Apple Orchard

The days are continuing to get shorter, as the nights get cooler.  The air is beginning to crisp, while the colors begin to change.  We've woken up to a few frosty mornings over the last week, which are rejuvenating, while also bringing on a sense of urgency.  

Today will be a day spent at home.  We've got wood to bring inside, a basement and stove to clean, a quilt to work on and an apple pie to bake.

Yesterday hubs and i went to the apple orchard.  It was a perfect fall day, the sun shining just enough to take off the chill, while families scattered about the orchard, creating their memories.

Nothing says fall like the first taste of a crisp mac fresh off the tree.  

Oh how i love these ever changing seasons.

Marshy Summer Dates

We have this place, not far from our home, that we find ourselves escaping to on many summer Sunday evenings.

It's a short four wheeler ride away; across the road, through the field, down the logging road, over the creek, through the forest to another field, around the hay field, down through the forest, to the opening, up and down the dune, to our marsh.

It's quite lovely, i dare say.

It's peaceful and private.  It's the home to a beaver family, who are always sure to say hi and keep a safe distance from their den.

We either go with dessert and beverages in tow, or a full steak dinner.

Sometimes we just hop on the wheeler and go with a sweatshirt and a desire to get out.  To leave this everyday life and listen to the silence of the earth.

As we head home, he still keeps up, racing us through the fields and forests.  Taking a break at the stream to chase some fish, grab a drink and look at us with his deep yellow eyes.  Thanking us for this adventure.

When we get home we are more relaxed, more settled and grateful for this beautiful land we live on.

County Fair

We go to the county fair every year.  Well to be honest, we go to multiple fairs every year.  Yes, we are fair people (go ahead, laugh it up brothers!).  But lets be honest, we love the agricultural fairs.  We love the antique tractors, the woodsmen competitions, the crafters guild full of quilts and homemade goodness.  We love the horse, tractor, truck and oxen pulls.  We love the people watching (seriously, some people only come out once a year, i swear) and the bad.for.you food.  We love the swine, sheep, goats, horses and cow barns.

Growing up, we went to the Addison County Fair & Field Days every year.  My mom and i always loved it, while my brothers grew bored with it at a young age and my dad just despised it.  Some people, like my brothers, have always had negative feelings towards these fairs.  I think they are a part of American History that should be valued and viewed as a community event.  They support the 4-H clubs, the children that want to show their animals, the crafter's and canner's that come together once a year to show their talents.  They support farming families and are the true turning point from Summer into Autumn every year.

I love the community coming together to support farmers, and just the agricultural industry all around.  

We've been to two fairs so far this year, looking forward to Maine's Fryburg fair in just a few short weeks.

This is the first year i brought my camera along, and I'm so glad i did.