We had this message from Homer and Margaret Fitts today - they are obviously enjoying our beautiful weather and the fantastic start of foliage season:

HI -

    WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TWO DAYS HERE IN VERMONT.

THE LEAVES HAVE TURNED RED, ORANGE, GOLD ETC.

YESTERDAY WE TOURED WILLIAMSTOWN, CHELSEA, TUNBRIDGE, VERSHIRE, CORINTH, EAST ORANGE, WASHINGTON, EAST BARRE, GRANITEVILLE, CEMETERIES, SOUTH BARRE AND HOME.

    TODAY WE WENT TO CHURCH IN PEACHAM.  SO WE TRAVELED  THROUGH EAST MONTPELIER, PLAINFIELD AND MARSHFIELD IN THE FOG.   THEN CAME CABOT,  JOE'S POND, WEST DANVILLE, DANVILLE AND PEACHAM.   AFTER CHURCH BACK TO JOE'S POND AND THEN LUNCH AT THE NEW PEACHAM CAFE.  NEXT WE RODE BACK ROADS IN PEACHAM, GROTON, TOPSHAM, ORANGE, EAST BARRE, CUTLER CORNER AND HOME.

    TWO   GREAT   DAYS  !        REALLY SURPRISED AT ALL THE COLOR EVERYWHERE.

    IF POSSIBLE, SUGGEST YOU GET OUT  AND RIDE THE BACK ROADS.

                                    HOMER & MARGARET

We were out and about yesterday, too.  We went to North Danville to the chicken pie supper - well, we got take-outs.  It was beautiful last year when we did it, too.  The picture above was taken as we were leaving Danville - near Vance's, with the Webster farm in the background.  It was a lovely drive over and back.  Today we walked just before lunch and enjoyed being closer to the colors, but didn't get many great pictures.  I think the best time to take pictures of the foliage is early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower, not directly overhead.

Last night we went to look for Woody at bed time and found this young fellow or lady curled up on our deck.  We finally found Woody and got him inside -- we didn't want to risk a squabble over territory.  The raccoon was just about the same size as Woody, so I can't imagine the outcome had they met.  Raccoons don't have very sharp eyesight, but this one seemed to look directly at us standing in the doorway and just sort of repositioned so his back was to us and seemed content to snooze there.  It was an unusually warn night for this time of year so I guess he just needed a little rest before continuing on his way.  He was gone when we checked around 3 a.m., and no sign of him today.

I'm sorry I didn't get the second link to Rob Gourlay's unusual guitar playing method lat night; it was late and I couldn't find the link after I'd been through a bunch of others of Rob.  Then I forgot to rewrite the text.  However, if you are interested, it's there now, or you can click here. 

Don't forget that this is the start of Fall Foliage Week - check our website for the complete schedule, but I can tell you that tomorrow Walden hosts and on Tuesday Cabot hosts.  We always get turkey dinners for takeout and have them here.  Best to have reservations, though.  You'll find information on all of that on our home page under Foliage 2014. 

I nearly forgot - I got this picture today of our "last rose of summer," a little tea rose son Bill gave me several years ago on Mother's day.  I planted it in the garden that summer and it's bloomed ever since, faithfully, all summer long.  I'm waiting for the weather to cool before I go out to cut back my flowers and put everything to bed for the winter.  We have a fair amount of yard work to do, but it's just a tad too hot now and we know there will be better weather for working outside very soon.  In the meantime, we'll short walks with occasional "sit downs" in the sun.