KarenMusserNortman
  • Home
  • Frannie Shoemaker Mysteries
  • The Time Travel Trailer Series
  • Mystery Sisters
  • Karen's Blog
  • Large Print and Audible
  • The Newsroom
  • Coming Events
  • Borrow My Books-KU
  • Camping (when it isn't murder)
  • Giveaways and Stuff
  • About the Author

Golden Leaves and Silver Notes

10/12/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
My, that's poetic. But this time of year does that to me. We are in Northeast Iowa, currently at Bellevue State Park, Pursuing the Peak one might say. Every year, hotels, visitors' bureaus, and travelers try to guess when the peak of fall color will fall in this lovely tri-state area of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The date depends on a variety of factors including rainfall, frost date, and probably Punxsutawney Phil.

This second weekend of October is usually a good time but this year we think we are a little early. Quite a few yellows, some reds and still a lot of green. Or maybe it will be one of those falls when there isn't a lot of color. But it's still beautiful. Yesterday was a glorious day--no wind, clear skies, and ten degrees warmer than they had forecast. Reminded me of the bulletin board Miss Bryant put up every year in high school English titled October's Bright Blue Weather.


Picture
While the guys found a bar to watch the game (we don't travel with satellite TV), I visited with the nice women at The Book Worm, a fun little bookstore. I persuaded them to take a couple of my books and then Letha and I checked out some of the gift and antique shops. After the game we stopped at the northern unit of the park for a view from the overlook and to check out the butterfly garden. Shannon, the park manager, has been burning the prairie around the garden so the approach is rather stark but the plants while turning brown, still form a rich tapestry. Back at the campground, Josh and Shannon came for a visit with their three boys. Shannon, Letha, and I made short work of a 1.2 mile hike, probably because we were trying to keep up with a three- and a six-year-old.

We ended our day with a little jambalaya and bouillabaisse at Potter's Mill followed by Memphis Blues artist, Brandon Santini. It certainly was a fine finish to a fortuitous fall day.
2 Comments
Andy C.
10/12/2014 04:54:28 am

Love your blog! Returning from Oshkosh last weekend, there were several ridges with oranges and reds, but you are right on the timing for this level of the Iowa. Bellevue is beautiful!

Reply
Ann Nortman
10/12/2014 09:47:12 am

Here is Lincoln, Fall is creeping up on us more quietly than when you guys left. There hasn't been a whole lot of wind lately and the yellow trees are gorgeous and shedding like crazy. The oranages and reds are just beginning to appear. It's more majestic when it happens all at once. Maybe someday we'll get this autumn timing down! Glad you had a good trip.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Some random thoughts about writing, camping, and eating.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly