Hello October!

Fall is, by far, my favorite season. I love the crisp, cool mornings. I love the just-right warmth of the afternoon sun. I love the beauty in the changing colors of leaves. There's a sense of newness and of starting fresh as kids return to school. I love even this season of harvest and the comfort foods that go along with it: apples [pie], pumpkin [bread], corn [muffins... to go with the big pot of chili that's been in the slow cooker all day], potatoes [whether mashed with chicken and gravy or cut up in homemade beef stew]... everything is so scrumptious! And the upcoming holidays are so fun to decorate and prepare for! I also love being able to enjoy things that make me feel warm and cozy!: Hot Chocolate or a Chai Tea or Pumpkin Spice Latte, soup for lunch, new slippers or fuzzy winter shoes, and the best thing of all... the thing that most of us gals of the plus-sized variety truly love about the cooler temps: sweaters, fleece vests or jackets, cardigans, and sweatshirts!! YES!! :) Although... I'd have to say... even when I'm totally slender (one of these days, Lord willing) and living in my most fabulous swimming suit the entire Summer, I will never loathe Fall... or Winter for that matter... for making me cover up. Each season has it's own beauty. And they all need each other. Really. So here's to Fall! My fave!!



Beautiful Fall day along the Boise Greenbelt.



Dirt, Hay and Pumpkins

A few weeks ago, we decided to designate a Saturday afternoon to having some Harvest fun so... we took a short trek to a local Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze! Yeah, I forgot that the lack of rain in Idaho can make a hot, dry day in a cornfield even worse. As soon as we got out of the car, and I realized that the type of dirt we'd be walking on was the type that poofed a great cloud of dust out from under our shoe every time our foot hit the ground, I knew that there'd be extra mud and grime in our bathtubs that night! I was seriously covered, from head to toe, with a layer of gritty dust after this outing. And that, coupled with a fairly moderate breeze, made for an uncomfortable tractor-pulling hayride. Probably won't be doing that again - ever! I was trying to cough that junk outta my lungs for the next 2 evenings after that! At least the kids had a good time. We bought a couple of snacks to share and some water for everyone at the little "snack shack" there. The kids got to ride in these painted barrels being pulled by a smaller tractor. Wild times, I know! We all ran through the much-smaller, less-formidable hay maze. And then we picked our own pumpkins! Each person was told: "You must find a pumpkin that you're willing and able to carry on your own!" Of course, L.J. and Jensina went for the bigger ones and they were having quite a time hobbling to the scale with their finds... and then they had to hobble to the car after that! Uncle Brent found the perfect pumpkin, in size and roundness, for us. I picked out a tiny pumpkin and a couple of small colorful gourds for the center of my table. Jessica, Jillian and Jacob each picked out 2 of the small pumpkins since they were only a quarter a piece. They had quite the line-up once they finally got them all home! Aside from the flying dust-dirt, we all had fun. Yes, we were exhausted... but that just made for a better night's sleep. :)