Happy Halloween!

We're all jittery around here just waiting for trick or treating to begin. Last year we froze our tooshies off, so we're hoping this year is not so cold. I have already been informed that the costume I made for my son -- oh, yes, the one he's been talking about for a month -- is not going to be worn. He wants nothing to do with it. Ah, such is the disposition of a three-year-old, I guess.

I made this felt wreath for my friend in Iowa who has a birthday a couple of weeks before Halloween. Her tot is going as the UPS guy and she's a package. Why couldn't I have come up with something clever like that?!

Oh well, I am still looking forward to eating candy and carving pumpkins and taking the kiddos out and about. Yippee!

Have a spooky one!

It's Apple Pickin' Time!

I don't know about you, but I love fall. I love feeling the humidity give way to cool, crisp air and that "good sleeping weather" when it's about 50 degrees at night. I also love taking a trip to the orchard. This year we had to seek out a new spot, and although the apples were great, the orchard made the unfortunate decision to hand us a list of orchard rules when we pulled in their driveway. Eeeew, that kinda ticked me off right off the bat.

Although I'm kind of a rule follower by nature, I can't stand being told what to do (that's my bossy side coming through) and I really hate it when people point out the obvious ("Don't let your bratty kids climb all over our trees." and "If you don't pay for those 40 bags of apples you stashed in your trunks, we'll call the cops."). Then I was really put over the top when we were told not to drive the 200 yards (from Ginger Gold to Macintosh, in our case) -- that they really prefer that their customers drive so as not to be in the way of cars. Really, what's a peaceful day at the farm without a long list of rules and some bossy bosserson doling out additional rules as you stroll the premises? I just can't imagine why, if you don't want to walk around the orchard a little, you would go to a pick-your-own apple joint? Why not just hit the supermarket? Beats me.

But enough harping, the apples were great. We made an almond apple galette, some applesauce to save for the littlest pumpkin and today I made a Caramel Apple Tart for our relatives, who are bringing the main course for dinner. Pretty nice for $17 worth of apples, and there are still quite a few left.

Have you hit the orchard yet? Whatcha pickin'? Hopefully something good!

In a Seated Position I Fall Asleep

Have you ever felt like your simple existence is tiring? Just sitting is too much, and you nod off? I'm at that point today. It's not yet 9 p.m. and I'm heading to bed, like the elderly woman I've always felt was trapped inside (ever since I realized at age 7 that I was and would always be the first to fall asleep at the slumber party).

We've been so busy the last month + that I'm ready for a vacation from my summer. Fall days that I'm inclined to throw a meal in the crock pot and play leggos all day actually sounds pretty appealing. However, it'll have to wait until another business trip is wrapped up, another weekend out of town is happily had, and preparations for Halloween (pumpkin trains, trick or treating and more!) are all entered into with vim and vigor! Oy, October is shaping up to be another duzy!

What have I got to complain about? Nothing! I'm just sayin'...if anyone figures out how to squeeze two more hours out of every day or get 8 hours of sleep into six, let me know.

I hope you had a wonderful, restful weekend! Per normal, we packed a lot in -- dinner out, a girl's outing, apple picking, some thrift stores, and more!