Fall Color

It’s a beautiful time of year in the Midwest.  The leaves are changing color.  The evenings are crisp and cool.  We need to enjoy it while it lasts because winter is just around the corner. Here’s a slice of Northern Minnesota from the past week.

Bright Orange
Birch Bark And Maple Leaves
Yellow Maple
Ornamental Grass
More Grass
Acorn
Painted Turtle
BFF’s
Silly BFF’s
And They All Fall Down
Daphne
Brown-Eyed Girl
Harvest Time
Grapes Are Ready For Picking
Big Waves On Lake Superior
Rough Seas
Making A Splash
Evening Sky
Sliver Moon

Port City

I brought my camera with me to work on Friday in the hopes of stopping by Bayfront Park at some point to see the hot air balloons at the Balloon Festival.  Due to weather conditions and a crazy work day, I never had the chance to see the balloons or even make it away from my desk.  I did stop by Canal Park on my way into work to take pictures of a ship sitting out in Lake Superior.  There was wonderful morning sunlight on the ship as I was making my way to Canal Park, but by the time I got there, the gray skies took over.

Gray Morning
Over The Edge
Ship View
Bird’s Eye View
Light The Way
Lighthouse

As I was leaving my office much later that day, the dark clouds of the morning were overtaken by bright sunlight.  This ship was just going out of the harbor as I was headed home for the day.

Break In The Clouds
Under The Bridge

The beautiful sunshine stayed for most of the weekend as we ushered in fall.  I can’t wait to get out and capture some of the autumn colors in the coming weeks.

The Simple Life, Part II

Earlier this month, Sebastian and Sophia spent a weekend with my Mom.  They took some time with Grandma to visit and see a slice of her life out in the country.  We brought the kids out on a Friday and ended up having dinner together and then walked to my sister’s house just down the road.  We made s’mores around the campfire for dessert.  My Mom has never had a s’more before and decided to try one for the first time.  Chocolate usually gives her headaches, but she enjoyed the first one so much, she ate a second one.  Luckily, she didn’t end up with a migraine the next day.

Roasting Marshmallows

Before the evening was over, my sister gave Sebastian a lesson on how to drive her four-wheeler.  He did a great job and drove slowly around for twenty minutes, taking corners, backing up and practicing proper driving techniques.

Four-Wheeling

The kids were headed to bed when Mike and I left for the evening after 11:00 p.m.  A late night for the kids, but they were able to sleep in the next morning.  Grandma made them a family favorite – homemade waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.   After breakfast they helped Grandma bake homemade bread.   Sebastian and Sophia got up too late to help Grandma make the dough, but they helped with kneading and putting it into the loaf pans. They enjoyed some of the bread fresh out of the oven and brought three loaves home with them.  Yum!

Next, Grandma taught Sophia about cutting material for sewing.  They put together pieces to make a quilted pillow.  She showed her how to use the sewing machine and Sophia got to push the foot pedal, while Grandma and Sophia together held on and turned the fabric.  The pillow looks super cute and Sophia now has it on her bed.

My Mom always brings fresh bouquets to her small church each week for mass.  Her church service is later in the day on Saturday, so they picked flowers in the afternoon.  She made the arrangements and put them in vases.  I think she enjoyed bringing the kids to church with her.  They also picked up an elderly friend who she often gives rides to.  After church, they dropped off the bouquets at the nursing home for the residents.  What a great experience for the kids.

Sunday came around and it was already time for us to pick them up.  We got there in the early afternoon.  It was a beautiful day so we spent a good amount of time outside.  We even went on a trek into the field and woods.

Pine Forest Beyond The Field

Daphne and Sebastian enjoyed running through the fields.  I’ve never seen Daphne so happy.

Running Wild
Catch Me If You Can

The kids checked out the BIG bales.

Top Of The World
Top Of The World, II
Leap Of Faith
Bales, Bales And More Bales

We headed into the woods and saw signs of animals.

Fox Hole

We saw the big white pine that was there since I was a kid.

The Big Old White Pine

We headed out into the cow pasture which is now a bit overgrown without the animals there anymore.  We found an old deer stand.

Going Up To The Deer Stand
Up A Tree
Surveying The Area

We cut across the swamp.

Holding Hands

We found a small creature.

Tiny Toad

We saw lots of bugs and insects.

Insects!!

We made it back from the walk and checked out some of my Mom’s flowers.

Yellow Lilies
Pink Lilies
Yellow And Orange Lilies

Before we left the farm and all of the wonderful nature, we took a photo of the kids with Grandma.

Thanks Grandma!

It is an experience that they will remember for a lifetime.