What a glorious day it was yesterday for a late afternoon walk along Big Creek! Just warm enough for short sleeves and not windy (always a noteworthy condition here on the high plains). The cottonwood trees, willows, and grasses are all in their autumn color, contrasting beautifully with the bright blue sky. Baxter had the time of his life running up and down the dyke, but never straying too far from me. (If you’ve met Baxter at the B&B you know what I mean.) So relaxing.
Today I plan to finally walk the new nature trail at the Sternberg Museum. It’s not far from the pleasant walking/jogging path that winds around behind Hays Medical Center. Plenty of lovely, safe, relaxing places to walk around Hays.
I love being outdoors at this time of year. If you’ve never seen the prairie in autumn you probably can’t imagine how colorful it is. Our fall color is mostly close to the ground, you see, not up in the trees. Last Friday I got to take in some breathtaking views on the half-hour drive along country roads to the little settlement of Pfeifer. The rolling pastures in gold, tan, brown, the last few wildflowers, the fields of bronze milo, and clusters of yellow cottonwoods along the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek were sights to behold. And to balance all that fall color we passed fields of bright green winter wheat, just a couple of inches high.
Now, I have been in the Rocky Mountains many times in autumn, and (only once) in New England at the height of leaf-touring time. Spectacular. But I make no apologies for western Kansas’ version of the season. It’s not an explosion of color, but more of a rich tapestry draped artfully over the undulating landscape. Don’t trust my bias? Then how about a Colorado couple who stayed here last night? They are on a tour of southern Kansas, where they have been several times. At breakfast this morning they described the sights they have seen in our state in awe-struck tones. Not a shabby endorsement from folks who live on the front range of the Rockies!
It’s another gorgeous day—maybe the last one for awhile—so I’m off to the nature trail.
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Where did summer go?
My little B&B, now in its 12th year of operation, has just had its busiest summer ever. That's why I haven't blogged all summer! But I'm having a blessedly moderate week before the Labor Day weekend, and I'm determined to use my spare time to catch up on a few neglected projects.
Some projects are very pleasant, like the needlework I've done in the last week. Two or three years ago I found an attractive wool wall hanging at an antiques store and bought it for the Homestead Room. But the yarn was broken in a few small places, so it sat on my "to do" pile for a long time. Finally got out my sewing kit last week, made some careful repairs, and now it's decorating the west wall of the room.
A few months ago I inherited a very old wool patchwork quilt, made from men's suits. I thought it would look great hanging in the Homestead Room. It's in perfect condition, except that the edges had never been bound. So off it went to the infamous "to do" pile. Last night I stitched the last stitch on the binding (by hand, of course). Now to figure out how to hang it before weekend guests start arriving tomorrow!
In a couple of hours I will make my way out to the garden to give it some much-needed attention. Much of our summer was so brutally hot that working outdoors was just unbearable. But recent rains and a cool front that blew in at midday today have made for some pleasant gardening conditions. Looking forward to a lovely evening outdoors.
On a day like today you can really believe that summer is almost behind us and fall is around the corner. That means the fresh summer flavors we've been enoying--perfect melons, basil and chives, peaches and cherries--will fade into pears and apples, pumpkin muffins and gingerbread pancakes. I always try to use local and seasonal foods whenever possible. The changing of the seasons, for me, is marked as much by the foods of the season as the changing of leaves and grasses and temperatures.
I hope you'll come and share the season at the Tea Rose Inn B&B sooner rather than later.
Some projects are very pleasant, like the needlework I've done in the last week. Two or three years ago I found an attractive wool wall hanging at an antiques store and bought it for the Homestead Room. But the yarn was broken in a few small places, so it sat on my "to do" pile for a long time. Finally got out my sewing kit last week, made some careful repairs, and now it's decorating the west wall of the room.
A few months ago I inherited a very old wool patchwork quilt, made from men's suits. I thought it would look great hanging in the Homestead Room. It's in perfect condition, except that the edges had never been bound. So off it went to the infamous "to do" pile. Last night I stitched the last stitch on the binding (by hand, of course). Now to figure out how to hang it before weekend guests start arriving tomorrow!
In a couple of hours I will make my way out to the garden to give it some much-needed attention. Much of our summer was so brutally hot that working outdoors was just unbearable. But recent rains and a cool front that blew in at midday today have made for some pleasant gardening conditions. Looking forward to a lovely evening outdoors.
On a day like today you can really believe that summer is almost behind us and fall is around the corner. That means the fresh summer flavors we've been enoying--perfect melons, basil and chives, peaches and cherries--will fade into pears and apples, pumpkin muffins and gingerbread pancakes. I always try to use local and seasonal foods whenever possible. The changing of the seasons, for me, is marked as much by the foods of the season as the changing of leaves and grasses and temperatures.
I hope you'll come and share the season at the Tea Rose Inn B&B sooner rather than later.
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