Special Education PreK agency where I teach just completed our 4th full week of school for the 2022/2023 year. We had Open House on Monday evening and although I am not contracted to have to attend and present information, I was asked to this year in order for the parents of the language students I teach in circle lesson to hear and see what it is I do with their children each day. We have 12 students altogether and I have 5 of them in my more structured language based circle lesson. I have my own section of a room and I also run a symbolic play -group center in there. I was able to show the parents the routine I use each day and talked to them about the expectations and goals we have as a group. I also created a board with "Helping Hands" on it and printed in bold black marker some classroom needs/wants for parents to buy us. Things like Kleenex, Lysol wipes, sidewalk chalk, playdough; pasta, cornmeal, brown sugar (for sensory play) and Amazon gift cards, hand sanitizer. Yes we often have to use our own money to purchase those items. Overall, out of the 12 students we have in our main classroom, 8 of the children had a parent representative. In some cases, both parents came! The other 2 classrooms also had a very good turn out. I'm thankful to have met so many parents and to have helped out with Open House.
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| front porch of our home in the late afternoon sunshine Thursday 6 October |
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| front flower bed with roses still blooming, along with mums and spring blossoms! The pumpkin is from a farm in Vermont |
- FRONT OF HOUSE IS DECORATED! The front stoop and flower bed under the living room windows are done. I added the cute Halloween pillow to the rocker and decided this year the rocking chair is staying there until November 1st. (I typically move it to the deck and cover it for late Autumn/Winter). I used to use hay bales in the corner with pumpkins, scarecrows, and jack o'lanterns but have decided to keep things simple this year. The little white plastic pumpkin on the small blue bench to the right of the door says "trick or treat". That's it for my Halloween decor. Because of the background/real meaning of that "holiday" we tend to downplay it and always have. As Christians we do light a jack o lantern though and tell people it's to "shine the Light of Jesus" vs chasing away evil spirits. It's a preference area for sure. I do love Harvest time, though, thus all the pumpkins and mums. We have more on the deck! I'm thankful for the colors of Autumn.
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| egret on the farm Wednesday 5 October |
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| farm trees just turning color |
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| neighbor's red maple just turning! |
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| our 2 maples are just now turning color! Thursday 6 October |
- COLOR COLOR EVERYWHERE! On my after work power walks or time reading in the bakyard, I realized just how much color was popping up all around me. I spied the egret on the farm across the road from our home.....he just stood there while commuter traffic was whizzing by......and then I spied the trees along the edge of the farm just starting to turn color as well as my neighbor's maple and our 2 Japanese maples! I am so thankful we live in the Northeast where we get these amazing autumns! God's handiwork is just beautiful, isn't it?
That wraps up the first week of October faves. What were your blessings from the week? did you spend any time outside enjoying the Autumn sunshine and warm temps?
HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Day WEEKEND!
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| I couldn't agree more! (and yes, I have 1/4 Native American blood in me from my dad's side of the family) |
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| Words of wisdom! |
10 comments:
Hi Faith! Lovely post. I am glad the school year is going well and that your open house was a success with so many parents in attendance. Great pictures from the hike. Fall is really beautiful in your area. I love the decorations on your porch. Have a good weekend!
What a beautiful post.. You live in a gorgeous area.. So fabulous to actually see some fall color.. We are late this year,, I hope it will be a nice fall here. I know how you felt getting a Monday off. Just one day seemed to make a 4 day week marvelous after a hectic school opening. Have a blessed year and a wonderful autumn! Schotzy
It must be very difficult to deal with autistic children, no wonder that you were tired. We still have warm weather and sunshine, but in the mornings and evenings it's getting cool and the heating starts ! The trees are still green and despite the fact that it had been such a dry and hot summer fall seems not yet to show it's nose. My grandson also started a new school he is now in secondary school which leads to highschool and university, in the Netherlands they have another system, what's good is that they lessons are given half English half Dutch. There also was a parents evening. What is good is that there are no classes but groups and when a child is really gifted it goes with another group with older children. I think that's good so he doesn't get bored !
Thanks for sharing all those lovely photos Faith. Working with young children is exhausting at the best of times so I'm not surprised you're exhausted working with children with additional needs. I hope the long weekend enables you to get some rest and recharge your batteries.
Your teaching work sounds very rewarding. I like what you described in your Open House. God bless you working with those children. Not many would have the patience. Your hikes are amazing. My legs just won't cooperate for things like that so I hike vicariously with you! Have a lovely weekend.
The fall colors are just beautiful in your area. It's funny that our flowers are blooming so much longer this year, too. And I have "spring" flowers that are blooming again! Not complaining, just a bit puzzled by it all.
Your front porch looks very festive.
I'm glad the Open House went so well and the school year is going well so far. Your fall decorations look cute. I need to get mine out. I love the color this time of year.
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Love those fall colors and pictures throughout the post. Your front porch looks cute with the pops of autumn color everywhere. Isn't it amazing how flowers are still blooming? Glad that your open house went well. Hopefully you'll get all the supplies you need donated.
Your colors are more vibrant than ours right now. I did walk through the woods today and it was wonderful!
That hike--oh my! I am so glad you had that opportunity to spend all the time with your friends.
Your porch and flower bed look so nice. Love the pillow on the rocking chair.
Enjoy your holiday tomorrow!
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