Dazzling. Beauteous. Leafy.

Call it what you will, we love a good fall.

For weeks, Bag Lady and Shopping Siren have been waiting for the perfect moment to seize the foliage. True story: In a September email, one of us accidentally referred to it as “leaf peeing” instead of leaf peeping, causing the other to fall off her chair in laughter. We are easily amused. (Well, clearly: We drive hours to admire colorful leaves and consider window shopping an exciting pastime.)

Turns out the foliage is in its prime RIGHT NOW, according to the state website that tracks such things, so what better time for us to make a virtual road trip to the Moosehead Lake region? (A mere 2½-hour trip from Lewiston, for those up for the real deal.)

Lesson one: Go admire the leaves, stat. Lesson two: Mind those p’s and q’s or risk hilarity.

Red, gold and orange, ho!

* Float plane tours, Currier’s Flying Service, Greenville Junction, $40 per person and up

Peep by air!

* Three-hour tour of Moosehead, Katahdin Cruises, Greenville, $33/adult

Peep by water!

Um. Next year!

The boat is being pulled soon for a little hull and keel TLC. For now, just check out the lake cam that’s aimed at East Cove and the Katahdin tour boat. It updates online every 20 seconds. It may not be quite as exciting as the real thing, but virtual leaf-peeping is far better than a three-hour tour gone wrong. (Two words: “Gilligan’s Island.”)

* Grass-raised meat, Breakneck Ridge Farm, Blanchard Township, $6.95-$22.95/lb

Where the buffalo roam . . . then become sirloin. Or steak tips. Or, limitedly, ground beef. But, before then, see them wandering the pasture-side in all their buffalo glory.

* Room-size area rug, Davis Bros. Furniture, Guilford, $69

Go to Moosehead to look at the leaves; return home with a leaf-print area rug. (Or a rug featuring majestic deer or bear paw print design.) It’s like nature, but inside.

* Stress Free Moose Pub & Cafe, Greenville

They don’t appear to have a website — perhaps part of the stress-free life? — but judging by the reviews and pics on TripAdvisor, this is a place we’d have to hit for its homemade cake, cold beer and roast beef sandwiches. (We’d also like to echo TripAdvisor reviewer sptravelers5, who mused, “What’s a stressed-out moose like? I don’t think I would want to meet one.” Dude, so true.)

Best find: Kamp Knotty Pine Camp Counselor T-Shirt, adult sizes, Moosehead Lake Indian Store, Greenville, $12.95

Sports the slogan “Naughty camping under the pines.” Ha! It’s funny because it’s cold outside.

Think twice: About logging too much time indoors.

Circulate! Enjoy! Pee to your heart’s content! Er, peep. We meant peep!

To clarify

Shopping Siren’s basement doors are not open to Bag Lady’s wayward little snake from last week. Said slither-er can just keep moving on. We hear Mark LaFlamme’s basement is lovely this time of year.

Another retail R.I.P.

We received word this week that CJ Banks, the Auburn Mall shop for women’s plus-sized clothing, is closing. The store will shut its doors Oct. 25, according to store clerks. Its sister store, Christopher & Banks, also in the mall, will stay open.

Ladies, we mourn with you.

Is this goodbye?

All good things must come to an end, just ask Fashion Bug and CJ Banks. But has that end come for Bliss Thru Shopping?

It may be time.

Or not.

We want to hear from you!

Should Bag Lady and Shopping Siren pack up their purses and head to the Caribbean for an extended vacation? Or would Bliss be missed? We’d like to know.

Email Bag Lady at baglady@sunjournal.com or Shopping Siren at shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com, or write to: Sun Journal, ATTN: Bliss, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, Maine 04243. Phone more your speed? Call 689-2805.

It’s a season of choice, and maybe change. We’ll decide in two weeks, with your help.

Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who would not like to meet a stressed-out moose, either) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.

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