We took a foliage drive out through the Berkshires even though it was a cloudy day because the next sunny day would be during the week and we work for a living. The foliage was about peak through the higher elevations along the Mass Pike, and very good during our drive from Pittsfield south through Stockbridge and Great Barrington and then east through the hills of northern Connecticut to the scenic Barkhamsted Reservoir.

In Pittsfield, we found the Wandering Star Craft Brewery, one of the 100+ Craft Brewers of New England. I have not seen any of their beers in cans or bottles, but they were filling growlers, so I get a few. Chris and Shannon were extraordinarily busy (as craft brewers tend to be), but also very friendly and helpful (as craft brewers tend to be). Even Fuggles the brew-cat was friendly, in her kitty way. You can follow Wandering Star on Facebook.

Heading south, we stopped for refreshments at the delightful Patisserie Lenox. While Lorna nibbled on something tasty, I hurried over to Nejaime's Lenox Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop, where I grabbed a bottle of the new Ethereal Gin. This one is number 7. After trying five Ethereal Gins in June (strictly in the interests of Science!) I had to get this year's release.

In Stockbridge we visited the very good Norman Rockwell Museum to see an exhibit of illustrator Howard Pyle and some Rockwells we hadn't seen before, and toured his studio. It really is a very good museum; we return every few years. Then we pressed on to Great Barrington.

In Great Barrington, Lorna wanted to visit some of the many antiques shops while I was sure to visit the Locke, Stock, and Barrel Gourmet Grocer, which always has something I need, and something I didn't even know existed (Sicilian Tuna Bottarga, frozen?) so it's always worth the visit.

By then it was 5pm and the shops were closing, so we made a sightseeing arc south to Canaan, CT and then along the Connecticut side of the Massachusetts border on country roads to the scenic Barkhamsted Reservoir. It was getting late and it had been overcast all day, and it was still beautiful; it's definitely worth a visit on a blue-sky day during peak foliage.