From Acadian Bliss to Two Flat Tires

The big trip for October was traveling with Steve, Camille, and their kids to Acadia National Park in Maine. It was the height of fall color, with leaves more vibrant and beautiful than any of us had seen anywhere. We took family photos at Sand Pebble Beach, visited a ligthhouse, and went hiking and biking on a "carriage road" through the park.
We found a pumpkin and chrysanthemums for Annelise to pose with, and we took the kids on a lobster boat, where they all got to handle lobsters and crabs dredged from the deep.
We even gave the kids a chance to follow in Grandpa David's footsteps as star stone-skippers.
And we got better acquainted with Ezra, who is now steady on two feet and in constant motion.
Back in Boston, the girls posed in their pink, light-filled bedroom, and Jono starred in a semi-private piano recital held in his living room. That's Jono's proud dad with the flash!
The next weekend, Jared Christopher, Dave's childhood friend, visited us from Baltimore. We had several family parties, since Jonny, Jenny, and Michael were all anxious to spend time with Jared. Jonny is cooking Southern fried chicken tonight, which Jared taught him to make when Jonny and Jenny visited Jared while they lived in Washington, D.C.
Another October event--Jenny presented a program on India, complete with power point maps and photos, to the teenagers she teaches at Church. The over-60 crowd heard about it and wanted their own show. Jonny and Jenny both spoke, wearing a saree (Jenny) and an Indian shirt (Jonny). Grandma was surrounded, at the program, with her good friends, including Judy Jardine.
Gretta and Dave spent a quiet weekend, over October 25-26, enjoying northern Utah, including hiking around and skipping stones in Mirror Lake.
Last weekend was not so carefree. Dave rented a bright yellow SUV to drive to St. George in, and we then headed offroad, towards the ledge of the Grand Canyon.

We suffered Flat Tire #1 just inside the park boundaries, and turned back to St. George.
The tire was ruined and Dave couldn't find a replacement on a late Saturday afernoon. "I've never gotten a flat on the road to Salt Lake," Dave said, so we headed home Sunday morning without a spare. We suffered Flat #2 just outside Fillmore, and had to be towed.

No matter. I've loved trucks, ever since Jonny and Michael were little. This was a great way to see a tow truck in action....