Fall has finally arrived...albeit a bit late in the season. The trees are stunning right now in the first part of the month. and the Blue Ridge is spectacularly dressed out in golds and reds and orange. Beautiful! We have had only one frost thus far, but I know as the month rolls one it will become more and more common to wake up' to a world coated in frost crystals. Only a matter of time. Now that the endurance season is over, foxhunting is on the schedule through the winter into next spring. Itchy, still nicely clipped from the No Frills Endurance ride at the end of October, is switched over his gear from biothane and color saddle packs to hunt attire leather, sandwich case and flask. Fortunately, the weather has been delightful, so I'm still in my lightweight coat. As soon as December rolls around, I'm sure I'll be donning my heavy weight Melton and wool socks. I haven't taken any photos as yet, but will get my camera out at one of the upcoming hunts soon. We are still doing the carriage picnic drives, and yesterday (the 8th) had a delightful one from Hound Hall in The Plains. Stellar day - sunny, bright, clear, but MUCH too hot. It must have been close to 80! With hubby away on business in Wales, I decided to just take a single rather than the pair. It was a bit crazy in the morning, however - up at 6AM, foxhunting at 9AM, then racing home to switch ponies and load the carriage in the trailer, then racing to be at the drive meet at noon for the 1PM drive off. But we got there with enough time to spare to chat with friends for a moment before I had to get Flag ready, dressed, put-to, and join the line-up at the barn where we were sent off down the road to the tune of a coaching horn tootle! What fun! I grabbed a couple of shots with my camera enroute - always fun while driving a bumpy road! The best ones (ie: those not hopelessly blurry) are below: Heading out on the gravel roads leaving Hound Hall Bright sunlight amid the trees dressed in autumn colors 6 singles and a pair behind me. Sorry about the blurry photo! Out of the woods and into the open territory of Orange County Hunt with stunning views everywhere Beautiful views everywhere in this gorgeous foxhunting countryside Just about to reach the rest stop at the half way point. 2 pairs and a singe in front of me. After the rest stop for wine and champague we are now heading back to Hound Hall through the wooded gravel roads Patty's carriage. Can you see the Lab peeking out from among the feet of the passengers? And the bucket of wine on ice in the back for the rest stop? We carriage folks sure know how to have a picnic drive! We're trying to get in as much foxhunting as we can while the weather cooperates. But the torrential rains from the nor'easter that blew through on the second week of the month just drowned the landscape, fortunately clearing up just before the weekend. Snickersville met on Sunday, and the change in weather and temperature was almost off the charts. Brilliantly clear, sunny, and highs in the mid 70's (in mid November!!) were enough to encourage our Master to tell the Field that jackets were optional. A lot of the riders immediately shed their coats. I kept my on because I had a very lightweight coat, plus I'd already shed my vest. So I was one of the few riders in the field with a coat still on! Easy to spot me in the photos. Three days later the weather was totally different -- colder, overcast, and just...gloomy. Itchy and I