The leaves are falling...the leaves are falling...

We can't hang Christmas lights without some photo opps now can we? Once Dad finished hanging the lights we got to playing...



My mom is always taking pics! So, look at me!



I love my ball...



Come on...bring it on!



I got 'em...



I can get some major air can't I?



You know me and water right? Well, I'm the same with leaves?



Oh boy!



Come on, Dad, give me some more!





More...



Look, Mom! I got it!







I'm smiling...



I caught a leaf...





I had to stop and take a break...



Then we were back at it!











I was a happy camper!

Falling leaves

Dynamo took Charlie for a walk the other day. When I looked out the window they were playing in the front yard in the leaves!



Dynamo would throw the leaves in the air and Charlie would chase them! Again and again!



Charlie loves to chase everything! Moths, butterflies, bugs, lizards...you name it!



I, of course, ran outside and starting snapping pics of the boys in the yard!



Charlie got airborne a few times!







He kept trying to eat them!





Silly dog!



Then, he got the idea to roll in them!



Tossing...



And turning...



And smiling...



They must have felt so good!



We all had so much fun laughing and playing!

Easy to make rag ribbon wreaths

So, my mom surprised me with this beautiful rag ribbon wreath!



She had seen some online for sale, but just knew she could make it herself. So, she did! And, it turned out lovely.

It gave me an idea to make a couple as thank you gifts for my volunteers that recently helped me with the Fair. So, here are some of my creations...



I had some ribbon stockpiled along with some tule, so I went to town!



All you have to do is get a grapevine wreath or a foam wreath form and some coordinating ribbon.



Simply cut strips of ribbon and start tying knots side by side around the form. Keep the knots tight together. This will help the wreath to be full and poofy!



Stagger the knots so that the ribbon sticks out at different angles to give it fullness and personality! I think it's easier to see on this fall wreath I made...



It's so simple!!



Ribbon is not cheap, but if you catch the seasonal ribbon on sale or get lucky and find some at a thrift store, you're good to go! I also attached some spiders and other embellishments to make it spookier! Just use some fishing line hold them in place!



My mom is so crafty and clever! What an inspiration to me for this project! And, I just love Halloween, so it was extra fun! Email me if you have questions!

apple pickin'

Two Saturdays ago Momma, Daddy, Dynamo, and I went apple pickin' up near Charlottesville at Carter Mountain Orchard, which is my absolute favorite place to go!  But, before we went to the orchard, Dynamo wanted to take me to eat lunch at Crozet Pizza.



He had been there with Marioocheee after a mountain training ride and wanted me to taste how wonderful the pizza was. And...he was right! It was absolutely fantastic!!! It wasn't like any other pizza I'd ever had!



The flavor was so good and rich! Yummy!!! The pizza place was so busy that we placed our order to go and while Dynamo and Daddy waited Momma and I ventured over to Crozet Park to the Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival. Anytime there's a craft show...we're there!



Unlike many other craft shows we've been to, everything there was entirely handmade. There were so many lovely things from pottery and wreaths to chairs and glassware and food galore!



It was such a beautiful day to be shopping outside. The place was so full of activity and talented artists!



After we made our purchases we hopped into the truck and headed back up the road to the orchard! We weren't the only ones who thought it was a beautiful day to go apple pickin'...



The line getting into the orchard was miles long! It was worth the wait! The view from the top was spectacular!



There was a flurry of activity at the barn.



We hopped out of the truck and knew exactly what to do with the map they gave us! We got right to pickin'...



This was Momma and Daddy's first time actually pickin' apples! Of course Dynamo isn't afraid of anything. He climbed right up and started pickin'...



Momma and Daddy were so cute stuffing their bag with apples...



We picked and picked and wandered for a long while...



I was pickin' and didn't really pay much attention to the little girl until all of a sudden she said to me, "Hey!"...



Her name was Olivia and she was pickin' apples with her grandparents. She was so adorable and as friendly as she could be!

Dynamo is so funny. I looked up and he was walking down the row with an apple balanced on his head. Silly!





So, with our bags full we took some family pics!



Daddy and Me!



Dynamo and I!





Momma and Daddy!





While the guys went to pay for the apples, Momma and I were on a mission to get the fabulous apple cider donuts!



We waited in line for a while, but they were well worth the wait...



We sat and devoured them enjoying the view!!





Then, our tradition is to take our pic inside the worm hole of the giant wooden apple!



Inside the apple barn there were loads of jams and jellies to be bought...



Along with lots of apples! Their apples can be found in local grocery stores such as Kroger under Crown Orchard Company! Yum!



We had such a great time just enjoying the day as a family! The only one missing was Lexi! It would have been a little too much for the old girl! Daddy was constantly worried about her!

Check out this cool skeleton on top of the building...



The road out was filled with apples...



If you are ever in the area be sure to visit Carter Mountain Orchard!



Until next time...