Chill - defenition: cool, relax

 The warm weather that had greeted us disappeared by the 4th day and mornings were crisp. 

We often delayed walking the dogs until it had warmed up a bit (after 2 cups of coffee) and were into sweat tops

and then coats.

A couple of small walks every day and one big one, to the first pond. By Friday we had extended that to the second pond

It is quite a long walk with steep hills and it looks like it should have a resident moose.

It's a gravel road with more residences now than when Mark first built here, but cars and trucks slow and wave when they pass us, some winding down a window to say good morning or comment on the weather.

Although most of the leaves are on the ground now, with the bit of rain and wind we have had, there are still occasional pops of colour.

We started the week assessing what was in the frig and making a menu plan, then grocery shopping.

We wanted to try some different vegetarian meals. Some were very successful (ie the Lasagna stuffed mushrooms in that picture) and some more trouble than they were worth but we enjoyed trying different ingredients and ate very well (and healthily).

The dogs, although large,

both think they are lap dogs.

Nicky sewed, I rug hooked and read, we both played on our devices

and we enjoyed the hot tub!

Tomorrow we deliver the dogs to their vacation location, a neighbour comes in to look after the cats and we go back to our regular lives after a lovely break in the woods.

Back at home Rick has been taking care of Rasta and getting better and better at his astro-photography. He tells me this is the North American Nebula. Hard to conceptualize the masses of stars we can see with our bare eyes let alone this.

Golden Pakenham

Overnight at Nic's in Guelph and then a lovely sunny drive to Pakenham sped by as we chatted all the way. Mark and Emm are off for a river cruise in France so we are dog sitting/relaxing in the woods.

On the phone, Mark had said that the foliage was at its peak, but on the drive there were some areas with no leaves left and we wondered......

But he was right

the property was bathed in gold.

We walked over to the new property, where they will eventually build their new home and have finished building "the bunkie"

with it's loft bedroom,

coffee bar

and composting toilet.

Walking the dogs

the trees rain yellow and orange leaves

to carpet

the ground.

Our first few days

were warm,

sometimes

downright hot!

But the weather has turned and today

there's a chill in the air.

Fremont St and home

Chris, Jason, Cigi and I stayed one more night in Vegas before flying home. This time we were in the old section. After getting settled in The Plaza we went looking for a buffet but discovered it was only open on weekends. I was surprised, this trip, by the sense that we were in Vegas in the "off season" but when I googled it found that the slowest times are Jan, Feb, June, July and Aug. Maybe it is just not as popular as it was. 

So we went down Fremont St looking for food. To lure tourists from "the strip" the old section created The Fremont St Experience.

In 2004, a barrel vault canopy spanning four whole blocks was built over the Fremont Street Experience, which now features an astonishing 49 million LED lights shining so bright the canopy can operate video shows even in the daylight.

We went into a casino that had a food court and Cigi had a milkshake for supper.

Had to try Mum's too. I had a salad, had been craving greens.

Walking back she was so mesmerized by the zip-line riders,

music and

the canopy display

that we were able to walk her past a person dancing in a huge gorilla costume (something she would normally have been terrified of)

The next day we hit the buffet for brunch then flew back to Toronto. The following day Cigi went to daycare and Chris drove me to Oakville to pick up my car. Two days of frantic fall chores and catching up with Rick and Rasta and I was on to the next trip.

Kolob and Sand Hollow State Park.

 After the Grand Ranch tour we drove to Kolob Canyon which is part of Zion National Park so our pass from the previous day got us in.

It was another beautiful drive

through the canyon to the end of the road.

There had been trails along the way but we chose this short one.

We joked with the kids about being able to run faster than them (though it was clear with my bum knee that they were pretty safe)

There were clear "No dogs" signs and I just don't understand people who still bring their small dogs on a hot hike when told not to.

It was quite busy,

along a ridge with rolling terrain on one side

and the canyon views on the other side.

The trail ended at a rocky outcrop

with magnificent views all around.

River relaxing into the experience again.

Walking back, I took my time

and talked to Maya about using trees to frame a photo.

Desert Spiny Lizard sat for the photo.

Back to the house for Cigi's nap time. She has been skipping these as we have just been too busy and it is beginning to result in some excess crankiness. After nap we went to the pool where there were lots of jumping competitions (Cigi and River) and races (Maya and Avery), back and forth between the pool and the hot tub.

I had seen a Road Runner in the back yard yesterday but no chance for a picture. Today one obliged and sat for us, on the curb, as we left.

 

Today we were packed and out of the house before 11 and drove to Sand Hollow State Park.

 

As we drove in there were signs about an event "UTV Takeover." (we asked and UTV is Utility Trail Vehicle)

There was a lineup of vehicles for the event. This huge RV was towing a trailer

that had a hotub and a UTV. It was followed by a truck pulling a trailer with a forklift. We are guessing to lift the hotub off!

The park had a reservoir, big enough to boat and fish on, a campground and  extensive sandy trails for mountain biking, motor cross and UTVs.

We parked at one end of the lake by the rocks and clambered around for a while.

Mike took River on a more extensive exploration

While Chris and Jason decided to "chill".

We then drove around to the beach side of the lake

to have our picnic lunch.

There had been plans to swim but there were notices up indicating that you could get "swimmers itch", caused by a parasite found on the ducks. I was able to identify the nearest ones as American Coots.

Female Great Tailed Grackle.

 

After lunch we said goodbye. Mike, Aimee, Avery, Maya and River fly out today and I wont see them again until I visit, in Edmonton, in January. Chris, Jason, Cigi and I fly back to Toronto tomorrow.

Nap in the car on the drive back to Vegas.