Into October

Once again I have neglected my blog a bit, but I have a good excuse.  We have been busy enjoying this wonderful season of autumn.  Late September and October are such beautiful months.  I love the transition from summer green to all the beautiful fall golds, yellows, oranges, scarlets, and crimsons--there is a richness and complexity to the autumn landscape.  The word "texture" comes to mind.  There is so much wonderful texture to this season.  The scarlet flash of the leaves, the taste of an apple, the warm feeling of a wool sweater.  I just love it. 

We had our first visit to one of the local cider mills recently.  It was kind of a drizzly gray Monday afternoon, but John was off early from work so we ventured out.  Gabriel loved running around the petting farm.

Saying hello to the goats

Driving the tractor

Apples

Such a happy boy

Delicious cider

Preserves for sale

Little lamb

John and I enjoyed a grown up's night out to the Tiger's Game with my brothers-in-law and sister-in-law.  Grandma and Grandpa S. watched Gabriel for the evening while we went to a buffet dinner at an Italian restaurant and the game--compliments of John's employer who sponsored the evening out for its employees.

It was a chilly night, but it was a good game and good company.  Of course, we did the typical parent thing and left early when it was tied in extra innings.  We wanted to beat traffic and get Gabriel and ourselves home to bed.  Your priorities  sure change when you have a little one waiting for you.   When we got to my in laws, Gabriel was sound asleep, wrapped in a wool blanket on the floor.  We gathered him up and went home to bed. 

Last week, we made another visit to the botanical garden and their wonderful children's garden.  I am loving this place so much and trying to get out to a visit once a week until the weather turns.  Enjoying the flowers, vegetables, and all the wonderful things it has to offer...

Gabriel was fascinated by this whirligig

I detest lawns and loved this alternative grass that doesn't need mowing.

We made a block tower in the "builder's garden"

What a wonderful idea: outdoor blocks. Perfect for little kids.

An ecohouse

One section of the gardens had a display of several fantastical flamingos

veggies for the kids to pick!

green tomatoes

he loves the bells

some orange flowers...good bye summertime.

my sweet boy

a little pepper plant

scarecrow

daddy tracing gabriel's hand on the slate tablet

a pleasant looking squash

sunflowers

the entrance to the kids' veggie garden

kind of a monet looking flower garden

My little one is up from his nap and demanding some Mama time, so I will try and write more later.