Fiery Tree...

I took a lovely cycle down south and west last Saturday - and I saw this fiery tree. I love how with the onset of autumn, the trees change colour and start dropping their leaves. Some of them are more beautiful than others - and this one is no exception. It looks like the top of the tree has caught fire with an engulfing blaze that will overtake the lower branches in time!

Board Retreat...

We had our United Way of Daviess County Board Retreat out at Camp Illiana on Tuesday, October 19th. It was a great time relaxing and learning more about each other in beautiful surroundings. :) This is the lovely little lake that you can hike around. There are even canoes and kayaks for a fun time spent out on the water.

The day's activities were held in the Lakeview Lodge.

We spent some time inside, but most of the day was spent outdoors.

Stink bug on a bumpy leaf.

Colourful canoes.

Spider web.

Bare branches on a tree.

Autumn Visit to Apple Hill Orchard...

Candace and the kiddos and I visited Apple Hill Orchard, just north of Vincennes, with some friends a week or two ago. We last visited this orchard and quaint farm stall back in 2017, and the kiddos enjoyed their yummy apple doughnuts this visit. It was a rather chilly morning and so we did not stay outside for too long - but the children did enjoy the pumpkin patch before we headed home!

The shop and bakery.

The bakery inside the building.

Many different gourds and pumpkins. These are primarily for decorative purposes.

A rather cold bumblebee on some lavender.

Riaan and Eliza in the bright sunshine.

Playing Noughts and Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe) with pumpkins.

Pumpkin patch.

Pretty farm lane through the orchard.

Cycle Tour Sunday...

The Cape Town Cycle Tour, the world's largest timed cycling event, was held in Cape Town on October 10th. It had been postponed since March due to the pandemic, but was held now with half the amount of normal entries. As is our family tradition, my parents, brother and nephew all cycled this iconic event. The last time I rode was in 2014 and while we were back in Cape Town in 2017 for the tour, that was the year that it was cancelled due to strong winds. I cycled a much shorter ride in my South African kit that same day to show my solidarity and support for my family back home. :)

X marks the spot.

Exploring Williams...

I took Riaan and Eliza on an adventure recently. We drove to Williams in rural Lawrence County and there we explored the Williams Covered Bridge - Indiana's second-longest covered bridge - and the Williams Dam area - which was once the site of a hydro-electric plant. Candace and I visited this area back in 2015, when Candace was pregnant with Riaan. It's a beautiful part of rural southern Indiana!

Williams Covered Bridge as seen from the Huron and Williams Road.

Our two eldest children. :)

Heading up to the bridge.

Beautiful woodwork inside the bridge.

View as we head back to the car.

Looking down at the step in the river at Williams Dam.

Selfie with Riaan and Eliza.

Williams Dam is visible in the background - where the water pours over the step.

View across to the opposite bank of the East Fork of the White River.

Ruined barn on the drive back home.

Road Construction...

The children and us adults explored some road construction equipment one Sunday evening in early October. They're putting buggy (Amish horse-drawn carts) lanes on some of the bigger, better used roads in the area and so are redoing this road. They've dammed up the stream here while they work on the bridge - there's a pump constantly running to keep the water from flooding the construction site. It's quite interesting to see!

Tall crane and digger.

The huge treads of the tall crane.

Looking across to the other side of the bridge.

First Choice 5 km...

First Choice Solutions, where Candace works, holds a 5 kilometre fun run/walk a couple of times a year - once in the spring and once in the autumn. The weather was perfect this time and the whole family - including Riaan and Eliza on their balance bikes and Anya in the pushchair - had a great time undertaking this scenic course. :)

Hope in Uncertainty...

Its branch hanging by a thread, this tiny sunflower blooms amongst dead leaves. It's a fitting reminder that no matter how dark or uncertain a situation may be, there is always hope and beauty. Be joyful and may you truly flower today!

Clinging to life just inside our fence. :)

Harvest Cycle...

I went for a brief cycle across to the White River one tranquil Sunday morning recently. The corn had just been harvested and the combine harvesters and tractors were sitting peacefully in the field, ready for the new week's work.

The White River was equally restful. :)

El Muneco Fire...

One of our favourite Mexican restaurants, El Muneco, had a big fire last Saturday. (25th September.) I was hanging washing at the time and looked down the side of our house and saw the smoke. Riaan and I walked across the road to the fence and watched the action from there. It's devastating to see this locally-owned restaurant burn down. Hopefully they are able to rebuild soon!

The fire department were on-scene pretty quickly, and got water on the flames.

Some flames can be seen coming through the roof. The fire department were there until late in the afternoon. (The fire started at lunch-time.)

Riaan reenacted the fire in his room. The stuffed animals are huge clouds of smoke!

We drove past the fire-damaged restaurant in the early evening. :(