More autumn splendor

Fortunately Nutcracker rehearsals have not entirely gotten in the way of all opportunity to enjoy this amazing weather we've been having. 

Sometimes, when Florian has a rehearsal out in Great Falls, VA, I'll meet him there with the dogs and we'll go for a lovely walk somewhere like River Bend State Park. 





There's a gorgeous, popular trail near the Visitor's Center, but for obvious reasons we opted for the road less traveled (anyone know if Robert Frost was a reactive dog owner?) which went along the Potomac. 

Gorgeous trail, lots of opportunity to flap and swim and splash in the water. Lamar and Sandy even got in a little stick time!


The autumn leaves for some reason fill me with joy more than usual this year. Or maybe its the joy of having such wonderful dogs, with gorgeous autumn-themed coats, to enjoy them with. 

I have always loved rivers, gorges, lakes, and streams. In New Mexico, I was never far from the Rio Grande and I lived right next to the (usually dry) Santa Fe river. Portland, too, is built around a river.  


When I returned east I was sure I would miss all that natural beauty, and I couldn't imagine I would find just as much of it here.

 
But I also didn't imagine that I'd find a spontaneous, adventurous Swiss dude who would motivate me and the dogs to check out every cool-looking natural area on the map in search of autumn colors and swimming holes and incredible skies and spooky rocks galore.





Of course it helps that right out my back door I have a view of all my favorite things: autumn leaves, wild nature, and a big open space for the dogs to run free.