The Great Valley Forge Pumpkin

We had a fun pumpkin carving party this weekend at some friends' house. They are amazing hosts and had a delicious dinner and desserts for everyone (probably 20 or so families!) They also provided carving tools and candles for everyone's jack-o-lanterns. We enjoyed scooping out pumpkin guts and visiting with friends. A contest followed, and although we didn't win any prizes, it was fun to see everyone's creations lit up together. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good pictures of that. Jacob (what pumpkins?) spent the night playing with their extensive train collection in the playroom. Fun night.

Trash to Treasure

In January, I drove past a not so lovely dining room table and four chairs on the curb - for three days - in a row.  Each day I thought, "I should take those chairs home and paint them . . . nah." Well, on day four, I caved and decided to pick them up, but when I got there, only one chair was left.  Ugh! (Why would someone take three chairs?  Or maybe they disappeared one at a time.) Anyway, I brought it home and stuck it in the garage.

Sometime in May, I pulled the chair out and decided to have some fun.  No more beige for me - I was going bold!  A little sanding, a can of spray paint (my new favorite decorating tool) and a cute fabric remnant later, I have a non-neutral fun chair that I LOVE!  Sigh.  I just wish I had picked up all four chairs the first day I passed them.

I then turned to a garage sale dresser that has been sitting in our playroom basically taking up space.  With the kids' help I primed and painted it and spray painted the hardware.  Again, no neutral - a bright orangey red.  I LOVE it!  I am going to get my fabrics out of the ugly boxes they've been sitting in for years and put them in the dresser drawers.  I may even start sewing more regularly again with them in their new pretty "container".  Both the dresser and the chair are going in the playroom/my craft room which my amazing friend, Sarah, and I recently painted a pale aqua blue.  I love the bright color combinations.  It is a fun room to be in.  (I also turned my brass piano lamp and mailbox a lovely hammered black with the aforementioned beloved spray paint.)  Watch out neutral hand-me-down wicker chairs sitting in the living room.  I think a can of brightly hued spray paint is in your future!

*Thanks to my sweet Sarah,  a budding photographer, for all of her lovely photos for this post (and the others).  And, don't you love those big green ball things? Just laying on the side of the road begging to be picked up and stuck in a basket for a bright shot of color.  They smell good, too - a little citrusy.

Laerenswaert = "Worth Learning"

While Darin was rehearsing Brahm's Requiem with a local Anglican church choir, the kids and I went to a fun colonial craft fair Saturday at an historical farmstead.  It was our first really cold day this fall, so we bundled up and headed out.  The kids carded wool, wrote with quill pens and used wax seals, beat flax to get fibers for linen thread, dipped candles, hooked rugs, played colonial games, and viewed a puppet show - twice.  It is the oldest running puppet show in English history - Punch and Judy.  Megan, Matthew and Jacob especially liked it.  I loved laughing at them as they were laughing so hard.  I never did master the stilts, but Sarah and Megan got a few wobbly steps in.  Anyway, lots of fun!  I'm looking into the Colonial Summer Camp at the farm for next summer.  I think the kids would love it - if it's not ridiculously expensive.

Same trail, next day, plus two lovely ladies

 

 

 

The girls wanted to join us on a trek to McCaig Nature Trail today.  It was another gorgeous day.  I think I should make a pilgrimage there every day.  Even the girls got in on throwing rocks in the stream - they were able to make much bigger splashes than the boys did.  I don't think the boys minded one bit.

Nature Walk

 

I took the boys for a walk today at one of my favorite little trails around here.  We spent probably 45 minutes throwing rocks in the stream which thrilled the boys.  It made me happy to see them enjoying themselves so much.  The weather was beautiful, leaves falling all around us, and the smell was awesome!  A couple of hours outside in a beautiful place is just what I needed.