SaMaDe: fall

Nothing is better than a brisk day to take a road trip to the mountains to see the changing colors and pick apples! We saw some amazing colors on the way and tried taking pictures in motion as we were late getting to the orchard. Here is what we saw:

This is our favorite sign on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Can you see the bike rider falling off?

Our destination: a 100 year old Orchard at mile 328.3. We went here last year with my family and we decided it needs to be a yearly tradition. This year we picked York apples and bought some other varieties.

Poor Sadie was sick this day and she was a good trooper to come along (she really didn't have a choice). She slept and watched movies all day long.

Here are the apples! The best part is using the apple picker. The boys (all 3) had fun with that.

Now we get to make our applesauce, apple butter and apple pies! YUM!

Summer has come to an end here in NC so that means no more hanging out at the pool for us (we are heading to the beach next week instead!). Which feels really weird for this Alaska girl because today it was still 86 degrees. Yet without the humidity, it is a whole new world...and I love it! (Not that I didn't enjoy the pool too, but this fresh air and not sweating every second you are outside is really nice) This was our last dip in the pool for the year:

The kids have returned to school and are getting used to their teachers, routines and making new friends. We are trying to figure out our after school hours to make sure we are getting homework accomplished and activities attended. Sadie is dancing, taking piano lessons and has a girls activity at the church this fall. Mason is playing basketball. I am playing volleyball, running and have cub scouts to attend and Chris, well, he supports me in all I am doing and is the Popcorn Cournel for the Scouts again this year. He definitely needs his own activity! We are also finishing up our produce deliveries this month which will free up our Wednesdays. Derek has been enjoying movie watching and here he and Mason enjoying a flick together:

Chris and I decided it was finally time to make a change in our paint colors in the dining room and foyer. We are enjoying the new dining room colors, but the foyer colors have not grown on us like we thought they would. We are trying to pick out different colors, but we can't come to an agreement yet. A new light fixture has been installed earning Chris a gold star and a huge improvement to the entryway. I love it.

The other day I heard a bunch of noise outside my window (because I can have them open now!) and figured it was just the birds which were migrating making a stop in our trees. Later in the day I walked out our garage door and saw an owl fly by along with a bunch of crows making the same chatter I'd heard earlier. The poor owl was being harassed by the crows. They were pecking at him and taunting him. The owl stopped in a tree next to the house and looked at me with a "save me" look on his face. The crows left for a while and came back when the owl decided he'd had enough of me after about 20 minutes and flew off. I'm sure he's fine, but those crows sure can be mean.