Pumpkin Plenty

Okay so it is fall. And it is cold. The leaves are changing colors and then falling to the ground. Pumpkin everything is everywhere. Scarves and jackets are being warn. Pumpkin patches are on everyone's list. And so is apple cider.

Now back to this cold business. It's cold, like let's just skip over the 60's and 70's and go straight to the 30's and 40's. I think I would enjoy it more if I wasn't cold all of the time.

As I mentioned already pumpkin patches are on just about everyone's autumn list. This is definitely something that is on my autumn list. T and I headed north on Sunday up to Peninsula to go to Szalay's Farm.

The farmer's market was packed with local produce of all sorts. As well as baked and canned goods. And of course apple cider. And more pumpkins than I've ever seen before. They were pumpkins on steroids to be exact. I just wanted a small carving pumpkin and it took me about 20 minutes of wondering around back and forth looking over the same pumpkins I had checked out 5 minutes ago. Finally buried beneath other large pumpkins I found the perfect pumpkin.

There also happened to be a corn maze. Of course we weren't going to pass that up. We put off shopping until we went through the maze. Except for a cup of hot apple cider to warm our hands up. We paid our $6 and got our maps. Walking into the corn maze with a nip in the air and cider in our hands we headed off on a bigger adventure than either of us expected.

With a useless map we had no idea which way to go. We got turned around and turned around and turned around. We were going in circles. And at one point ended back up at the entrance.

HOW DO WE GET OUT OF HERE?

Both of us shouting as we kept following paths. And ended up hitting more than one dead end.

GET ME OUT OF HERE?

We started following some people to see if they would be of any help in getting us out of this corn maze. Well we decided they were going to slow for us and decided to turn down a different path.

Eventually we found our way out. And we both shouted for joy.
Lucky for us there was all sorts of kitchen utensils and wooden sticks for us to use to bang on pots and pans of all different sizes. After about 5 minutes of play time we headed back across the street to do some shopping.

I ended up with 2 pumpkins, an Amish bread, a head of garlic and a pint of apple cider.

The farm was beautiful and just buzzing with people. They had food booths offering different sorts of hot and cold foods including ice cream, hot apple cider, and franks.

The air started to drop as the sun went down. T and I decided it was time to head home and warm up.

Pumpkin

Another item on my autumn list is to try a new pumpkin recipe. Well I have tried 2 different pumpkin recipes so far. A pumpkin mac and cheese and pumpkin energy bars. Both recipes I found on Pinterest. I'll include them below.

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites

I changed up both recipes to suit my taste. They both turned out to be delicious.

I also made some homemade Amish Apple Dumplings.
They turned out to be delicious.
I had a weekend full of baking.
I absolutely loved it and enjoyed myself.

I hope you are enjoying your fall as much as I am.
Ohio in Autumn is beautiful. The leaves are changing colors. The air is crisp.
Next weekend I am going on a lantern ghost tour in Zoar.
I am very excited.
I am looking forward to it.

I have been reading a lot and I am sorry I haven't kept up with my book reviews. I will try to do one soon. I've read a couple of great books. I look forward to sharing with you. I've also been working on Pilates with Laura and soaking up what she says and  incorporate it into my yoga. I've been working on my Yoga as well. I recently started reading a Yoga book about it's philosophy and science. I can't wait to share more with you.

xo

*Shine like Glitter*
I love this time of year.
The weather has warmed up the past couple of days and its been warmer out.
It has been nice.
An Indian summer.
Next on my list is to make a pumpkin roll.
You guys, my readers, rock!
Thank you for being so wonderful.
Namaste.

Pumpkin Patch and Rittman Orchard

On Wednesday Theresa, Wyatt and I took a trip to Rittman Orchard. Theresa wanted to get some apples to make apple sauce with and then of course we had to pick out some pumpkins for Halloween. 

It was a cold, cloudy, and windy day... even more so since we were at the top of a hill. But the view was amazing and the colors of the trees in Ohio are gorgeous, something we do not get much of in Florida.

As we entered the shop the smell of apples immediately hit my nose. There were many apples to choose from. Plus all kinds of other goodies.

I snapped a picture of these weird looking turnips just for that fact: they were weird looking and I had never seen anything like them. At the register there was one that someone had put googly eyes on... what a clever idea. 

So many apples!

This picture is for my mom since her name is Peg.

This is such a pretty pumpkin.

Pumpkins everywhere

This pumpkin has warts. 

The pumpkins we picked out!

We were all starting to get hungry so we stopped off at a little restaurant in Barberton to have lunch.

These gorgeous trees were right out front. I mean just look at that vibrant red tree! Beautiful.

Theresa and I opted to have this delicious chicken dumpling soup that hit all the right spots on this cold gloomy day. The dumplings were huge and very filling.

After lunch we headed back to Akron to enjoy the rest of our day together.

xo

*My Thoughts*

I miss all of the beautiful colors that Ohio has to offer in the fall.

It's one of the many downfalls of living in a state where it is always summer.

I miss the good home cooking.

I miss the views.

Ohio will always hold a piece of my heart.

Renniger's and Mount Dora

Sunday was Renniger's Fall in the Field Show down at their antique center. Now I am not sure if I have mentioned this before and if I haven't then now you will know... one of my favorite past times, if not my favorite past time, is going to these antique shows or consignment shops. I am not sure where my love for this developed but it has only grown with time.

Since Renniger's was having their fall show I wanted to go to see what kind of fall decorations they might have. Mom of course joined me. And I was glad to have her come along. It was a gorgeous day and the fall weather was gracing it's presence in Florida. Finally!! Mom and I walked around the booths popping in and sticking our noses, mostly just me, into what the vendors had to sell. I like to take my time in each booth and look around for what might be hidden... you know those hidden treasures hiding under some other item.

There was a man playing music and singing on this stage with this big guitar *grin*  Which I have yet to figure out why there is a giant guitar hanging on the stage.

There was also this huge dog walking around with his owner. Biggest dog I have ever seen and very cute!

Now doesn't this place just look wonderful?!

Although I did not find anything worth taking home this time I still had a good time.
However back up at the permanent booths I found a gorgeous sterling silver turquoises ring. I have been looking for such a ring for a few months now and finally found a beautiful one that I bought off of a spunky little German woman. I also found a casserole dish that made it's way home with me.

After Renniger's mom and I made a trip to visit Norm at Norm's Palette. He is one of my most favorite people. I could sit for hours and chat with him. If you enjoy good company, drinks, and art then this bar is for you. Mom and I enjoyed sangria and cupcakes out on the patio with Norm sharing stories. Eventually we moved on to dinner at Merrill's where they were having live music.

As mom and I were sitting at Merrill's the train was coming in.

Bye Bye train.

Mount Dora is such a beautiful city. One of my favorites and I love spending time there. It is an artisan town, so if you are into that sort of thing Mount Dora should definitely be on your list of places to visit. They usually always have some sort of event happening. Check them out here and here.

*My Thoughts*
I have an old soul. And I believe that I was born in the wrong decade. I enjoy old things, hence my love of consignment shops and "antique" shows. I use antique loosely because the US is not old enough to have "real" antiques. They are more vintage.
I seriously cannot explain to you enough my love for the city of Mount Dora and all of its wonderful people. I always meet interesting people there whenever I visit.