Our French Connection...




Our new friends from France told us of a little French restaurant and patisserie right here in our town. So, Kevin took me there this morning for a breakfast date. The owner, she is French, no?




All the pastries in the cases looked just like many we saw while in Lyon visiting Trey and Kari. We were delighted. I enjoyed one of the croissant aux amandes(almond croissant) while Kevin enjoyed the pain au chocolat and a croissant aux amandes (Trey, Kari...correct French?)


There were so many delicious choices...

(one of these went home with me)





Kevin enjoyed one of these in the cafe





I'm definitely going to try this one some time




And on the way home we saw a garage sale sign and decide to have a gander...


We found a small table saw for Kevin. There goes my back-up idea for his Christmas gift this year. Oh well. $25 was a pretty good deal.





Kevin has been putting in a lot of volunteer hours building a cabinet for a new large screen TV that was donated by the school's PTO to display student art work, and other school items...it will be like an electronic bulletin board. One of the school custodians has also been putting in several volunteer hours on this project. Now it is just waiting for the head of maintenance to come install the electrical outlet so the TV can be plugged in.

putting on some finishing touches



The TV will set just to the left of Kevin. He also built in a cork bulletin board and painted it black. We are both so thankful that this project is done. He has worked very hard to get this done in time for the school's carnival tonight and he's ready for a break.

On the road again...it's too great of a day to stay indoors. We want to savor what's left of the beautiful fall days and get out as much as we can. So we headed for another county trail....








We absolutely love being outdoors...





Under the train tracks overhead





She's comin' 'round the bend




(Now I couldn't very well pass up this photo op, could I.)



Who says fish don't fly?

After stumbling along the flood-ravaged shore, strewn with debris, we're just walking along....





I spotted something up in the tree....




"I need water! Help! Helloooooo?"
Seriously, this is a huge carp that got washed up into the treetop and was wedged in the branches. But we can be sure he didn't drown.





Nearing the end of our adventure, I look down and am reminded of how that man came up with his invention of velcro.




Kevin came to my rescue




...and we're on our way home. Happy trails to you....

We met Gene and Suzy (Kevin's bro-in-law and sister) yesterday evening and went for a walk along the trail around the lake. It was chilly, yet sunny and the air was crisp. It smelled like fall.

I really wanted to post some photos of an absolutely colorful fall day for my children who cannot be here for this. So, here you go, Kids...a piece of home. Enjoy...







Suzy and Gene checking out the leaves closeup




I climbed to the top of the rocky hill where I could get a panoramic autumn view. Suzy and Gene preferred to explore below.




Obviously, something of interest.




Suzy on the hunt for whatever may catch her eye






Check out that pure blue sky





The fallen leaves cover the timber floor










The sun is able to break through the thicket of leaves still hanging on



This is a swing Kevin and I like to sit in and just take in the view of some of what God has created




I found this "old turtle" at the base of a large maple. You can even make out his right eye. He looks so sad and tired, don't you think? (Hey, at least it's not fungus!)





This is worth the climb




We were wishing we had our kayaks with us





...on the trail. It was great...the leaves, acorns, twigs would crunch under our feet as we walked along...and the woody smell was so refreshing.




Along the lake on our return to the car

Kevin has shingles....

...to repair a leak in the roof.





This will have to do until we can re-shingle the roof next year. Does a home owner ever run out of projects that cost money?

Suzy Homemaker is alive and well.....



In years past I used to make applesauce in the fall....going to the orchard or maybe to someone's home who had apples they wanted to give away. But this year our neighbors, who just bought an acreage with 200 apple trees, were selling freshly picked apples at a very affordable price. And since I was wanting to make applesauce again this year, I ordered a bushel (that's 40 pounds) of Jonagold apples and dug out my mom's old colander that I remember using when I was a girl.





First...rinse off the apples...




Then quarter and core. I never remove the peels because they contain a lot of the vitamins.




Then toss the apples into a dutch oven with 1/4 to 1/2 cup water; cover and simmer til the apples are soft. The Jonagolds needed to simmer a good 30 minutes.





Next, pour some of the cooked apples into "Mom's" colander and press the apples through the little holes. Oh...the smell in the house is what many candle companies try to capture in their products. But this is the real thing!





The sauce is so smooth and delicious...and sweet. No sugar needed.




Now it waits in our freezer for consumption over the next year. I love partially frozen homemade applesauce with lots of cinnamon. You cannot compete with homemade applesauce.

This is the view out our front window




We drove to Usher's Ferry farm to walk along the river and around the farm.

A lane to the farm (which was flooded in June)





In the timber along the river




This is my man who so faithfully and patiently takes me to photo shoots...he's a huge encouragement to me. He is also my best critic. God knew what He was doing when He gave me an artist for a husband. I learn much from him.




A view of the farm from the timber.





I was taking photos from the outside of this tunnel and Kevin says, "Crawl inside for pictures." So...I did.




Kevin said this looks like a trail of fire.





On the way out we saw a farmer combining beans.