Salsa Dancing in the Leaves

Our Thanksgiving trip to Zion included my whole family...my hubby, my daughter and...yes...our dog, Salsa, and cat, Duchess. They love to go bye-bye as much as we do. The cat enjoys lounging in the backseat with my daughter as we travel. After arrival, Duchess lounges around under cozy blankets and takes in the view through the trailer windows. Salsa is happy to go anywhere. We just say "wanna go bye-bye?" and she's up and ready to go. Even when it's the vet! Lucky for her, this was a much better trip. It included lots of extra time with us and more walks than usual. She was an extra happy girl!


Zion had something she loves....LEAVES! She likes it when we kick them or toss them up in the air. Yippee!


Dance for joy!


Leap into the air and catch the leaves! Wooohooo!


She got to wear her new little red coat for those chilly morning walks. Hubby puts up with the coat. At least it's not a frilly pink dress or something! I like that she seems to enjoy wearing it and it keeps her warm. We kept her long and shaggy for this trip so she could stay warmer. But, she quickly went to the doggy groomer for a haircut when we got back. She's now back to her trim, stylish and beautiful self. I should have taken a picture of her new "do" but we've been so busy snuggling with her clean and velvety soft self and we haven't taken the time. What a cutie and sweetheart she is! We love our Salsa! :-D

Fall in Zion

The vibrant colors in Zion National Park during Thanksgiving week were incredible and one of the highlights of our visit. We weren't sure if we were going to miss the colors since we were going so late in the Autumn season. So, imagine our surprise and delight after our night time arrival and waking up in the morning to colors like these...


As the breezes blew, the trees whispered those peaceful whoooshing sounds and leaves gently fell to the ground like giant snowflakes. They decorated the landscape, in the trees and on the ground. Zion was even more beautiful with all the extra color and magic of the leaves.


The bright yellows were so pretty with splashes of other colors...like orange! I love this scene at the visitor center with the colorful trees and the American Flag...






Breathtakingly, vibrant and beautiful color! I love, love, love it!




We just couldn't stop taking photos. I took over 550 and I think my daughter took at least that many.


A lemony yellow tree with a black, water stained, sandstone wall behind it...


Intense oranges...


Even the lichen was getting in on the fun...


Every step along the trails was filled with color and beauty. Check out the pinks...


How about some yellow lace?!...


The color combinations were fun to see and I imagined them in yarn! The greens, golds and tans on this part of the trail were pretty...


Oooohh....more red!...


Soo pretty!...


The colors weren't the only star of the show. The textures and shapes are beautiful too! Like these oak leaves on super fine, soft sand...


There were even a few flowers here and there. I saw some tiny purple ones and these little yellow ones...


There was even a little greenery like these ferns tucked into moist little crevices of the rocks...


Living in Southern California doesn't provide the huge amount of Fall color that Zion and other parts of the country usually see. So, this was a real treat. We have more color this Fall than usual but nothing like what we saw in Zion.

I think it's interesting that as much of the country's leaves are turning colors, dropping off and the landscapes are turning brown...and white with snow, my part of the country is turning green as the rains water the brown landscape and seeds begin to sprout. In the Spring, as our green landscape will die back to brown, much of the country will turn from brown to green. I love how nature gives us constantly changing beauty and such wonderful surprises when we take the time to look. Nature is AWESOME!