Friday, October 05, 2007

When Fall Comes to New England

Here in Chautauqua, Fall is about 3 weeks ahead of where it is back home. Many of the trees are turning bright magnificent colors and losing their leaves. The weather is still unseasonably warm, but Fall is definitely in the air here.

We decided to come up for a long weekend to see just what this place looks like in a different season. What greeted us was a ghost town version of the place that was so bustling with people just a couple of months ago. It’s not totally deserted, but almost as just a few hearty souls live here year around.

We took a leisurely bike ride this morning outside the “grounds”, where I spied this tree and fall mums and pumpkins for sale.



Fall leaves cover the walkway to our house. The house across the street wears a vinyl curtain to protect it from the winds and snows of winter.




The library is open and decorated for Fall -- business as usual. But business is definitely slow.

Bestor Plaza is still there, but the children playing in the fountain are gone and the ice cream store is closed.
Last night as my friend Kris and I walked down to the lake we experienced the purest of silences, one that is almost nonexistent in an urban environment. Then we looked overhead to see thousands of diamonds in the sky, another sight we seldom see in the city.

I’m treating myself to a much-needed massage this afternoon. St. Elmo Spa is open for appointments only.

It’s the same place, but missing are the music and the lectures and the throngs of people. I can’t imagine a better place to spend a quiet Fall weekend away from home.

10 Comments:

Blogger Kristin said...

Those pictures make me long for an autumn getaway! Instead, I'll just have to think happy thoughts of you enjoying it.

3:56 PM  
Blogger Barbara said...

Kristin -- As I recall, you've gotten away more times than I can count in the last few months, so feel free to enjoy upstate NY vicariously with me!

6:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This place has a whole different vibe and is actually more relaxing without rushing to lectures, classes and concerts. And so few people - it's almost like we have it all to ourselves!

10:32 PM  
Blogger Mother of Invention said...

I know you guys are enjoying every single minute! It's a beautiful weekend here too for our Thanksgiving. Last year, you would not have been able to do so much of this sort of thing while you were working. I'm glad you retired!

4:35 PM  
Blogger Ruth L.~ said...

Fall is my favorite. Your pix make it look extra special. Feels like summer here in Mass, though. :>)

11:26 PM  
Blogger Ulysses said...

Things are not to bad here in Shenandoah this weekend either. Definitely a good weekend to get away.

11:46 PM  
Blogger Barbara said...

MOI -- Canada's always a few weeks ahead of us in the US!

RuthD -- Even here in NY it is unseasonably warm, but it looks different than it did back home.

Ulysses -- The Shenandoah sounds like a great getaway. Maybe the scene of a great story. barb7393

9:23 AM  
Blogger Reya Mellicker said...

How cool to see a little bit of this place during the "off" season (though it sounds like the perfect place to spend a quiet weekend. It's beautiful. Thanks for the pics and descriptions!

11:41 AM  
Blogger Barbara said...

Reya -- I would really like to see it in the "Off-Off" season of Winter when there is 10 feet of snow on the ground. Chautauqua is close to Buffalo and often gets a shitload of snow in the Winter.

12:23 PM  
Blogger Pauline said...

wonderful pictures! our pumpkins and mums are on display too but the leaves are slow in turning. some trees have lost their leaves without any show of color and others are just beginning to lose their chlorophyll. thanks for sharing

7:19 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home