"The colors aren't that good this year."

A few people have said this to me this week like it's my fault. And can I give them directions to the place where the leaves are good. People, peak isn't here yet. And, yeah, I know exactly where the perfect trees are. Yeesh. (Actually, the tree across the street is gorgeous right now. But they didn't bother looking around them.)
One guest wanted me to tell her 'quaint villages' they could drive thru to waste some time before checking in at their next place which is 45 minutes from here. "But nothing along the coast, the leaves aren't that good this year."
So, yes, I've been doing this all week for guests going from here to VT because I know those roads. I didn't think this guest could follow directions so I gave them big roads and said they'd find lots of quaint villages along the way. I hope.

We get this every year and I don't know why but I always feel bad even though it's not my fault. Probably because they are all paying top dollar -- and each and every one over a 3 week period all expect perfect foliage. Those coming next weekend may not even have any leaves on the trees because of the wind and rain. Foliage pays the bills but drives me the most crazy every year - guests who expect picture perfect trees, guests who have nothing else to do because after looking at leaves everything else is outdoor adventure and they are typically older, etc. 8 days on my countdown board to go - yeah!!!

if i had the know how, if i was in tourism, i'd sell rose tinted glasses and bill them as 'foliage viewing glasses' . i'd make up some schtick about them ... that they let whatever rays through. or true colors or something. (i don't really know)
because ... one time driving up to vermont the sun glare was bad and my daughter loaned me her sunglasses that were rose tinted. the colors weren't that vibrant but i put on the glasses and the foliage absolutely popped. amazingly so.
maybe that's where that saying came from about seeing the world through rose colored glasses.

OTOH, lots of guests have thanked me profusely for telling them the BEST drives and places to stop. Whew!

We have been dreaty looking the last couple days. And had the rain and wind that drives me crazy for destroying the beauty. We have some trees that are a blaze of glory, some sections of trees that are full of color, and there are large hillsides of GREEN. That is my conundrum when reporting foliage - which trees do I report on.
One of my couple went to the higher elevation State Park drive to see waterfalls and (I hope leaves) and I customized the route to give them 2 covered bridges (both can be driven across) on the way back. The other couple rode the 17 mile rail-trail BOTH ways, cleaned up and went to another State Park with waterfalls closer to me. Then they were going to one of the NICE restaurants in the big city south of me. Looking forward to foliage reports from both of them.

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew........

Camge said:

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew.........

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Lights went out here last night as well. We weren't home. Had to leave party and go back to make sure guests were ok. They were fine.
Leaves definitely on the ground now. Wicked wind last night.

Madeleine said:

Camge said:

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew.........

Click to expand...

Lights went out here last night as well. We weren't home. Had to leave party and go back to make sure guests were ok. They were fine.
Leaves definitely on the ground now. Wicked wind last night.
.

Click to expand...

The colors here have been the best in many years! But winds now picking up here but mountain sides still looking good.
This was our view over the weekend. The largest tree is now almost bare :-( Beautiful while it lasted.

EmptyNest said:

Madeleine said:

Camge said:

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew.........

Click to expand...

Lights went out here last night as well. We weren't home. Had to leave party and go back to make sure guests were ok. They were fine.
Leaves definitely on the ground now. Wicked wind last night.
.

Click to expand...

The colors here have been the best in many years! But winds now picking up here but mountain sides still looking good.
This was our view over the weekend. The largest tree is now almost bare :-( Beautiful while it lasted.

.

Click to expand...

Lovely!

Thank you Empty Nest I always look forward to YOUR report as it tells me what we will have in-store shortly (end of October is our peak).
We had gusting wind since yesterday, and today it is completely still. Works great for two major events this weekend (one I am sure you will watch on Sunday on TV - Go Harvick!). Full house tonight, then flip all and two night min full this weekend. Plus another special event here that I need to attend Friday night.
Took this from the porch a few moments ago and this.

Joey Bloggs said:

Thank you Empty Nest I always look forward to YOUR report as it tells me what we will have in-store shortly (end of October is our peak).
We had gusting wind since yesterday, and today it is completely still. Works great for two major events this weekend (one I am sure you will watch on Sunday on TV - Go Harvick!). Full house tonight, then flip all and two night min full this weekend. Plus another special event here that I need to attend Friday night.
Took this from the porch a few moments ago and this..

Click to expand...

If you go to my facebook page, you will see a few of the 200 images I took up in the park on Tues.

EmptyNest said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Thank you Empty Nest I always look forward to YOUR report as it tells me what we will have in-store shortly (end of October is our peak).
We had gusting wind since yesterday, and today it is completely still. Works great for two major events this weekend (one I am sure you will watch on Sunday on TV - Go Harvick!). Full house tonight, then flip all and two night min full this weekend. Plus another special event here that I need to attend Friday night.
Took this from the porch a few moments ago and this..

Click to expand...

If you go to my facebook page, you will see a few of the 200 images I took up in the park on Tues.
.

Click to expand...

EmptyNest said:

If you go to my facebook page, you will see a few of the 200 images I took up in the park on Tues.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Will do.

Madeleine said:

Camge said:

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew.........

Click to expand...

Lights went out here last night as well. We weren't home. Had to leave party and go back to make sure guests were ok. They were fine.
Leaves definitely on the ground now. Wicked wind last night.
.

Click to expand...

Yup same here. But since we don't have guests I just rolled over and went back to sleep. DH used the gas stove and french press this a.m. to make me a cup of coffee. Power came back on around 10 a.m. Life is good.

EmptyNest said:

Madeleine said:

Camge said:

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew.........

Click to expand...

Lights went out here last night as well. We weren't home. Had to leave party and go back to make sure guests were ok. They were fine.
Leaves definitely on the ground now. Wicked wind last night.
.

Click to expand...

The colors here have been the best in many years! But winds now picking up here but mountain sides still looking good.
This was our view over the weekend. The largest tree is now almost bare :-( Beautiful while it lasted.

.

Click to expand...

Beautiful photo.

EmptyNest said:

Madeleine said:

Camge said:

So our leaves are just perfect, except as we wait for our guests to arrive tonight... A noreaster blows in. Leaves are on the ground, lightning and thunder the whole deals. As we finish the tour, lights go out. Ok no generator but lots ofbattery op candles and lanterns. DH lights a fire, and we open abottle of wine and share a glass with guests. Looking outside, there is no way they can get out to eat dinner.OK I have a pot of chilli on the stove, whip up rice and salad and we sit fown for a candlelit dinner . Everyone eats and is happy, lights come on. This is what a B and B is for! Send guests off to their room.
phew.........

Click to expand...

Lights went out here last night as well. We weren't home. Had to leave party and go back to make sure guests were ok. They were fine.
Leaves definitely on the ground now. Wicked wind last night.
.

Click to expand...

The colors here have been the best in many years! But winds now picking up here but mountain sides still looking good.
This was our view over the weekend. The largest tree is now almost bare :-( Beautiful while it lasted.

.

Click to expand...

Gorgeous. I want to be there. Right now.

You know, it ain't easy to find this thread when NOT ONE PERSON used the word FALL in it. Really, no I am not kidding. How is that even possible! Nor Autumn. Code word: leaves

So here are some photos I took early this evening (6pm) I have a ton of them from every direction, but mostly only had a chance to view a few, so these are them. This is in our town just down the hill from us.

BTW, we drove to NY and back this week. The colors are glorious! It was just stunning along the interstates. Even here, I still have a few trees that have just turned.