Stop and smell the pumpkin spice latte

The other day I was walking through Rose Garden Park in Thompson Falls with my trusty sidekick Walter the Jack Russell Terrier when I got a text from a friend that said "What are you looking up at?" The truth is, I'm looking up a lot these days. The colors in Sanders County are beautiful.

This is my favorite time of year. When you need a sweater in the morning and an extra blanket in the evening, but the days are sunny, warm enough for just a t-shirt and perfect for looking up. This magic time in northwest Montana is awesome because everyone is making that transition to bundling up for winter while still trying to enjoy every last moment of summer.

While out scouring the county for fall treats and treasures (see page 8), I tried a maple spice latte at Beagle's Bakery and Espresso. I'm a pretty plain coffee drinker (my normal order is an americano with just a splash of oat milk), but that latte sure added to those cozy fall feelings I've been having.

I was one of those people this week who keeps saying "I can't believe it's October already." The time goes by faster the older I get, and I realize how important it is to stop and look up. So what was I looking up at during my stroll in the park? The wonderful colors in the trees and how the blue sky and clouds made an awesome backdrop.

Last weekend I crossed state lines to play golf in Idaho, and I took dozens of photos on the drive west along Highway 200, reveling in the changing of the seasons.

Before you know it, winter will be here. We'll be counting down the days until the winter solstice and the increase in daylight hours. The holiday fever will be upon us and everyone will be in a rush to complete all those 2023 goals.

This week, though, while the leaves are changing and the mornings are getting a little cooler, take a moment to enjoy the fall features in our area. Grab a sweater and a seasonal coffee, and remember to look up!

— Annie Wooden