{ autumn in new england }

Lake Chocorua, NH

Happy first day of October!

If God's glorious color palette gets any better than what is currently on display right now up here in our little corner of the world, I sure would love to see it. Every aspect of nature seems to be an amazing explosion of color, and I couldn't be happier.

I simply marvel at fall in New Hampshire. I have been blessed.

Kancamagus Highway, NH

Applecrest Farm & Orchards, NH



Lake Chocorua, NH



Kancamagus Highway, NH



Kancamagus Highway, NH

Kancamagus Highway, NH

Kancamagus Highway, NH

Kancamagus Highway, NH

summer to fall ... tree style

Watching the big ol' maple in the backyard ... so fun. And a much more colorful calendar than any one I could ever hang on a wall.

farm fun

October has been full of family visitors in our little corner of New England -- grandparents, aunts, and best of all (for Aidan!), Cousin Grant! It's been so great sharing our new home with our loved ones from Texas and Oregon.

Yesterday's festivities centered around driving the boys to Smolak Farms in North Andover, Mass. We shivered our way through a cold and sunny day as we soaked up some more of the sights, sounds and smells of fall ... including pumpkin patches, tractors, climbing on bails of hay, hot apple cider, iced pumpkin cookies, lobster bisque (YUMMY), chasing [fast] turkeys, apple orchards, bright leaves, Halloween witches, apple scones, and an evening in front of the fireplace.

We crammed a whole lot of autumn and some great memories into a few short hours. So much to see and do!

postcard

I had to snap (and share!) this shot in Boxford, Massachusetts.

The colors of fall up here never get old -- I can't get enough.

fall glory

We took a drive through scenic Maine on Sunday on our way to "Pumpkin Land" in beautiful Mechanic Falls, ME.

Amazing color. Amazing view. Amazing day.

yard work

a trek to the tracks

Aidan has two loves in his life -- fire trucks and railroads. And if the truth be told, railroads probably trump the big red rescue vehicles.

So he was in total Engine Heaven today when he took a drive up north to North Conway, NH in order to ride the Conway Scenic Railroad with his Grandpa and Nana who are visiting from Texas.

It was a beautiful time of year for a day trip to the White Mountains.

autumn splendor

October foliage in Gorham, New Hampshire -- on the northeast edge of White Mountain National Forest.

red, orange and yellow

One of the first thoughts that flashed through my mind when we received our orders to New England was that I'd finally have an opportunity to experience four seasons ... specifically, a true, honest to God autumn.

Moving so far from home and living up here has been an adjustment for sure, but I've kept my eyes on the prize -- the changing colors of the leaves.

For months, I've been watching the green leaves on all the big maples outside my windows, anxiously awaiting any sign of color. And finally, sure enough, it's beginning to happen.

The pumpkins have appeared on the porches around the neighborhood, the temperatures have dropped to the 40s in the evenings, and yes, the leaves are changing color.

Here's a view from my front porch, complete with the first hints of orange, red and yellow. I can't imagine what the full explosion of color will look like, but I'm soaking up every second of the transformation.