Family Reunion.

I was thrilled to make it to Missouri this year for the annual Lippitt Farm Picnic, which work has me missing more often than not.  At the Picnic again after years of being away, my nieces and nephews now span the ages I was when I used to visit the Farm as a kid myself. 

As is tradition at the Lippitt Farm Picnic, we all caravan out to the woods for a bonfire and grill, where, like most reunions, time gets split between rediscovering familiar faces amongst long-since-seen second-cousins-twice-removed, and straining to recognize others.  

After catching up on everyone's year - the achievements (cousins Aaron and Claire off to college) and losses (Great Aunt Lois, this year's crop yield), my immediate family packed up the van for the road trip back to town.

Missouri Fall.

I made it back home to Missouri for Fall - for the first time in a long time.  Living in NYC, I tend to miss Fall most years, so I was excited to finally see some color.  I was also warned not to expect much, given the super drought and heat this summer in the Midwest.  But the leaves pulled through. 

(From Top to Bottom: View from Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO; My good friend Danielle on a walk in the woods in Columbia; Danielle's dog Hugo).