Golden Carpets of Leaves and Other Signs of Fall in Bellevue

These days there is a mottled red and yellow and amber carpet of maple leaves along the sidewalk as I take my walk to . Makes me feel almost like royalty to cross them. 

I know they won't be there long but I will enjoy them while they beautify the path to the park as many days as I walk and they are still there.

It's crisp these mornings. Walking my daughter to school is definitely best with mittens and scarves now: And I don't mind one bit.

Coffee and buttered toast tastes even better this time of year.

The is offering Salted Caramel Lattes but have you seen the calorie count on those seasonal wonders? I steer clear. Decaf Americano with room for cream for this near-purist.

Year after year of living in Bellevue I appreciate this time of year best of all. Bellevue proper gets into the holiday spirit. Mother Nature too does her part.

The trees and their celebratory leaves make me glow with warmth inside. And even after the leaves fall and the trees are barren there is a beauty to the sentinels that mark the main arteries of my neighborhood.

Plans are being made for making the annual pilgrimage to the  and this year something is different. The other day as I was driving past the  I noticed signage that said Get your Tickets.

The website gently explains that due to increasing traffic and the rising production costs, this year there begins a $5 per person charge with no more than 5,000 visitors nightly. Fair enough. The family experience of the lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden and enjoying hot chocolate and a meander through the gift shop is a must do and worth the price of admission.

Maybe this year we will make it to the Light show and parade on Bellevue Way as a new addition -- though my nearly 12 year old daughter might prefer to go shopping over watching the parade. One thing I do believe is that she hasn't given up on belief in the ever-living Spirit of Santa Claus.

Secret Santa shopping will be happening (early if I have my way!).