So... Fall Is Here

I thought I'd share some pretty pictures of our backyard all prepared for Fall.  These were taken with my Nikon CoolPix S9.  The best news of the day???   My FIL had an old camera sitting around that he hasn't used in about 20 years, so he gave it to me!  It is a Minolta XG-A 35MM.  I have to get a battery and film for it and I will be playing with it next.  Can't wait.  It has a macro and zoom lens. 

The bad news?  The pool closing is scheduled.   Although we had a 90 degree day on Friday, we couldn't swim because the water is 60 degrees.  Brrr!  Luckily, the temps dropped overnight and it was crisp and 65 today.

Today we threw the boys in the car and headed to Johnny Appleseeds for some fall fun... apple picking!  After getting lots of pictures with several different cameras (yes, I may have gone crazy!), we headed back to the store {which sells high-end furniture} and looked around.  In the back of the store, they have a wonderful coffee/tea room which overlooks the pond. So pretty and the coffee is amazing... oh.. and free!  I wish I had taken my camera in with me.  I would have shown you how cute it is.

Look at all of these apples!

Love this shot!

We brought home a whole bushel.... wonder what I will do with them all???

The best part of picking?  Sampling!

 Mmmmm... here's what I did with some of them... turned them into chunky, warm apple sauce and served it with homemade chili, flax corn chips and Vermont Extra-Sharp Cheddar.  Such a nice, warm meal on a nice fall day!

Ithaca and Toughonnock Falls

We are certainly having beautiful weather here in NY. Last weekend we took a trip to Ithaca to do some hiking back to Toughonnock Falls. It is so pretty back there and it is pretty much a hike anyone can do. It is all flat and fairly dry. I have seen people in wheelchairs and people with strollers headed back to the falls, so it is a hike for all people. I even saw a girl with a cast on her foot walking back there?!? {Who does that?} 

I believe it is only about 3/4 a mile.

This time of year the river is fairly dry. I had never seen it like this. You could literally walk in the riverbed which, by the way, is a huge slab of dry rock. It is really pretty cool. I, naturally, had to take the opportunity to take my Cannon SLR and take some pics. Too bad the blog columns cut off my pictures.  So annoying.  Oh well, you can see the whole picture if you get email from my blog or you click on the picture to open it completely.

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This is the riverbed.  Why isn't it muddy or dirty? 

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Again, the riverbed.  Looks like camoflauge....G. barely shows up.

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Note my older son's went pants and change of shirt. Yes, he jumped on a slippery rock and fell right in the water... naturally... no change of clothing with us. He is wearing his dad's sweater.

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Love the fake smiles in this one.  LOL!  They're like, "Ok, Mom... if we smile, will you stop?"

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After the hike, we crossed the road and played on the playground by the lake.

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Love this picture by the water.... so peaceful...

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And this is a fav too... too bad he was pooped on by a seagull just moments later. He was a good sport about it though.

If you ever get a chance to go to Ithaca, I suggest you go. They don't say "Ithaca is Gorge-ous" for no reason.  It is a pretty town, lake and surrounded by gorges and Cornell is there, so it has all the fun stuff of a college town too.  We had Thai food and Starbucks before we went home, but not before going to Old Navy and buying both boys new clothing because they were wet and bird-poopy.  Thank goodness for clearance racks!

Where do kids come up with these things???

Do you ever wonder where your kids come up with things?  I was listening to my boys play.  They are 7 and 10.  The 10-year-old just said, "This laser is so powerful it separates you into molecules which then split into atoms which further split into quarks.  Next the quarks split into anti-quarks and quarks.  The quarks then collide and annihilate one another". 

What is up with that???

Tami