Ahhh, Autumn!!

Like I've previously stated, probably 100 times, I LOVE Fall!  I found this little picture on Pinterest.com and it fits perfectly with things I love about the Fall, plus a few more!  Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Autumn!  We are heading North this weekend for one last stay at the cabin. 

Fall Foliage Tour - Western States

Head West Young Man!  Anytime I think about the Western States I think about Toby Keith's "Should've Been a Cowboy!".  Granted, my list does not only include the cowboy frontier(s), but the song fits for some of them (plus I said a key ingredient for a road trip is a good CD mix!). Okay, let's head West!


 Maroon Bells, Colorado

 

The Maroon Bells are two peaks in the Elk Mountains near Aspen, Colorado.  The view to the Southwest is one of the most famous scenes in Colorado and is said to be the most photographed.  Due to its' proximity to Aspen, it's a highly sought tourist area.  However, motorized vehicles are allowed only limited access but you may take a tourist bus during the summer.

Wasatch Mountains, Utah

The Wasatch Mountain Range stretches 160 miles from the Utah-Idaho border, South through central Utah. It's considered the Western Edge of the Rockies and the Eastern Edge of the Great Basin.  Again, mountains and color - I can't resist!

Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming



Located in Northwestern Wyoming, the mountains of Grand Teton National Park make up part of the Rocky Mountains. Unlike many other mountains, the Tetons lack foothills to obstruct the view, making way for sharp peaks ranging from 5,000-7,000ft above the baseline. 

Big Wood River, Idaho

Big Wood River is 137 miles long and suns South through Central Idaho and eventually empties into the Malad River.  Again, I can't stress how much I love the bright autumn colors!  Plus, I think water complements everything so beautifully!!

Pasayten Wildnerness, Washington

 

The Pasayten Wilderness is a protected area within the Okanogan National Forest in Washington. The Western Part (above) features dramatic views of the Cascade Mountains.  Sometimes I wish I weren't so afraid of heights, because climbing that would be very cool! 

Lithia Park, Ashland, Oregon

 

 When I saw this red, I had to pick this picture.  We've had a lot of yellows and oranges out West, but not as much red and red is essential on a Fall Foliage Tour. Apparently Lithia Park gets its' name from Lithium Oxide, which can be found in the water of the park - probably not something that you wanted to know, but basically, don't drink the water.

Fall Foliage Road Trips: Mid-Atlantic States

And we're on the road again!  This time to the Mid-Atlantic States - I know what you're thinking, we're heading South and you expect to see foliage??  But yes, yes, I do. Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland have some of the most beautiful Fall Foliage!  I also want to add in there Tennessee and Kentucky, because I think their Fall colors also rival the Midwest (which I will probably always think are the best, except for maybe Paris, but that's a different category).  Anyway, grab your tea or coffee or other hot beverage of choice and let's go!

Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 mile long National Parkway that runs mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, which is a mountain chain of the Appalachian Mountains.  It begins near the Southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia at Rockfish Gap and runs to U.S. Route 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. The roadway is not maintained during the winter and is therefore usually shut down late fall until early spring.

Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina

Mt. Mitchell (elevation 6,684 ft) is the highest point in the Appalachian Mountains and in the Eastern part of the United States.  The nearest high point East of the Rocky Mountains is Harney Peak in the Black Hills, SD.  The Mountain is in Mount Mitchell State Park and surrounded by Pisgah National Forest. 

Maryland..er..D.C.

I know this isn't a typical picture on our usual back woodsy road trip that we were on, but I had to give a little love to the bigger cities. I do know that Washington D.C. isn't considered a state and it's not really in Maryland, but yet it was formed from the land that was originally Maryland, so for this post, that's what I'm going to categorize it as. Anyway, doesn't our Washington Monument look beautiful among all that orange!

Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, Tennessee

The river is 76 miles long and is located in both Tennessee and Kentucky.  It's a major drainage feature for the Cumberland Plateau, a major tributary of the Cumberland River System, which is also known as a worldclass canoe and kayaking stream.  The river runs primarily North through many remote areas.  Imagine the wildlife you could see along there!

Nernix, Kentucky

I couldn't find out much information about Nernix, Kentucky, but the fall foliage is sure beautiful.  I don't think they are known for it, but they should be ;) Louisville is suppose to have some beautiful shots, too, but I loved this aerial photo. 

Fall Foliage Road Trips - North Eastern States

Yes, another post about Fall.  It's my favorite time of the year.  I wish it lasted twice as long! 

If I haven't previously mentioned this - I love going for drives...nice long drives, road trips - anything involving a car, me and preferably someone else I can talk to - oh and a good CD mix or book on CD, those are good too!  And some great snacks - or at least a Caribou Coffee within stopping distance ;) 

Anyway, I decided to combine a few of my favorite things - road trips and Fall into a post about the places in the US that are considered to have the best Fall Foliage.  After I got going, I decided that I needed to cut it down into just a post about the Northeastern states today.  Though I'm sure I won't find a Caribou Coffee joint out East, I will probably find a ton of Apple Cider, Fresh Maple Syrup, Carmel Apples and other hot awesome Fall drinks!

Maine, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire

 

This is Maine.  What I love most about the Eastern States (even though I've yet to go) is the coastal views and all the lighthouses!  My mom use to have a ton of lighthouses and it was a theme in our house for a long time. 

This is in Barton,Vermont.  This is exactly the picturesque view I imagine when I think of fall and a driving through the countryside. It reminds me a lot of home because on our farm we have a road that is covered by trees on both sides just like this.

Upstate New York...........doesn't it look just like the Boundary Waters of Minnesota?  I have a friend who has a cabin in Upstate New York and that's exactly how she describes it.  I'm sure urban New York has some pretty fall colors too, but this takes the cake for me - it's more my style!

Litchfield Hills, Connecticut is famous for its' fall foliage.  And I can see why! Connecticut also has the Wine Trail, which comprises 24 different vineyards and wineries within CT. It's so cool that it definitely deserves its' own post. ;)



New Hampshire and their White Mountains!  I love Mountains too - pair it with some beautiful autumn colors and the view doesn't get any better!

10 Things

As I've mentioned before, I love reading blogs.  I know I'm stealing this idea from a few blogs I currently follow, but it's such a fun and positive way to start out the day (especially with my rant and rave yesterday), so I am going to tell you about 10 things that make me happy right now (in no particular order).

1.)  Tailors! I'm short, I've always been super short and will continue to be short - I'm pretty sure I'm done growing.  So, I love tailors because I just bought 2 new pairs of dress pants and will need them to be hemmed.  I should learn to do this myself.  I can sew, but it's easier right now to let someone else do it for me - especially since I paid so much money for my dress pants - I'd hate to screw it up!

2.) Iced Raspberry Tea - I have told you about my love affair with Caribou Coffee before, yes?  Well, if not, I'm obsessed, but it's an expensive habit, so instead I have made my own form of my favorite tea.  I just brew lipton black tea, place it in the fridge overnight and add some sugar free raspberry flavoring to it in the morning with some ice cubes (also made from tea, see this gal's blog for the idea).  It's delicious and especially nice on these hot mornings of summer!

3.) Cucumbers - they are in season and they are my all time favorite veggie!

4.) Air Conditioning - seriously, I dont't know how people survived without it for so long.  Yes, it's still hot here.

5.) Blogs - really, they are one of my favorite things!  Can't you tell?

6.) Bonfires - I am about to enjoy one this evening - can't wait!

7.) Thunderstorms - but not on the night that I enjoy my bonfire, obviously ;)

8.) A good book, currently "Toxin" by Robin Cook - nothing beats a good novel.

9.)  Farmer's Market Flowers - can't wait to buy me a bunch of them...only $5 for a HUGE bouquet that would easily cost $20 in the store.

10.) My husband, without him my life would just not be as wonderful!

Name my.....fruit? Vodka?

My brain is a little scattered today.  All I can think about is Christmas Shopping (I know, it's July AND 110 degrees out!) but I'm determined to start (and finish) super early this year.  I already have part of one of my sister's gifts done.  I'm thinking about  doing a lot of homemade gifts this year.  After all, who doesn't love homemade gifts?! 

I'm also in the mood to try a recipe my mother in law sent me a couple years ago - skittle infused vodka.  I've been looking up all sorts of ideas on how I would do this.  But of course, I need NAMES for my (yet to be) finished products ;)  I love themes and thought I'd try stick to the fruit theme. Then I found cute ideas to incorporate fruit into the name using the a wedding theme - {You're My Main Squeeze} Lemon.  {Orange You Glad I Love You} {I Love you Berry Much} Strawberry {Berry Much In Love} Raspberry {Berry Me} {Just Berried} Not sure what berries on those yet, but just options.  I would still need one for grape though and for lime. 

I also found a recipe for JOLLY RANCHER infused vodka and those flavors are apple, blue raspberry, cherry, watermelon and grape.  So, my names would be Apple of my Eye, or Love You to the Core, and for cherry, I do, Cherries You!  That's all I got.  I would LOVE if you would give me ideas.  I also need a name for my "Company".  I could always go with Watson's Winery, but that's too generic.  Please, send me your feedback :)

I also welcome different "Themes" with ideas please :)

And have a great Tuesday.  If you're in the TC area, be careful - it's black out there!  Suppose to have high winds up to 70mph and severe thunderstorms.