I love October. 

That's when the leaves really change around here. One year it was so warm they didn't change until November. That wasn't a great year for foliage. But this year should be brilliant. For me, October is like my Spring, a renewal, where I spruce up the house, go through the kids' closets and try to get organized, I said try. 

I think I've always looked at this month that way because my church's semi-annual world General Conference is held in October and listening to the talks tend to give me a push in a direction I need.

Another thing I love is that there are so many festivals! Over the weekend we went to our back to school festival at a ranch not far from my house. The kids and I enjoyed a s'mores fire pit, horseback riding and a hay ride. It was really simple, just the way I think kids' events should be. I realized I didn't take many photos until it was too late but you get the idea.

Perfect size horse

This horse was big. I didn't ask but I'm guessing 17 hands?

I love Longhorns! I always enjoyed seeing them when we lived in The Texas Hill country
 and now I can see them right here in PA. 

Besides, it's a good workout

Raking up 25 bags of leaves to have this brilliance out my window?
Completely worth it.

 

 

Fall on display

So I got through my first month at my new job. It's been a little overwhelming but things are getting better. It's just been a lot more difficult coordinating schedules for the kids and us than I thought. But it's just something we all have to get used to so there's no need to complain.

Because I haven't made the seasonal door display change a priority, September kind of got away from me and before I knew it, there were pumpkins and fall flowers on every door and porch. It's one of my favorite times of year and I haven't done anything to bring it to life in the house or at the front door except for buying some mums. We're already half way through October so it's time to get in gear. I looked online for some inspiration and here's what I found: Enjoy!

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 Using pumpkins as planters - I may just do this.

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 I love all of this. I'll even take the dog. (Don't tell my pup.)
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 Now I regret not getting the lanterns at Ikea when I was there a few weeks ago...must go back.
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Bored with the gourds

After a month of gourds sitting around the house in vases and wooden boxes, not to mention used as bowling balls for Trae, I grew a little tired of them.

 

Although there are only a couple more days for Fall decorations, I thought I would liven them up for Thanksgiving. I took to them with gold spray paint which gave them some instant bling. I should've done this a long time ago. Note to self for next year.

(I also should've edited the photos but you get the idea.)

 

Have a happy day!

Mini cakes = fewer calories

 

It's that time of year when I do a little baking.

First up, miniature pumpkin shaped cakes.

I saw these on a magazine cover and thought they would be cute to give away

so that is what we did.

Who wouldn't want a mini cake?

 

 

 

Gathering for autumn displays - Union Mill Acres

When I was young we were forever going somewhere, anywhere, to just get out and explore. Even if my mom was just going to the corner store, we all darted out to the car as if we'd been cooped up for months and this was our only escape. Even now I tell my kids, 'Please, act like you've been in public before" because they are loud and crazy and act like they're limited in outings of any kind. When they hear the sound of me taking the keys off the hook, they come running to see where I am going, every one of them. I guess it's in their nature.

I still like to go and see what's around and this time of year I can always find something that will make us happy. For us it's festivals, craft fairs, walking trails, farms, football games, pumpkin patches, hay rides; anything Autumn.

We went to a little place in the country (which is pretty much any direction you go here) and stocked up on gourds, pumpkins and mums. Union Mill Acres was adorable and the people were friendly and helpful. There was a great assortment of everything you need for fall displays and the prices were the best around unless you go to the auction directly.

What a great place. Just see for yourself...



A barn with more things for sale. This would be my dream, having a barn on property to have a little shop!

Blair picking out a pumpkin

A topiary of gourds and pumpkins, good price too.

Cinderella pumpkins - my favorite

Gourd crazy

Trae pulling the mums for me until he discovered the sand box (upper right corner)



Handsome hubby carrying Blair's pick

So clever. I have never seen this before.






I hope you are enjoying this season as much as I am - hopefully even more!

xo

Laura




Are you tired of my love for acorns?

Don't answer that. Look at how cute these are first.

On my walks around the neighborhood I gathered up some acorn caps and sewed up some fabric acorns. I didn't pay attention to the shape; just gathered and pinched the fabric as I sewed along. Then I stuffed them and hot glued the caps on top. They are not the traditional acorn shape but they work for what I need. Soon I'll have a whole bowl full.

Have a happy weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linked to Sugar Bee Crafts

Nature's little gifts

I've already professed my love of acorns with their sweet little caps that crunch under my feet as we stroll around the neighborhood.

Now I want to try to make a wreath with them. I think I would like it a little more flat with the acorns lying end to cap. Maybe even spray painted? The construction seems to be easy, it's the collecting that is more of a challenge I think. So you'll know what we'll be doing on our weekend walk.

I also stumbled upon a picture of this twig leaf that I am dying over. There are sticks everywhere right now since the heavy rainstorm brought them down last week.

How great is it that nature gives us such good materials to work with?

 

 

 

Have a happy first weekend of Fall!

In a nutshell - crafty acorns

The weather has a crispness to it in the mornings. You know what that means - Autumn is near.

Trae and I took a walk to a church in our neighborhood so he could play on their playground. I heard the crunch underneath our feet as we walked along. The acorns are beginning to fall - one of my favorite times of the year. We picked up a few little specimens. They were still green and some were too small but soon there will be more to look for. There is one house that we like to walk by because they have a huge tree that drops the larger acorns.

Every year we gather them, put them in the freezer to kill any worms (which still elicits the question from whomever opens the freezer, "Why is there a bag of acorns in the freezer??") Do they not know me at all??

I always end up putting them in a glass vase for a little decoration. I also get a branch and hot glue the leaves and acorns back on it and put it in the vase full of acorns that act as a filler.
It's exactly what my mom would do except she'd send us out to gather filberts and walnuts that fell from the trees lining our driveway.

Maybe this year I should switch it up and make some felted wool acorns?

These are little sachets of lavender. So cute.

Or how about these cool fabric ones?

Some are just so cute you could eat them.

How about painting them?

Or maybe I should send acorns to heads of state like John and Yoko to plant as a symbol of peace?

Whatever their use, they sure are cute little suckers.

Which acorn project would you try?

(The heads of state thing might not work but the others are promising!)

Rollercoaster Roads

***Disclaimer: All children were buckled in their seats. There was no oncoming traffic. We did not exceed the speed limit on a stretch of road, only accelerated over a hill for the rollercoaster effect.***

A few weekends ago we were in the Maryland countryside. It was a lovely fall day as trees were bursting with color, perfect for sidestepping the highways and venturing into the country. We used to live in Maryland so it's always a little exciting to go back and play "Remember when" with the kids. I would often take the kids into DC on the train and hang out at the Smithsonian while Jon was at work. That's when we had 3 kids which seems like a lifetime ago.

As we made our way through the back roads, we drove on hilly country lanes which we have always dubbed "rollercoaster" roads. We drove the normal 45 MPH on the flat stretch but accelerated over the hills like we were on a rollercoaster (clear of traffic of course) and raised our arms in the air (except for the driver) and screamed, squealed and laughed. All of us.

It was fun as usual.

And then we went back to being normal.

Fall parade

One thing I enjoy about living in a small area are the those town traditions that may seem a little podunk compared to big cities. They are always easily enjoyable and make you feel as if you had just stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Take, for example, last weekend's Homecoming parade for our local college. It's just a few blocks away from our house and lasts 15 minutes tops. Our kind of parade. The kids get excited for this because it means collecting all of the candy that the parade people toss. They even walk by and hand out candy bars and not just to the kids. I had a few things lining my pockets as well.

It's just plain fun to get out and do something, don't you think? Meeting up with some friends at the creek and then walking a block to the parade route was the perfect way to spend the morning. The slight wind gave way to sunshine and it turned out to be a nice, warm autumn day.
And all the candy was gone an hour later.

We'll do this again at Christmas, just with more fanfare, and I can't wait.

Local high school marching band

College football and baseball playoff discussion

Handing out the candy

One of the college floats

Friends

Good thing they drive slowly around here.

Taste test

Trading some loot

The end.