My favourite month has gone too quickly and I'm still dreaming of mountain hikes, crunching leaves, and tart apples swirled with rich caramel. Since, aside from a Poe reading and Jack-o-Lantern alley, we didn't do much more than a scattering of decorations and candies, I spent time remembering adventures past and planning for next year's amazing Harvest celebrations. Out East for years, I wandered the narrow streets acting like I knew how to use my camera. No filters needed, the leaves and scenes were lovely enough. And then, for a Day after Hallowe'en ...erm....adventure, I pretended to tunnel to the center of the Earth whilst the guy invented a flying machine. We traveled back to the future for a Steampunk Danse McAbre. We learned two things during this adventure: 1. Some people have a pair of wearable hooves laying around... 2. Therefore, We're not too steampunk. When the clock strikes midnight,the orange & black will switch to reds & greens...everywhere. (And honestly, this year, I'm looking forward to all of carols and traditions; I've already compiled our Christmas Time Wanderlust Wishlist... and its a doozie!) One of the highlights of Main Street living was the trick-or-treating, shutting down the road for 2 hours. We would have hundreds of trick-or-treaters each year, a far cry from our nine this year. While I still have my vintage Hallowe'en collection (oh, and its on display), I loved stacking and styling our 150 year old mantles and inviting groups to share cider and Victorian games around our flat.
We're the ones driving an hour and half just to see stacks of glowing pumpkins, after completing our cider mill tours and corn mazes. in Shepherd, MI
For those of you who know us well, you know that I've loved autumn as much as I love chocolate. I often sing, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year while reveling in pumpkins and gourds and falling leaves. All the senses awaken around this time of year & the smells,sights, and, of course, tastes, of this season are by far my favourite!
The colours: I'm the one driving to the rumored best spot in {almost} every town we visit to check the man-made silhouettes against the horizon. From top to bottom: Grand Rapids (from the West End), Saginaw (from across the river), Marquette (from Isle), Traverse City (from a sail boat), Detroit (from my favorite bridge) , Sault Ste. Marie (from Sugar Island), Lansing (from down the road), Kalamazoo (from the highway), and Ann Arbor (from U of M's 'library)
For the second time, Art Prize is a can't miss art spectacular. Literally, you can't miss it-- the entire city has transformed into a veritable art gallery. Welcome to Grand Rapids in America's High Five. If you're not here, you're missing out.
There was a time the breeze was gentle and the sea was tranquil. Remembering Puerto Rico after the hurricane season has left its gorgeous shore littered with death and sorrow. This is a TBT picture post.
Practicing yoga for 20 years became so much brighter @ Soul Pose. I'm the one counting this local activity as a wishlist item, because....well... glowsticks & bubbles.
September brings to my heart a great, slightly ridiculous yearning for a true Yooper Autumn. There, September can be felt as the air abruptly chills and the river runs more wildly. Here, in the city, September is business as usual. Labor Day weekend used to be the final weekend of summer in the mitten. Only after one last summer trip to the Cherry Capital or to the end of summer sidewalk festivals were the yellow busses seen. This is the season I am most proud to recognize that, even though I will always be a wanderer, I do have roots planted deeply in the rich, dark soils near the Superior Lake. This weekend, although many hours away, had the feeling of September that I have been craving. I saw a lot of this: As the summer sun is setting and my most wonderful time of the year begins, I am excited to chase the feeling of Autumn right into winter's cold breath.
Here's to a 4-day work week and sweater weather! |
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