Autumn Archives - Tena Stetler

Sep 23rd #L&SR’s Weekly Blogging Challenge – Autumn

Welcome to #L&SR’s Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge September 23, 2020, Favorite things to do in the autumn. Oh this is easy peezy! Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and try a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie.

Wow so many to choose from, but I’ll list a few things at the top of my list.

Leaf Peeping. In Colorado the Aspen leaves turn from green to golden, red, orange and several shades in between. Absolutely breathtaking! This picture was taken above Cripple Creek, Colorado.

Hiking Mountain Trails. The foliage is so beautiful, the morning air is crisp and clean. I love the rustle of leaves as you walk through them. Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park above Estes Park, Colorado is a favorite hike, as are several trails in RMNP and Mueller State Park above Divide, Colorado.

Autumn Camping is the best! You get up to crisp even frosty mornings fabulous for hiking. The air smells so fresh. There are lots of wildlife to be seen. They don’t like the hot weather much better than I do. Sitting in a camp chair with a mug of hot chocolate with little marshmallows watching the sunrise or set is one of life’s best little pleasures. The serenity is unsurpassed.

Celebrating Halloween! My favorite holiday. We share pumpkin carving duties with our Eclectus parrot. Taco loves carving, chewing, eating and mucking around in the pumpkin. Afterwards a bath is always required. LOL

Well, there are a few of my favorite things to do in the autumn. How about you? What are your favorite things do do in autumn? Please list them in the comments!

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom preparing promo on my upcoming release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC September 28, 2020 . Stay tuned! Chocolate Raspberry Magic release date been extended until April 2021. And I’m working on a new WIP sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series(very exciting and coming along nicely) AND a new project is simmering Wylder West Assignment. Keep an eye out for more information. Now let’s see what other authors list as their favorite things to do in the autumn. L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

Looking for an exciting read to whisk you away from your ordinary world into a magical, fantasy adventure ? Drum roll please. Available for preorder HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC. Share the magic, adventure and mystery Pre-Order your digital copy from Amazon at a special discounted price for only $3.99, limited time! Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Gypsy-Magic-Witchs-Journey-ebook/dp/B08FXBNLW5

A sneak peek at Hidden Gypsy Magic:

Discover the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic!

The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.

The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.

Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs.

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, September 23, 2020, can you believe it? Autumn is nearly here. Anyway next week’s blogging challenge topic is favorite things to do in the autumn. That will be easy. Autumn is my favorite time of year! Love Halloween! Until then have fun, stay safe, and never let the world get you down!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, Aspens, Autumn, Autumn Camping, Halloween, Hidden Gypsy Magic, hiking, Leaf Peeping, Tena Stetler, Time travel by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.

Sep 21st Rocky Mountain National Park – An Adventure!

Our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park was wonderful and awe inspiring as usual. But… This year we waited until September to pack up our fifth wheel and head to our favorite site in the park.

Upon entering the town of Estes Park, we discovered that it was the last days of Scotfest. Now ordinarily the goings on in Estes Park doesn’t affect RMNP. This year however there were several sites with kilted men and women dressed in full scottish regalia. I have to think camping in such attire especially around the campfire is burdensome, not to mention breezy.

Once set up, we started a campfire. The milky way spread across the night sky and the moon cast silvery shadows that swayed in the meadow below us. Mystic our dog, sniffed, then barked at something we couldn’t see. Shortly after her alert, an eight point elk ambled out into the clearing. Too dark to take a picture. Darn it.

The next day we were up early and headed to Bear Lake Trail. Signs along the way informed us that the parking lot was full. It had been a couple years since we’d hiked around the lake. We considered turning back and decided to take our chances, hoping someone would leave as we arrived. As luck would have it, that’s exactly what happened. The breath-taking view around the lake was enhanced by the aspen leaves turning in shades of green, gold, orange and yellow.

As we made our way back towards the campground, a herd of elk had traffic snarled for a good fifteen minutes as a 50-100 elks ranging in size from huge bucks with large racks to the cutest calves you’ve ever seen single file hoofing it across the street to the other side where they joined another 75 elk grazing in the meadow. The male’s bugle split the air morning and evening. It was rutting season.

For the first time since we’ve been camping in Rocky Mountain National Park (over 15 plus years) we heard coyote’s song late one night while enjoying s’mores around our cozy campfire.

On the last day, we packed a lunch, put the dog and parrot in the truck and drove up Trail Ridge Road. At the top we stopped snapped a few pictures, found a scenic spot to enjoy our lunch, and people watch. A favorite pass time of writers you know.

Too soon it was time to pack up and return home. We were thankful for the cool, dry and wonderful evenings allowing us to enjoy a campfire each night. In the wee hours of the morning a solitary thunderstorm rumbled through, lightning streaked across the sky, and rain poured on the parched land. That was okay too.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a place I highly recommend you visit! If you don’t camp, a day trip will introduce you to the magic of this spectacular national treasure. While you’re there, make sure and stop by the famous Stanley Hotel(The Shining). Thrills and chills.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Aspens, Autumn, Bear Lake, Elk, Fall colors, Rocky Mountain National Park, Scots, September by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.

Sep 2nd Hurray for Autumn!

The first day of September brought cooler weather and a ray of hope that the catastrophic storms of the summer are over! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good lightning and thunder storm, always have. But it’s the accompanying possibility of baseball size hail or four inches of rain in a hour that has me cringing at the first clap of thunder. Colorado has experienced both in late summer this year. I speak from experience, both suck!

Roof replacement, an appointment for repair of our truck set in January, sanding and paining the house trim, replacing all the window screens and repairs of our RV are all the consequences of baseball or larger size hail in July. And we were lucky, the siding on our house and the glass in the windows escaped Mother Nature’s wrath. My neighbors weren’t so lucky.

So on to the Autumn fun. Colorful falling leaves crunch under foot, brisk mornings perfect for that dog walk, pumpkin flavored everything from eggnog to lattes and bagels to cake. Yum! Looking for a quick, delicious pumpkin recipe? Check out Pumpkin Pie Crescents!

This year I will be participating in two Halloween Blog Hops. The Snarkology Halloween Hop, October 26th – 31st and A Haunting Halloween Hop, October 24th – 31st. I just LOVE Halloween. My blog subject will be Colorado Hauntings. Links to other blogs with similar themed blogs will be listed, prizes and giveaways will run rampant. So check back here for more details and find out about Colorado’s Hauntings. Halloween hop1