Autumn's Last Loveliest Smile

I had to find another spot this year for fall foliage as a background for portraits. Usually I get some of the kids at Summit Trailhead or my Virginia Creeper in my yard. But the change happened too quick and the leaves were off before we knew it! So, this apricot tree was a fine place.
My terrific trio, with hair the color of Autumn  :)

Ava had her first school dance "The Masquerade Ball."
She wore one of the masks we got in New Orleans. To match it, she wore one of my dresses (a bridesmaid dress from Amy's wedding.) Note that it only fit OK because it had a tie for the waist. Yep, she's borrowing my clothes now! *sniff* sniff *

Ava, Charlie, and Matthew. These three have been buddies since they were born. Now they are navigating their individual ways in a bigger fish bowl of adolescence. They all seem to be enjoying 7th grade.

I didn't chaperone at the dance. Maybe having a parent there is pretty uncool  ;)
Haha

Pine Nut Party/Picnic

It's been a pretty good Autumn so far. Bryan and Isaac have made great progress on our wood pile. They make a couple trips almost every weekend they can. Then they spend time chopping it in the driveway. It'll be nice to be toasty by the fire this winter!
Saturday last weekend was the heat wave of October, almost 80 degrees. Moving in behind it was a cold front that would bring with it single digits for evening temperatures. So, we took advantage of that warm day to go collect pine nuts! Something I've been wanting to do for the last few weeks. Rachel and the kids were here visiting. Audrey came up for the weekend too. We made a family trip up to Snake Creek for a little pine nut party and picnic.

We ended up collecting 18 cups of pine nuts! So cool!
Summarized by Grandpa Hanks, "It was a good day." 

Snake Valley ~ as the Crow Flies

I had the opportunity to get a ride in my friend Richard's small plane. He's been piloting planes for 30 + years. It was more than just a flight. He showed me where the features were on the plane and how to inspect it. Educational experience. I was excited to see the view of Snake Valley from the air!

We took off and went Northeast and passed over the fields near the Heckethorn's residence. A herd of cattle were being pushed down the Gandy road by horse and riders. Pretty cool! They looked like ants.

Check out this drainage system going through the field...... I love how you can see all the details of the landscape from above (without being on Google Earth!) I was secretly hoping to find some UFO crop circles  ;)  Hahaha

We flew over the community of EskDale and all their fields and dairy.....

Shortly after, we found ourselves over near Bethel (Hi Mom!) ........

Richard let me take control of the plane for a while, what a thrill! We flew by the town of Baker and decided we had time to go over to Garrison as well. The weather was perfect. Sunny and very little wind. Such a great way to spend the morning.

Closer view of the town...

Finally, the landscape and town of Garrison. What a different perspective everything is from a plane! 

So, there it is ~ beautiful Snake Valley, as the crow flies   :)