Another Season Come and Gone

Another week has come and gone...and another season has come and gone as well. The farewells have been made to another Summer and Autumn is beginning to make her presence known: there is that nip in the air that speaks of scarves, warm drinks by the fire and curling up under blankets. The trees are all parting with their constant greenery in favor of something a little more colorful and of course, the TV is filled with nothing but football, football, football. Summer has sped away and Autumn is here to stay - at least until sometime in December!

Autumn color of one of Watson & I's many walks.

Autumn sunsets are the best - always blazing with color, just like the trees!

An Autumn morning - crisp & cool with the dusky blue of the mountains in the distance!

Watson soaking up some Wednesday morning rays of sunshine on the deck.

A little evening snack - a bear, minus one of his ears!

Thank Heaven for delicious leftovers prepared by my Momma!

This week honestly sped by...at least until Thursday evening...and I was fine with that because I spent most of the week looking forward to Thursday. My sweet and lifelong (literally) best friend Nickolee and her family came this past weekend to stay with us. The two spoke at our church on Sunday but between Thursday night and Sunday morning...and even after that (they left this morning) we found plenty to do. It was so wonderful to get to catch up with her and her family and to finally meet her sweet new baby girl, Lyllian! The weekend passed pleasantly and I feel like a good time was had by all; hopefully they enjoyed seeing a little bit of my new neck of the woods!

Ryleigh was immediately in love with Watson - he was her main concern all weekend.

Trying to get a good picture with this sweetie - all of these were somewhat hit or miss...

Watson walking Ryleigh....& Ryleigh walking me!

Lyllian says "where did you get this Winnie the Pooh?"

See - I told you we'd get a good picture! 

Friday afternoon, my Mom watched Lyllian and Steve took Ryleigh to Monkey Joe's to play for a little while...which meant Nickolee and I were able to go out and about on our own for just a little while. I took her to one of my favorite places here in the area - the Coach and Horses Tea Room! My Mom introduced me to this wonderful little spot and this wonderful little spot turned me on to tea; I've always loved a glass of iced sweet tea but never hot, until I was taken to High Tea here! We spent the afternoon sipping tea, eating all kinds of delicious foods and just catching up - of course we stopped at a shop or two on the way to and from having tea...but it wouldn't be a girl's afternoon out without a little shopping, right?

Ready to have some tea!

Certainly a new favorite for me - Strawberry Ginger Peppercorn! I wish I had a pot right now!

Enjoying our tea experience!

Dad giving Lyllian a cuddle - she always has that thumb in her mouth!

Playing on the playground in Front Royal after supper at The Melting Pot!

Swinging - apparently this was Lyllian's first time on a swing!

Saturday we took the Roberts to our favorite Farmer's Market and Orchard - Marker Miller! We picked apples and Ryleigh thoroughly enjoyed playing on the playground, so much so that she didn't really want to leave. After a bit of a rest at the house that afternoon, Nickolee, the girls, my Mom and I went to the church to have a ladies' snack reception for Nickolee - she talked to them about life in Madagascar and they shared with her; sharing the love they have for her and her family even though they were only just meeting her, and also sharing that they had been and would keep praying for Nickolee and her family. We had supper at our favorite Mexican restaurant with Sweet Frog's for dessert and everyone watched a little football after supper...although I'm pretty sure only Steve, my Dad and my Mom were the ones really interested, ha-ha!

Ready to pick some apples!

Two little apple pickers in the wagon we found in the middle of the orchard - we commandeered it for our own purposes: pictures!

Hauling in the apples...and the little apple picker!

Cuddling with sweet Amelia during the Ladies' Sweet Reception for Nickolee.

Lyllian & Amelia - fast friends, even though Amelia slept through most of their meeting, ha-ha!

Emily & Ryleigh were certainly fast friends & spent the whole two hours playing together. 

A brilliant Saturday night sunset!

Sunday morning was spent at church - Steve and Nickolee shared about life in Madagascar and shared their hearts for spreading the Word of the Lord to the Malagasy people; it was wonderful! After having lunch at Panera (Nickolee's spot of choice; which I will always agree with...love me some Panera) we all had a little rest before heading to Wayside Farm for the afternoon! We rode on a hayride, Ryleigh played in the corn crib and slid down all kinds of slides...Nickolee, myself and my Dad may or may not have slid down some slides too...we also ventured into the corn maze and while Nickolee and I were sure we'd get lost, Steve led us out with no trouble. However, we did manage to lose my Dad when he stopped to pick and shuck an ear of corn - we told him to keep up and he just didn't listen. Thankfully we all lived to tell the tale and emerged unscathed from the corn maze!

Wayside Farm's theme this year was Super Heroes - they were everywhere you looked!

Taking a trip down one of the slides - it went just a little bit faster than he anticipated!

Somewhere in the corn maze...Nickolee & I being goofy, Lyllian just completely relaxed! 

Going into the Batcave!

Punkins, punkins everywhere! 

Two of the cutest little girls I know - ready to take a spin on one of the slides!

Not sure what my next move should be in Pumpkin Checkers!

Just taking a hay ride through the Soy Beans, Pumpkins and Corn! The little hootie was not interested in taking a picture!

These two bonded on the hay ride...so sweet!

Ryleigh & Nickolee sliding into the Bat cave!

Lyllian hanging on to a gourd I handed her - she certainly was thinking "what in the world is this thing?"

The biggest hit of the evening - playing in the corn crib! Who knew corn could be so much fun?

Jeffrey emerges from the Corn Maze - he may have gotten lost but he made it out alive!

Duck races!

Saying good-bye to the Farm!

Autumn has definitely arrived!

So...there you have it. I think we welcomed Autumn quite well, don't you? Autumn is certainly my favorite season; I'm so glad it's here and I'm even more glad I get to welcome Autumn in Virginia this year. The leaves are changing more every day and I'm taking in each turning leaf with absolute delight!