Can someone please slow down September? It's truly one of my fave months and I honestly cannot believe Autumn begins tomorrow and that the month is more than half over. What beautiful weather we are having, though, here in the eastern part of New York. I'm in heaven! I'm also thanking God for other things this week and joining in with others who give thanks for the blessings He brings to us. You can check out the host from over here.
FIVE FAVES
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| afternoon pause |
- YARD CHORES: Because Dave and I had been away for most of a week, we were behind on household chores and yard work. Saturday we tackled both, and by late afternoon, we had a fire going to burn some brush we had dealt with in the front and backyards, and I grabbed my book to read while relaxing and tending to the fire. I'm so thankful we are all caught up with those things that were on our "to do" list.
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| Moreau Lake |
- LAKE TIME! On Sunday, Dave was scheduled for Production Team at church from 7:30-12:30 so I went to the early service, came home to change, make a lunch and headed to the lake in one of my fave state parks for a couple of hours of swimming and relaxing with a book. My sister Joy decided to come down to do the same so that was fun to sit with her on the beach. When I got there, I was the only one on the beach although there was a group of 8 chairs with no one in them. Once Joy got there, the beach had maybe 10 people and only 2 of us swam. The air was cool, but the water was warm. The sun played hide and seek most of the afternoon but it was so relaxing to just sit, talk, and read our books. My sister lives just to the north of the park and we live just to the south. It's a great meeting spot. I'm thankful we took the time to do this.
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| gala apples freshly picked by our youngest girl and gifted to us! |
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| Mohawk River/Erie Canal Bike Path Niskayuna NY |
- APPLES AND WALKS: Tuesday was a good day. I had minimal neck pain and NO headache all day. Glory to God. I did my morning power walk on the bike path across town and I also made Apple Crisp with freshly picked apples that Claire gifted us with. She had gone apple picking with a friend Sunday afternoon and dropped them off as a surprise on Sunday evening. Because we had our first Bible study small group here at our home on Tuesday night, I decided to welcome the group with fresh apple crisp. Everyone loved it. I'm thankful for bright, sunny days and fresh apples from the local orchards.
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| a cairn with our 1990 wedding colors t(eal and cream) |
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| heart shaped rock represents our 2 daughters |
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| The "T" for our last name |
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| Our newly created Rock Garden |
- ROCK GARDEN! On Wednesday, another beautiful late summer day, I had no neck pain, back pain or headache. yeah. 3 days in a row! That's something huge since I've had these cervicogenic headaches now for 18 months and htey were daily as you know. Anyways, I felt so good that I decided to work in the front flower bed (I had dug out all the old bulbs on Sat) and so I laid down the brown paper bag, and then added the large bag of garden soil on top. I then rested in the sunshine with my book and after lunch, I finished this project by creating various things with the rocks we pulled from Lake Huron/the beach at our friend's when we were in Michigan. Each photo explains what each rock piece means. The pumpkin is from a local farm stand and represents Autumn of course. In the winter there will most likely be some snow there and in the spring I plan on putting some kind of flower in. Not sure yet but I do know it won't be tulips as they are in the longer flower bed. I'm thankful this project was completed in just 2 days.
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| wooden walkway through the forest due to a tributary of Stony Creek after the wooden bridge, there is a carpet of pine needles...my fave |
- SOLO HIKE: Yesterday was just gorgeous. Sunny, a high of 69 degrees F here in the Capital Region and a high of 64 in the Adirondacks where I wanted to hike a trail system I did in April 2022 but back then it was still snowy in spots, super wet and buggy! Yesterday was perfect as there's no bugs in late summer/Autumn. I went by myself as my friend I ended up getting sick so this hike was actually my plan B since I know I can hike the trails by myself. There were a group of older folks there and we chatted a few minutes and they gave me some tips about another trail in the system I hadn't done. I also saw one other solo woman but for most of the day I had the trails to my self. I spent about 2 hours there and loved every minute. Below are a few of my fave scenes from this hike. It's called Dean Farm Heritage Trails and it's located in Stony Creek, NY (eastern Adirondack Mountains about 45 minutes northwest of my house) I'm thankful that even though my headache and neck pain were back, that I had time in the woods/mountains/meadows.
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| Stony Creek and end of first trail looking downstream |
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| Boardwalk across the pond to a lookout area |
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| Pond in the Dean Farm Heritage Preserve |
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| Boardwalk through a wetlands |
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| Looking across the meadow from the trail across the parking area to the mountain in the background. If it's Crane Mt (which I think it is), I've climbed that one! It was several years ago and a kick butt mountain trail |
That wraps up my faves.......lots of time outdoors is good for the body and soul.
What makes you thankful this week??
7 comments:
Hi Faith. You had some lovely hikes this week, and great time outdoors. I love your rock garden and your fire pit! I want a fire pit in our backyard. We had one in Arizona, but there isn't really room here. Maybe someday. Sounds like you had a really nice week. So glad that you are enjoying your retirement! See you again soon!
I love the idea of your rock garden. It's so pretty. We have been having beautiful end of summer weather here as well. Glad you had a headache free day. My husband has chronic pain and I understand that it makes everything more difficult.
Hi Faithe, I enjoyed reading your blog tonight. I like your rock garden. I love apple crisp! You are blessed to have places you can go hiking. Enjoy your weeken!
Sounds like a great week! It's a good feeling to get yard work and chores done. I like the idea of the rock garden with different meaningful arrangements. It's nice to have a lake between you and your sister as a place to meet up. Apple crisp sounds lovely.
Oh, I am so peaed to her your head and neck pain subsided.. That must be a terrible nuisance.. Neck pain, I understand can really drag one down. MY main pain is the hip and lower back. But we presevere, dont we!! It is so great to have that virus behind me. I am working on a study called the 7 feasts. which I am really excited to get into. I Missed that first class and I have worked like mad to get this first week of homework done. Quite a bit of writing! I look so forward to next Tuesday's class! Tomorrow we begin in a new Sunday School class. Im a bit antsy about it. I feel like a school girl.. Isn't that funny.... at my age. But I do have high hopes for the class. Our previous class just wasn't a good fit but it is hard to leave a class I think. Anyway. a new start is always a good thing!! I hope you have a marvelous new week!!' Schotzy
I always love seeing the photos of your hikes. I've done a few solo hikes although The Professor and Trail Life guys were in the same parks at the same times. I do walk in the neighborhood and on the local trail solo.
Apple Crisp! Yum!!
I'm glad that your headaches seem to be getting less frequent. Hopefully, soon they will just go away.
Have a good week!
How nice that you have a central beach between you and your sis to meet at. I may just have to do that with mine! And nice that it was still warm enough to swim!! Your hike looks lovely. I would love a fire pit in my yard. How sweet of Claire to think of you. Apple Crisp is one of my all time favorite desserts!
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