Obligatory Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Fall, specifically the Halloween portion, is incomplete without a trip to a pumpkin patch.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t carved a pumpkin since I was in elementary school, but I still love being outside, taking hay rides, and looking at all the interesting gourds and pumpkins. Also, Brad is an excellent carver since he’s such a creative guy in general.
I’ve been looking forward to carving a pumpkin this year…and it looks like I might be doing it a couple of times!
Brad and I picked humongous pumpkins that we will be carving this weekend…and I just might be helping my sister tomorrow.

All photos were taken with my iPhone. I would’ve loved to have my Rebel with me, but I’m thankful the iPhone has great quality.
I also pulled out the Diana Mini for the first time in a while, but I’m worried the film wasn’t loaded properly…we shall see!

Corn Maze

Yesterday, Brad and I were invited to join our friend on a little corn maze excursion.
I think I might have done a corn maze once in my life, as a teensy toddler with my mom holding my hand, so I jumped at the opportunity.
It was an hour drive, but a beautiful, scenic one.
Again, the weather has been unseasonably warm, but there’s nothing like that sun beaming through leaves of orange and red.
We got to the corn maze, and the goal was to hit 12 different points. The maze was cut into a barn scene and the only way to navigate was to hope you were at the cow’s foot or something like that. Listen, I didn’t navigate. And you can bet your bottom dollar that we would’ve been lost if I had. I just had fun enjoying the walk with some great people. And, of course, snapping some photos.

This probably sounds so stupid, but I was actually surprised to see corn growing on the stalks. I guess I figured they were out of season or something, but full heads of corn were growing, falling, and budding all around us. It was neat to see. The picture directly above is a particular favorite…the roots are so cool. Not what you’d expect to see. It reminded me of those weird scalp massagers with the claws.

Next, I’m desperately waiting to head to the pumpkin patch. I’d really like to actually carve a pumpkin this year.

Take Me Out

On Saturday evening, I went with my father and sister to a baseball game at the field in Moosic/Montage, PA. The local farm team, the RailRiders were playing. I only know enough about each sport where I can get by, but I still enjoy going to live games, especially when it’s free! We were super lucky and enjoyed suite seats, so we got some free food and beer and a beautiful night to be outside in the stands.

Maria actually ended up buying that foam finger. I made my dad put that silly hat on.

The baseball field just had a makeover and it’s really beautiful. You can walk around the entire length of the park, and there are vendors everywhere. There are even lawn “seats” for people who just want to grab a blanket and enjoy a game that way.

The suite just means that, in between watching the game, we could sit in an air-conditioned kitchen room and eat and grab beers from the mini-fridge. It almost felt wrong enjoying free beer, so I kept grabbing the Landshark. No one seemed to want it. Fins Up, you guys!

I almost didn’t go to the game. Most sports don’t interest me and I had to rush to Brad’s to change quickly after a baby shower, but it was so worth it to laugh and enjoy a few beers with my family. I am so glad I changed my mind!

A Weekend Adventure

You see that photo? That’s me, zip lining!
We did it yesterday at the Skytop Lodge, and it was challenging, crazy, thrilling, and one of the best experiences.

I am currently nursing some swollen hands and some achy joints. I didn’t expect to work so many different parts of my body. But it was 
a 3 hour adventure, different courses filled with crazy bridges and ropes and swinging wood planks to get across, culminating with a zip line.
We had to wear harnesses with carabiner clips, and we had to make sure one was always hooked to a line.
I really didn’t know what to expect, but it definitely turned out to be more than that.
Even though I thought I was going to die a couple of times (It wouldn’t have happened, being that I was connected to a wire at all times and would only fall a couple of feet in the air and hang there), and I’m sore, and I haven’t worked out that hard or that much in forever, and it was about 30 degrees, it was a total blast. Something that everyone should experience. I’m a mess when it comes to heights, and I screamed a lot, but it was thrilling and excellent. It’s always good to fight your fears.

Afterwards, we stopped at a cute country store on the way home and ate at Old Country Buffet, which might sound a little gross or weird, but it really hit the spot. All the comfort food you can eat after freezing and working hard? Necessary.

All photos edited with Afterglow.

Did you have a good weekend?
I couldn’t be happier that I asked for the next couple of days off.
It’s been a while since I had a nice mini-vacation, and it’ll be nice to rest my achy joints and bones.

Here’s to a great week!

At the Farmer’s Market

For starters, I do apologize about the lack of posting. I wanted to keep on top of everything, but each day has brought a new adventure. Both today and yesterday were focused on farmer’s markets. Wednesday = Hometown Auction, something I used to venture to nearly every week but has since turned to once a summer, thanks to my job. Today, we hit the Wilkes-Barre Farmer’s Market. I just love being outside, looking at fresh, locally grown produce, checking out little flea market knick-knacks, and eating excellent food. How can you argue with that?

So many whoopie pies! You could buy 6 for 5$, so I did that! Yum.

Love those handwritten signs.

And in Wilkes-Barre…

It was SO painfully hot today, we ducked into a local dive bar for a few tasty beers and waters.
And I rocked my new Jay McCarroll sunglasses the rest of the day.
Good times, my friends.

All photos taken with my iPhone and edited with PictureShow.

Life is…

undeniably, sweetly, deliciously good.
That is something I tweeted on Saturday night, when I was in a very happy (tipsy) mood. But it still rings true.
This past weekend, I spent two nights sitting on the back porch of my friend Catie’s (and Lauren’s, though she wasn’t there) house, surrounded by cigar smoke, drinking tasty summer beers, laughing, enjoying new company, and playing with adorable animals late into the night.

All photos taken on the iPhone and edited using the PictureShow app,
which I’ve had since I first got the phone and only just started to get into again.

On Deck

It’s very rare to have a summery 80+ degree day that actually has a nice breeze. I took full advantage of the back porch/deck after work, reading a little, watching Cali explore, and snacking on olives and hummus. Not a bad way to wind down on a Monday evening.