Our day was pretty nice, most of the time.  We had bright sunshine in the morning and although it grew dimmer by afternoon, the temperature was mild and the colors absolutely beautiful.  The leaves are beginning to fall on our driveway, and there's the pungent odor of wet leaves mixed with a tinge of wood smoke and freshly cut spruce.   Typical autumn, a lovely respite before winter.

Fred had an appointment in St. Johnsbury right after lunch, and was gone most of the afternoon, but I spent as much time as possible outside, cutting flowers, checking the summer squash patch, picking up fallen twigs; and because we'd ordered turkey dinner take-outs, I didn't have to think about planning and cooking an evening meal.  Instead, I tackled little projects around the place and enjoyed the gorgeous landscape around me.  Our trees are spectacular this year.  The colors are vivid - probably still wet from yesterday's rain since the sun really didn't seem to dry things off very much.  Then tonight we got sprinkles again, and there will probably be rain for the rest of the week - likely turning colder.  The foliage is at its best when it's wet - it brings out the deepest colors.

Fred said the traffic coming through Danville construction project was terrible.  Later, when Marie got here for dinner, she said she'd been held up there, too.  Traffic was lined up almost back to Goodfella's Restaurant.  Lots of out of state cars and motor homes.  I hope those people who came to see our foliage paid attention to the views as they waited in line along Dole Hill.  They had time to get some really nice pictures if they weren't too busy grumbling about the delays.  

 These are pictures Fred took on his way home from St. Johnsbury.  Top is the view as he waited in line on Dole Hill - looking towards the White Mountains.  In the next picture you can see the top of Dole Hill where the look-out area is, and then the other side of Dole Hill by the Beattie farm, heading into Danville Village.

He had done some errands for one of our neighbors, so went up Route 15 from West Danville.  The colors there are beautiful, too.  (see picture at right.)  I think we are pretty near peak color, and the display should hold for another week or so. 

Our turkey dinners were great.  We had a very nice evening - a small group came together at our house, and the dinners were all packed up and waiting when Fred got to the church.  Jamie and Marie were able to join us this year, along with Joe's Ponder, Helen Morrison and a newcomer to our neighborhood, John Jenkins, who bought Jeff Downs' log cabin this past spring.  Even though Jamie and Marie live just up the road from us, and the others live just down the road, we don't see that much of them, so it was very nice to catch up.  

Tomorrow will be a quiet day.  If it rains, I'll continue working on scanning documents, and perhaps make a few more calls to get donations for the silent auction on October 13th.  I've called several folks on the list I was given - people who have donated in the past; also, some Joe's Pond folks who read about the APF here on the blog  have brought items to me, and that is wonderful.  I'll also be happy to pick anything up people may want to donate.  Just give me a call - 563-2381.  Old, collectible items go well, and also theme baskets or home made jams and jellies, handiwork and, I nearly forgot - cookbooks!  Someone is donating some antique tools, another person volunteered a couple of pies - it all helps and we're very appreciative.  We need more of everything - not just items for the auction, but also apple pies, or volunteer to help for an hour or so on that Saturday.  We can always use extra hands.  Click on the poster to learn more about the Apple Pie Festival.  The APF is the Historical Society's only fund raising event, so we put all our effort into making it a success.  We hope you'll come join the fun on the 13th - enter a pie in the contest, or just plan to have lunch with us and enjoy the show.  There is always lots going on and lots to see.