Fall.Is.Fun

Seriously, there is nothing better than Michigan in the fall. The colors were in full bloom this weekend and I was able to enjoy the leaves while I was home. The car rides with my family included lots of "oooohs!" and "aaaaahs" over the colorful leaves and we even took the golf cart out (yes, I'm from a rural area) to stake out the property and get some close ups with the beautiful changing leaves.

It's always quite funny when I go home, because home is such a stark contrast to my new home in Maryland. For one, I would never wake to the sound of gun shots in the woods. The only gun shots I would hear in this area would be from a homicide. In Michigan? Just the hunters. I probably wouldn't be wandering through a dress shop and hear the woman comment that she just ordered a wedding gown in camouflage. Ah, the joys of living in an area where hunting is truly a religion. I often comment that I feel like Reese Witherspoon in "Sweet Home Alabama" when I travel home. I leave the hustle and bustle of a big city to live a quieter, slower paced lifestyle.

And that's why I love my life. I get to enjoy city living most of the time and can also appreciate rural America when I travel back to see my parents. There's just something special about looking in the backyard and seeing sand hill cranes and deer, with the colorful leaves poking through and a combine or two with the irrigation system in the field.

Have I told you lately that I love fall? The only thing that would have made this trip would have been apple picking and pumpkins. Because that? That's fall in Michigan.

Ahhhhhh.........

Sorry Ladies (and gentleman??)... but I'll be absent for a few days.

I'm going on vacation!

Don't miss me too much. And, if you're lucky, well.. I just might see what I can do stealth-mode-wise to get a few pictures for you all to enjoy. But that's only if the people watching is that good and my brain is not stuck in vacation mode. Because really? If my brain is in vacay mode, no chance I'm going to remember to snap a pic for you all. Not that I don't love you, because I do, but there's something to be said for a week in Florida on vacation.

Sunday, Funday?

You know you're trying to avoid working on a paper when you voluntarily rake and blow the leaves in the front AND backyard.

Yup, that's how much I wanted to work on my papers.

Even hubby thought that was a strange one for me. I'm not above surfing the internet for hours or taking a little snooze with a puppy or two. But the leaves? Weird. I blame the neighbors and the horrible sound of the leaf blowers all over the neighborhood. I guess I just wanted to join the fun.

Don't worry.. I'll probably never do it again.

October...

... is my favorite month.

• It's my birthday month!
• It's the beginning of fall and I love, love, love fall.
• I can usually wear a sweater or long sleeves and feel comfortable.
• The windows can be open in the house- I love the fresh air.
• It's my birthday month!
• The school year is in full swing by now.
• I love apple picking.
• I love carving pumpkins.
• It's my birthday month!
• I enjoy being outside when it's sort of warm, sort of chilly.
• And.... last, but not least, it's my birthday month!