This is Sprucelands in the fall. Just beautiful!

Sprucelands pasture in October. Isn't it beautiful?

Many of you have written to ask how camp looks in the fall. What I'd like to do in this post is share Columbus Weekend with you, at least some of it.

On Thursday night my parents arrived, having driven from Indianapolis to Sprucelands at the admirable ages of 91 and 93. May I live that long. They came to celebrate my birthday on Friday. My sister and her husband also surprised me so we had a fun time. Of course, the joke of the day is always, "I can't believe I have a daughter this old," at which point I turn it around on my parents and we all have a good laugh.

Perfect day for a perfect ride.

One of the other reasons my folks make the journey is to see the colorful leaves. Interestingly, the leaves were just starting to turn this year on Thursday and Friday. By Monday and Tuesday however they were gorgeous. Reds, yellows, and oranges mixed in with fading greens and browns. I always badmouth sumac in the summer but in the fall it turns bright, flaming red.

Tsz and Katie popped out over the weekend to ride Shiloh and Ellie. Katie happened to be home from college for the long weekend. You can see in their photo that the leaves were just starting to turn. The girls had a pleasant ride in ring one. Ended up riding bareback after working their horses for quite a while. With warm temperatures adding comfort to the day, it was like summer in technicolor.

Just look at the beauteous yellows on those trees in front of the barn.

Many of you know the summer views of camp: the round ring, the pasture, standing and looking at a panorama of the parking lot, indoor arena, over toward rings 1 and 2, ring 3. Well all of that is so bright with fall colors right now that it's almost breathtaking. I didn't think this fall was going to be very colorful what with the mix of pouring rain and dry stretches this summer. Doesn't seem to have made a difference. We are in glory here.

I hated to see the weekend end. My parents and I had another pleasant visit. I am thinking they will live forever and that's okay with me. They give me permissions about living that are courageous and motivating. My mom keeps telling me to think big, wishing Sprucelands a strong future, and so I keep at it one year after another. We have so many good people involved with Sprucelands. Together we know we are making a difference because we believe in the potential within young people.

These are my parents at 91 and 93. Aren't they wonderful?

I finished up the weekend with a long awaited photographer's visit to the Genesee Country Museum over near Caldeonia, NY. My goodness! What an experience that is. I strongly recommend it to anyone who loves hands on experiencing of the riches of history.

Back to camp from my picture taking adventure, I taught a riding lesson to a brand new beginner student and I realized one more time that I am a person who loves investing in the confidence building that evolves through that kid-horse connection. I hope like my parents I can live forever.

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