30% color change

We're about 30% of fall color here in Ithaca and the pond is covered with blown leaves. At times the water is clear enough though to see the fish lurking about underneath. Judy tells me there might even be snapping turtles around, but I've yet to see one.
Three years ago we visited the Redwood Forests of Northern California: the sense of privilege in that landscape was immense and I will never forget the quiet and stillness underneath the giant trees. 
Driving south towards Trinidad Bay I spotted a dusty old truck parked outside a deli... a quintessential image that I have converted into black and white. It was as if we had gone back in time.

Nicholas

So, as we prepare to meet our architect/builder to site the house (for real!), as we wait for the engineer's stamp on our designs and the town of Dryden to give us the go ahead...we are both in need of well-chosen distractions...

This was part of yesterday's...

Ithaca's Mate Bar and Cafe...from its inverted basket lamps to the hand-hewn wood benches and tables, the spelt waffles with NY State maple syrup, fabulous coffee and...of course...mate, it is absolutely a slice of life here in this wonderful university town. I should probably also mention that I have NEVER seen so many men with beards....I think beards for men and clogs for women are somehow the unspoken Ithacan dress codes.

We got a few iced papaya mates before we headed to the local arthouse, Cinemapolis, to see a film, yesterday it was Arbitrage with Richard Gere, tomorrow we are going to The Master. Closer to our cottage is a more mainstream cinema, so that is a nice option as well. Films are a great option for high-end distraction. What a great part of the world we have chosen to settle in!

Judy