This weekend was a holiday one for me, so we headed north to see family and friends and …

1. Left the beaten path: We ended up leaving on Saturday morning rather than Friday night, so the trip allowed for an alternate route when road signs warned us of impending traffic snarls. We took to back roads for a while, which sent us through Newtown, Conn., and past this creamery. When you see an ice cream stand on a beautiful October Saturday, there’s really not even a question about whether or not you should stop. My cone is cinnamon and Oh Snap! (pumpkin with gingersnaps). Yum!
   
2. Enjoyed fires in the fireplace.
3. Made scones with my dad.
4. Chatted with my folks.
5. Met Karen for lunch.
6. Read Scarlett Uncovered, which Dad found at his local library for me.
7. Helped with some chores.
8. Slept.
9. Knit on my Halloween socks.
10. Admired New England foliage.
    

Blogging along with Karen at Pumpkin Sunrise and Carole at Carole Knits.

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. The staff at the Moroccan embassy leaves food and water out for the local wildlife. During the rain, a particularly plump sparrow is waiting its turn for the food while sheltering under a security spotlight.

2. I found a recipe for a coconut curry tomato soup I wanted to eat and procured all the ingredients needed except for panang curry paste. We stopped in vain at two major grocery stores, before an employee in the Asian foods aisle at the third gave Rudi a link to the recipe she uses to make her own.

3. Sarah, John, Nicole, Rudi, and I headed into the countryside over the weekend for our annual apple-picking adventure. I found us a new farm to try way out in Virginia, complete with what those of us who’ve lived in the northeast deemed the best cider doughnuts in the region, which mostly made up for the expensive way they had of selling apples. To celebrate a day of fruit and non-rain, we stopped for supper at the converted mill where we all dined two years ago. Tasty food and drinks helped conclude the trip.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. The mail brings a birth announcement from a Christmas card friend: She and her husband had a gorgeous baby girl back in August.

2. Rudi needs to be in Virginia early on Saturday to meet some friends for a weekend camping trip. Since I am on the other side of the river before breakfast, I scout out one of the local doughnut shops that’s cropped up recently in advance of coffeeneuring, which starts this weekend. It’s good to cross another indie doughnut shop off my list.

3. Rudi is able to attend my company picnic (always held during the fall on a weekday) for the first time. Despite a rain shower and muddy grounds, we play horseshoes (thanks to a colleague’s husband for teaching me the rules earlier in the day), mini golf, tetherball, and one-on-one volleyball (after we discovered I’m inclined to treat the tetherball like a well-placed set). We take a spin on the zip line. And we take a goofy photo booth shot with silly hats, glasses, and boas.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?