Out And About

 I seem to have picked the right time to get all snug in the house - it's been freezing and snowing for three days, though not much accumulation. There are still leaves on some of the trees, but not for long. The fall has been so warm and temperate, that this cold spell is quite a big shift.

My mind was just not ready for this, though we often have a first snow in November.

These marigolds had been going strong thanks to their location
near the house and the brick path. I'm guessing this is their end!

The Aurora Borealis made an appearance in the area Tuesday night, as seen from my front porch. They definitely weren't as dynamic as the time I saw them in Iceland, but nice to capture!

Geri invited AJ, Peggy and me to see Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge) speak at Proctors Theater in Schenectady. We met at Tara first and had some lovely Moroccan tagines for dinner with a bottle of wine. Elizabeth was charming and open about her books and characters and she has a delightful laugh. We all enjoyed the event.

Geri getting her book signed by Elizabeth Strout. Pictures were not allowed
during the event so I had to settle for this venue.

Our walk back through Jay St which always looks festive.

After spending the past week not doing much in the way of physical activity, I was pondering a walk, but had the thought of a bike ride. It was 43° out, which is chilly for biking but I decided if I bundled up, I could manage it. I decided to do an hour on a hilly trail so that I could 1) generate some body heat, and 2) get a decent workout. By the time I arrived at the trail head, the temperature had dropped to 39° due to a bit of rain. Brrr. I found out I was fairly comfortable for most of the ride as long as I kept up a good pace.  It wasn't until I got back in the car 75 minutes and 14 miles later, that I realized my feet were quite cold. Nothing a dip in the hot tub couldn't fix as soon as I got home. Now I have a new minimum riding temperature of 39°F! I should probably get some shoe covers if I plan on further winter riding.

Foliage is almost all dropped. I watched a kingfisher catching a small
fish which is why I stopped along the bike trail for this shot.

A little history of the railroad that was the precursor to this bike trail.
Many of these old depot buildings are still standing today.

I cancelled a hike today so that I could work another volunteer shift with the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid. The event was Skate America which is described here:

Traditionally the first stop in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, Skate America will be the fifth of six stops next season. Top skaters from across the world, including U.S. champions and World medalists, will compete at the three-day competition in women’s, men’s, pairs and ice dance.

Whiteface mountain provided a majestic greeting as we approached Lake Placid.

At my usher’s station. Five hours is a long time to be on my feet, but watching the figure skaters made the time pass quickly.

The skaters were fascinating to watch. Getting a good photo was tricky.

My friend Susan had better luck - she’s also a better photographer!

Ernie, Charlene, and I drove up together but we connected with friends who are also volunteers - Doris, Jitka, Peggy, and Heather.

I enjoyed helping people find their way and chatting with attendees about this and that. It was a full day of fun and I’ve earned another ski lift ticket for some winter fun.
As I write this, we're driving back down the Northway in rain/snow/ice. Ernie is driving because I don’t like driving in winter weather, but being a passenger isn’t much better.

We are expecting dicey weather for the next couple of days so I’ll be cozied up at home yet again, working on the books I need to read.