Hello October! As spring ramps up in the Southern Hemisphere, I’m sure many folks can’t wait to get back to their favorite outdoor activities and hobbies. Here in the cold north, most of our outdoor sports and pastimes are ending or adjusting as the changing weather and cooler temps of Autumn close in.
A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.
Phyllis McGinley
Hiking, biking and walking are still doable in Northeastern Washington with cool sunny days, but colder nights dictate warmer clothes. My last day on the bike was in Sacramento in November 2020 when I visited the American River Bike Trail for the last time.
Hiking
Last week, my good friend and her fiancé visited here from Sacramento. We hiked around the area that included The Bowl and Pitcher and our local trails.
Make a commitment to having fun. See your best friends and make time for your hobbies and passions.
Robert Holden
Shopping/ Exploring
We visited GreenBluff, a farm area featuring over 60 local growers, wineries, breweries and other venues. Autumn is a great time to visit and purchase famous Washington apples while getting in the groove for harvest-themed activities and food, like pumpkin donuts and sparkling mead. Did I mention shopping is a legit hobby?
Kayaking
Last weekend while outdoor temperatures were still in the upper 70’s and low 80s (25-27 C), lines of vehicles drove down the main highway to get their last warm days of kayaking in. Although I did not get out on the water this time, I managed a few trips over the summer.


More watercraft were out enjoying the late summer weather.
Other Hobbies
While many of us think about what defines a hobby, our blog and the photography that goes alongside the blog are year-round hobbies that engage us in many ways. From these, we get creative with poetry, writing, visual art and other fine arts that keep the creative juices flowing.
Photography
Of course, you know I’m all about photography. With mobile devices, snapping a pic is easy and provides hours of fun. Creating the blog signatures is also part of the fun!
I spent last week leaf-chasing. With my dogs leashed to my left arm and phone in my right hand, I found beautiful Autumn scenes within my own neighborhood and beyond.
Many photographers experiment with filters, apps, and other creative measures to enhance their photos. I put some of my existing images through a mobile app called Painnt. Hope you enjoyed them throughout this post.
Learning a New Language
As of today, I have logged 673 days in a row learning German on Duolingo. I actually began in August 2019 but managed to accidentally skip a day. The streak before that was 50. You’d think with all these days logged I would know more. But given a decent context, I can understand some spoken words and read a variety of words. I can also correct some of my hubby’s German to a small extent, with his excuse being that I’m learning high German, LOL. Not bad for him speaking the language since birth. He also speaks Spanish fluently. I’m just relieved that I can speak English fluently 😉
Wildlife Watching
My love of the outdoors involves seeing as much wildlife as possible. So far in the Spokane/Nine Mile Falls area, I’ve seen a few bald eagles, two moose (while kayaking), heard the bugle cry of an elk late one night, and adorable flocks of quail. We see white-tailed and mule deer almost daily.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a wonderful hobby that benefits both the giver and the receiver. In our new community I have had several opportunities to volunteer. Over the summer, our church operated a free weekly day camp at a nearby school. My job was to help prepare 180 sack lunches every Wednesday. Two of the days were hot dog BBQs on site. This month, at our local nursery/farm (down the street!), we are volunteering each weekend as they host their annual Harvest Festival. Saturday was our first day and it was a blast, meeting neighbors, and just being out in the Autumn air. We are going to get some free trees for our efforts!
Yay for Photo Challenges!
Today I’m sharing this post for several other photo challenges including Becky B’s October Squares, where past meets present. In many of these images, I present “bright, trees, blue, lines, perspective, and time.”
Also, JohnBo’s CellPic Sunday, Cee’s Flower of the Day, Jude’s Life in Color, Jo’s Monday Walk, and Dawn’s Festival of Leaves
Last Week’s Linkers
Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from 29 bloggers who shared their favorite Autumn and Spring photos.
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Easin’ Along Image shared in comments
Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments
NEW TBL
It is in his pleasure that a man really lives; it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self.
Agnes Repplier

I hope to see you next week for the Monthly Color Challenge! October is all about Burnt or Blood Orange with shades in between! Have a great week.
Please bear with me Sunday as I am away from the internet for a few hours while we volunteer for a local Harvest Festival, as I mentioned earlier. I will share about that next week!

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I’m doing all of this vicariously through you, Terri–and I already feel more exercised. I just bought a Peloton Tred–love it–I doubt that you even consider that exercise!
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LOL, Jacqui! We walked a crazy amount of steps…I’m glad my friend does not like to sit around! Yesterday, we volunteered at the harvest festival and I got 12,000 steps just there! Your Peleton Tred will be great exercise for you! I can get a lot done on my elliptical..I bet you will too!
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12,000 steps! That’s about three days for me!
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Hi Terri, I love your new blog theme and all your photos. I have similar sports and hobbies. We had a warm September in Toronto and our fall foliage is delayed, still mostly green in my neighbourhood. Have a great weekend!
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Thank you, Natalie, I believe we are kindred spirits with our hobbies! Our September was warm too, but October is more normal! We will be busy at the harvest festival in a few hours…enjoy your weekend too!
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no moss grows on you Terri! I need a rest just from reading and seeing all of the activities you did!
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Haha, thanks Wayne! I’ll enjoy the fall as long as possible then break out the snow shoes when it snows 😁
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and no snow falls on you!
I miss snowshoeing!
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Hi Terri, thanks for linking up. What beautiful places you have to go cycling and hiking! I think cycling is the best sport for me now that I’m getting on a bit, lol, as it doesn’t hurt the knees too much.
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Thanks, Stevie! We do have some lovely areas to explore. When my knees went bad, cycling and elliptical were all I could handle along with walking.
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If I stand on the bike to go up hills, there’s a bit too much pressure on my knees unfortunately. I try and stay sitting down now.
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Lovely collection. It looks so tranquil kayaking, but I bet it can be quite adenturous! 🙂
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Thank you, Maria! It was quite tranquil indeed. We had the river to ourselves. Seeing the moose was quite exciting!
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What a gorgeous image of the kayakers. Is that you?
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Thanks, Dawn, no that was the daughter and granddaughter of the gal I was with. I ran that pic through the Painnt app. Turned out really cool. I’m in the other pic though.
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Nice photos Terri. Good to see you’re having fun exploring your new surroundings. I hope you had a good time at your Harvest Festival. Here’s mine this week: https://grahamsisland.com/2021/10/03/surfing-looks-easy/
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Thanks, Graham! I’m amazed at how much there is to do so locally. I supposed it was the same way in Sacramento, too, perhaps I got bored, LOL! We leave for our Sunday volunteering in an hour–such a long drive (quarter mile)!
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Beautiful autumn photos, Terri. I love your gentle reminder that fall and sports do go well together. I had been in denial about the loss of summer, but I am also ready to unbusy my life a bit. So, bring on fall and winter and may I remain as physically active as you (in a non-busy way)! 😀
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Thanks so much, Donna! I like being unbusy too, the blessings of retirement…our choices! I’m sure you will have no problem staying active, my friend!
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https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2021/10/03/sport-and-hobbies/
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Thanks for participating in Cellpic Sunday! Coincidentally, as of this weekend, we spent yesterday riding the Snake River on a jet boat (task excursion of the season for this company), and today we are in Spokane. If you have any recommendations of places to visit this afternoon, I’d be happy to hear them. We are planning to head downtown to visit the park and falls.
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Welcome to Spokane! What a great coincidence. Riverfront Park is a great place and will keep you busy. The falls are a little down for obvious reasons. I live about 20 miles north in Nine Mile Falls on the hwy 291. Enjoy this gorgeous day…virtual wave 👋
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It was a fun day at the park, especially with Fall Fest going on.
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Sounds like you have your new life all sewn up, Terri. Never a dull moment. Beautiful Fall photos and thanks for the mention. I think being fluent in English is a good start! Have a great week!
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Thanks, Jo, I’m definitely loving this lifestyle! I can’t wait til I can converse a little in German. I practice with hubby and his brothers. If you post a walk Monday, I’ll link up!
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Popped back to leave you the link, Terri. Have a great week!
https://stillrestlessjo.com/2021/09/30/jos-monday-walk-cow-and-calf-ilkley/
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Thanks!
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I love the Painnt photos! There are so many fun fall activities- great post, Terri. How did you do the blog signatures?
Here’s my entry for the week- https://jacqbiggar.com/2021/10/03/enjoying-the-outdoors-sundaystills-lifestyle/
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That Painnt app is amazing for $10 a year! I made the signature in PicMonkey but you could also create one on Canva.
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Cool, thanks!
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You are a very active lady! Puts me to shame. Love your photos and the ones with the orange bits – the kayaking shot at the beginning is truly lovely.
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Heehee, thanks, Jude. The weather has been perfect so no excuses. I put that first image through an app filter. Came out fab!
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A wonderful glimpse into all the fun you have in autumn, Terri. It’s truly a beautiful season. I love the lead image on the river, and those beautiful red leaves. So amazing, aren’t they? Enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts! Happy October.
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Thank you, and Happy October, Diana! My favorite month. That first image was taken from my own kayak. I ran it through the Painnt filter and it turned out well. I bet you have some amazing fall views in your area!
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Not yet. We’re still quite green, but it’s coming. 🙂
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It will be there before you know it!
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You live in a beautiful part of the world. I grew up in BC. So your water photos take me back to some of that scenery.
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Thanks, Anne, we feel so blessed to live here!
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Hi Terri, your hobbies and love of life show through in all you do. We are very similar with our hobbies of hiking, volunteering, photography, cycling, blogging and I especially love your kayaking photos here!
I have combined a few challenges into one post, I hope that’s OK with you!! https://debs-world.com/2021/10/03/a-bold-takeover-in-september/
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Terri, ‘a hobby a day keeps the doldrums away’ is a great quote for this post. I couldn’t agree more. Happy Fall!
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Thanks, Suzanne! Isn’t that the perfect quote? Happy Autumn to you!
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Great photos and a retirement life style that suits you perfectly. Water sports are about the only activity I don’t do much but the rest of the stuff you listed are all right up my alley. Volunteering has been put on hold with my group until Covid settles down.
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Thanks Bernie! There is tons to do here. Our entire county, which borders BC, Canada, only has 46K people. We seem to be free to move about even without masks.
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Glad that your area and population have made Covid fairly safe. While we are vaccinated we have two little grandchildren that can’t be so we have to be careful not to get it and be asymptomatic and pass it on to them. Plus the 4th wave is crazy here so we are just trying to keep a low profile.
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What a beautiful view, love the colors!
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Thanks so much Terri. It’s from the balcony of our bedroom. Fall is such a fleeting thing here in the prairies of Western Canada that we really must focus on the positives.
Thanks for stopping by to see the photo and comment.
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Terri – you have captured the essence of enjoying the great outdoors through your camera and by using the Painnt photo app as well. Your leaves look like I could reach out and touch them – that red one with the light shining through and your matching signature is what Fall is all about, my favorite season.
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Thank you so much, Linda! We’ve had some spectacular weather and amazing Autumn views so far. The weather, she is a’ changin’…a big cool down on the way. We’ll make the most of it as long as possible!
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Fall is so fleeting here Terri – one day it’s very hot and before you know it, you’re looking at black ice and snow flurries and the beautiful leaves are scattered all over the ground.
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You’ve been busy and active, Terri! Nice. And, it looks like the warm weather this last week extended into the Pacific Northwest as well. So bizarre, these temps, but we take it. As long as it stays warm enough up north, we don’t have to rush south yet. 🙂 Happy fall!!
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Happy Fall to you Liesbet! The cold is coming but if it stays sunny I can still get out for a hike. We hope to heads south after Christmas, first over to NorCal, then SoCal then on to Arizona. Maybe our paths will cross!
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That would be wonderful, but I have a sneaking suspicion we will be in Baja by then. 🙂
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You certainly seem to put in the miles with your hiking and are rewarded with some beautiful scenery 🙂 I don’t do nearly as much, or enough, but I’m trying to do more! I love those red maple leaves 😀
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Thanks, Sarah! I’m going to hike around here as long as possible. Soon the weather gets cold. Once it snows, I hope to strap on the snowshoes–now that is a workout!
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oh to get out and about – some stunning squares and wise words in your beautiful Sunday Stills this week 🙂
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Thanks a bunch, Becky!
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Terri,
I love your hiking with friends picture – great colors. I am a bit stumped for a contribution this week, but I’ll think about it a little more and hope to come up with something. Already have one picked out for next week though! Auf Wiedersehen!
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Danke schon, Joe! The weather has been amazing this week, but will get COLD later this week. I just got back from a bike ride in my neighborhood–spectacular! I’ll look forward to any of your beautiful images! How about a hike along a trail in your home state?
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So many wonderful pictures, Terri! Thanks for another fun challenge! We share many of the same hobbies – not the kayaking – though I LOVE your kayak trio picture! I’m hoping to post something later this week, if I can narrow down my hobbies into something manageable! 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, Susanne! And you can always post pics of people doing things even if you don’t yourself!
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Love these Terri and your editing of several of them. I may get a post up but we’ll see. we’re on vacation so I’ve mostly just been commenting, but if I’m able I do hope to sneak a bit of time to post. I have a bunch of late risers here so early morning is usually best. Love your other hobbies too. That farm area looks really cool. in the Hood River area there is a thing called The Fruit Loop and you can visit a variety of farms etc. We love it.
Got my post done and realized I never posted my comment…lol. Here’s my link.
https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2021/10/taking-in-life-around.html
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Thank you, I always have fun the the editing filters, Kirstin. Good to know about the Fruit Loop. Thanks for sending the link over. It takes a while to get for some reason!
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Looks like you’re enjoying your new beautiful surroundings Terri. And omg, I was learning Spanish for about 8 months, daily religiously and was doing great until I haven’t been back at it since my hubby took ill. I really want to get back to it so I don’t lose what I’ve learned. 🙂 xx
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We do really love our area, Debby. Get back to your Spanish, you’ll thank yourself later.
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Oh, don’t I know it! 🙂 x
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Fabulous post of sports and hobbies and all combined plus so much more. I did a last minute add to my last post, hope you dont mind
http://bushboy.blog/2021/10/05/its-a-splendor/
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Thanks, Brian! Loved your post!
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👍😁🤗
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Great selection of all the sport and hobbies Terri! I am not a sport person, but love going on early morning walks!
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Thank you, Aletta! Don’t forget, photography is your hobby, one we all enjoy!
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Thank you Terri! Glad you enjoy my photos 😊
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I’m so impressed with you learning a new language, Terri. I was terrible at that sort of thing at school, failing my german and Latin exams. I had to laugh when you said you sometimes correct Han’s german.
Your walks look lovely, and it’s good to see that Aero also joined you. In our part of the world, apples also make cider ( a favourite beverage of mine). Have you tried it? You can also make it with pears.
Most of my hobbies are done indoors, although I do enjoy walking a lot.
I’ve never been good at playing sports unless they involve playing sport on the PlayStation. However, I enjoy 10-pin bowling and escaping from Escape rooms (if they count as sports).
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Thank you, Hugh! I suppose the good thing about learning German is I can practice with all three brothers–but it’s a little intimidating. I also took Latin in high school, but since it isn’t spoken, it mostly helps for vocabulary and root words in western languages. Probably why my English is decent, LOL! I do have a few indoor hobbies–like crafts, sewing and new-to-me–cooking, now that I have a roomy kitchen. Sports? Hobbies? They are all leisure time and that’s what counts the most. Cool shot of you and the pups’ shadows on the beach!
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Fantastic hobbies and photos, Terri. Toni x
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Thank you, Toni!
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I finally made it back with my hobbies post – they were all in the garden! 🙂 https://catsandtrailsandgardentales.com/2021/10/09/yesterday-in-the-garden/
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Yay, I was just wrapping things up!
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I made it just under the wire!! I had been overthinking it and decided to stick with the obvious! 😄
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Glad you did!
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You certainly have a busy, active life. Wonderful!
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Thanks, Debra. Gotta keep moving 😁
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