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This weekend we visited our friend, Sue, who lives in Rye, NY. She has been our gracious weekend hostess for a number of years, introducing us to the good life, on Long Island Sound. This year, Indian summer was especially beautiful, keeping the temperatures in the 70’s with skies cleared by recent rain.

Larry and Sue on the walk at Playland Beach with our dogs.

Playland Beach.

Sue took us to see Wainwright House, a waterside building that provides a venue for various sacred events and programs.

A statue of Buddha on the grounds of Wainwright House. Another view, below.

A hint of fall in our view from the grounds of Wainwright over an inlet of Long Island Sound, toward the Manhattan skyline.

Marina at the American Yacht Club, Manhattan in the distance.

Temperatures have stayed warmer than usual this year, with no frost yet, so fall colors are slow in developing and some tender flowers continue to bloom.

The last of the climbing nasturtiums.

Roses and mums add a little color to the fading landscape.

A young maple near the road.

Changing leaves of the dogwood tree in our woodland bank.

Mid-week, with a group of seven hikers, we explored some of the back trails at Gilbert Lake State Park, a short drive from Oneonta.

A pond in the hills near Gilbert lake.

This weekend, I was part of a women’s group that enjoyed two days of hiking in the Green Mountains of Vermont. On Saturday we took to the Appalachian Trail, climbing to the summit of Bromley Mountain, on the mountain’s back side. The hike up was 3.5 miles long, ending in meadows that are ski runs down the front side. The top was very cold and windy, so we found shelter in an old fire tower for eating lunch, before climbing back down the mountain. We passed some “real” Appalachian Trail hikers, and day hikers of all ages, some with dogs and small children.

The summit of Bromley Mountain.

A ski run on Bromley Mountain.

A map of Bromley Mountain’s ski runs, located on the front of the mountain.

Enjoying a good home-cooked dinner at the Blue Gentian Lodge, Londonderry, VT.

Our second day of hiking: a 3.5 mile, moderately difficult loop trail around Lowell Lake in Londonderry, VT.

On Main Street, the geraniums have been replaced by “mums”, and the weather is unusually warm and dry - feels like Northern California!

Approaching our new favorite, Sego Cafe.

Larry orders lunch - the roasted veggie sandwich is worth waiting for.

Looking toward the eastern hills with St. James Episcopal church on the left.

The colors of Fall are starting to show.

Houses like these give Oneonta its vintage character.

This is a very productive downtown garden belonging to a friend. A river runs through it but she has her own sturdy bridge.