Harvest and a growing Allagash

Home garden grown pumpkins freshly harvested while lounging puppies soak up the late afternoon sun.

Things Long Gone

Those of you who are actually still reading our blog are probably realizing (if you didn't already know) what a slacker I am when it comes to keeping in touch via email, phone, snail mail, and of course blogging. Time keeps flying by with the usual jam packed weekends, stressful work weeks and growing, energetic puppies. It's barely fall (last night was our first frost) and I am already dreaming of fluffy white stuff to play in :o) But, this post is about the past few months adventures that we have yet to mention.

Let's start with a Labor Day canoe trip to Blue Ridge Reservoir in the Coconino National Forest with Chris, Kristine, Matt and Tara. We paddled to the Eastern end of reservoir to find camp and hopefully lots of biting fish.

Despite rain each night and almost the entire second day it was a beautiful weekend and a great adventure! Arizona continues to amaze me with it's diverse landscape and yes, even cold, clear blue lakes!

We spent the first weekend of Autumn with Allison (HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON!!) and Sarah in Albuquerque. Our Second Annual Chili Roasting - Red Sox Watching Weekend! For the second year, fall brought homesickness for New England weather, foliage, apple picking and pumpkins galore. I haven't found a better cure than spending the weekend with great friends peeling, peeling, peeling and peeling green chilies. Some beer and Sarah's green chili stew also go a long way to soothing my New England Fall yearning soul.

The following weekend was the Austin City Limits music festival. The night before the festival, Dave and I read about the famed chicken cones of ACL! They also had fish cones and avocado cones (or combos of both)..... 1 cone was enough to explain why they are famed!!! mmm mmm mmm. We went knowing only a handful of bands, but left having a long list of new music to download. Some bands of note that are new to us (by no means an exhaustive list): M. Ward, Fleet Foxes, Mates of State, Antibalas, Manu Chao, Hot Chip, Jamie Lidell, The Fratellis, Jose Gonzales and Mugison. Check them out!!

Last weekend Ryan, Patricia, Dave and I participated in the Chuska Challenge in Tsaile, AZ. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all our friends and family who answered our last minute call for donations for the ride! The ride raised money for the Navajo YES group (Youth Empowerment Services) that gets Rez kids out biking, hiking, camping and enjoying nature.

The ride seemed all uphill, and when it wasn't up hill, it was sandy. Then the 40 degree rains came and all the sand turned to mud. Pushing out bikes through inches of sticky, thick, clay/mud will be a challenge I don't think I'll ever forget!!! Needless to say, the motto of the day became "That why they call it the Chuska CHALLENGE". The Chuska's are breathtaking this time of year with the aspen trees in full color.

Thanks to Ryan and Patricia, who will forever be our biking motivators, for getting us out for the great ride!!

While all of these great weekends were occurring, we missed too many weddings, a Karwacki family reunion and other happenings with family and friends. I do love living in Chinle with all of the uniqueness of day to day live here and the great location of the 4 corners area. But, there are many many times when Dave and I both truly feel how FAR AWAY we are.

CONGRATULATIONS to the newlyweds we couldn't celebrate with in person: Lori and Chad, Meg and Addy, Matt and Patty!!!!!!