The colors are lovely – but I do wish the sun would come out! I saw this tree while on a back road in Washington. The sun was shining, but was hidden by gray rain clouds by the time I turned back around to take a photo. It’s still pretty though.

Write “Wool and Art Tour” or “Mirage Alpacas” or “lamb kabobs” on your calendar right now. On Columbus Day Weekend, the 25th annual event will be held, complete with demonstrations, food, art, and animals. My family and I spent a morning at Mirage Alpacas in Washington one Saturday. We saw all the renovations happening at the farm, met the animals (alpacas, sheep, miniature donkeys, to name a few) and saw the love that everyone had for their work. It was great fun (next time we’ll bring a picnic lunch) but with the Wool and Arts Tour there will be food – a sidewalk cafe provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. Audrey Rhodes, owner of Mirage Alpacas, said that there might be new miniature donkeys (they were bred late so they may be born by the event) and Wats, born last year on the tour, is doing well. “People are coming back to see this one year old,” she says. “It’s a nice group of people who attend. We see some of the same faces every year.” And they know that they can get their one-of-a-kind shopping done. Learn more at www.miragealpacas.com or www.woolartstournh.com