My Favorite Time of Year!

It is my FAVORITE time of year! And I try to enjoy as much of it as I can. I wish October and November were longer months like maybe 6 weekends per month! This way I could fit in everything I want to do. There are so many festivals and fairs and things to do and people I want to invite but then I run out of weekends! But before I start going on about my love for Autumn, I have to show you  my son's graduation picture:

This is one of the many poses. And before you say "Why isn't he smiling?" Well, the photographer told the kids it has to be a serious photo and that "smiles can make you look goofy. keep it serious."...anyway, I can't believe he'll be graduating in June. I'm very proud of him.

So now back to the Halloween/Fall discussion...  :)    Caitlin, her friend Jackie, and I went to the annual Pickle Festival held nearby. It's become a tradition! A couple hundred years ago, Long Island was the first area here in the northeast to promote pickles from all the cucumbers grown so we kinda celebrate every year and every flavor pickle you could imagine is celebrated at the Pickle Festival. It's so fun. Caitlin even wore a green bow and shirt to honor the almighty pickle!

We did our visit to Hicks Nursery and while I enjoy everything we do while we are there, I love to look at the decorations and try to get crafting ideas.

I'm just about done decorating but really...who is ever DONE? As I see things or find more things, I add them!

This weekend we are headed upstate for an event, and I can't wait! It's the Great Pumpkin Blaze! It's held in Sleepy Hollow about an hour from my home and it's awesome. Over 7,000 pumpkins carved and displayed in different scene. There's a pumpkin bridge, a pumpkin cave. It's super cool! plus you get to walk around sipping cider and eating chilli and popcorn! I'll be sure to post a bunch of pictures.

My chickens are laying eggs every day! It's so cool to have fresh eggs every morning. I think if I had the room I would have 100 chickens!

I still have a few projects I'd like to do this month. Have you seen the ideas with clay pots? Look how cute!

 Well, off I go. Busy day this Friday is! Have a great weekend!

Halloween is Coming!

Good Morning! It feels so good to wake up on a chilly morning. I just love the crisp feeling! Schedules are back in place for the new school year and life is carrying on! I've been slowly decorating and we've also gotten a few more house projects done including my front walkway which I was so excited about!

Now we just have to finish the garden beds around it. It seems like there are always projects to do! We are thinking boxwood bushes or something low growing and of course annuals which we plant in the Spring but for the Fall we will fill with colorful mums.

I was so surprised to receive a gift in the mail from a lovely lady who also loves the Amish as I do.

 She made me this lovely doll! Isn't she awesome? I adore her. She originally came with a little flower basket but little Jinx our cat had other ideas for that flower basket so I replaced it with a pie. So much fun to get surprises in the mail.

She fits right in! Nestled in front of one of my Amish made pieces of furniture and more Amish kids behind her and to the side.

 Besides getting all ready for school, Caitlin and I have been crafting like crazy. I'm so happy we started early and we are really getting creative. She's thinking she would like to be Rapunzel for Halloween. Here is her photo from the first day of 6th grade so you can see her hair is plenty long enough to be Rapunzel!

Some things we made:

My nieces came over and we did some Halloween crafting with them and started making supplies for the two Halloween parties we are having this year. And don't ya know that when crafting is involved so is food!!! We took a break and had a great meal with a big chocolate milkshake. An incredible burger I had when I was out with them and I ate every bit of it too!

Food is always involved....I craft better on a full stomach! So we are making some of these:

and some of these....

I'll let you know how they come out! I also saw this adorable idea on Pinterest. Just get black straws and googly eyes. So cute!

I'm thinking what else is happening around here since I last blogged....Oh how can I forget? My husband and I were gifted with tickets from my Godmother to see the show Mama Mia! It was playing in a theatre nearby in Northport and what a show! We had such a great night preceded by, again, great a dinner ...We loved the show and it was so much fun to have a date night with my husband. We will actually be celebrating 28 years of marriage this Saturday! Woo Hoo!

I think I'm pretty caught up now...School, crafting, Halloween, Mama Mia....yup, I think that's it!

I know there are periods of time when its hard to get a blog post up but I can check in! I will always keep up though! My life is so much busier than it was years ago when I started back in 2009! I care for my Mom who needs so much help and attention now at age 86 and my son is home tutored due to his illness so it's a busy week. Plus I'm pretty active with my daughter's activities and my church but again, I WILL ALWAYS BE AROUND and will still be blogging!

Love you all!