Happy Halloween!

Scenes from Trick or Treat night!

A gypsy fire is on the hearth,
Sign of the carnival of mirth;
Through the dun fields and from the glade
Flash merry folk in masquerade,
For this is Hallowe'en!

Trick or Treat?

We had a freak snowstorm yesterday. The only bad thing about it is that I had to cancel our Halloween party. 

I'm sure the monarch caterpillar wasn't too excited either so I brought him inside along with some of his food and 2 brothers. 

I also was able to bring in a few beautiful flowers...

Just the night before I snapped these pics at an Amish farm down the road. 

They grow the most beautiful squash...

And always have a pretty display out by the road. 

The cats were happy to stay indoors yesterday.

The snow was pretty but I want my fall back!

Great Pumpkin Carve

Despite the cold, rain and wind, my Mom and I had fun working on our pumpkin at The Chadds Ford Great Pumpkin Carve.  2011 marks our 9th year at this fabulous event and I'm so excited to write that my design won the award for Most Halloween!

Lighting the pumpkin...

My Mom likes to paint her face and hair like a pumpkin:)

The inside is neat...

View from the parking field...

Some of the other pumpkins. My favorite was the barn owl but I really like Totaro too. 

To be eligible for judging, you can't add anything to your pumpkin though. 

Happy Halloween!

Baaa...

I had a fabulous fall day at Landis Valley Museum with my friend Sandy Sandy and her wonderful parents and sister.

Today it was the Tunis sheep that proved the most photogenic.

As we were approaching the horse barn, Sandy gazed up in the sky and said, "look at the bald eagle." 

I thought she was crazy until I saw the white head. 

And then we saw TWO!

A very odd site in Lancaster County.

Such beautiful colors. Like Mother Nature's stained glass with all the light coming through.

One of my favorite residents, Tanya the turkey.

It really is a magical time of year. 

Embracing Autumn

I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to get out and enjoy the lovely fall landscape. After I dropped my daughter off at kindergarten, I took a drive around Lancaster County Park...

Rock Ford Plantation...

I parked at the covered bridge and took a little hike...

Then I went to Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster. I've always wanted to check it out. 

President James Buchanan is buried there. 

I was underwhelmed by his grave.

I liked this grave site better. 

I think the lady above looks a bit sadder than the lady below. 

The one below has a slight Mona Lisa smile.

Since I saw Buchanan's grave I thought I should go get a better look at his house, Wheatland.

The back was just as nice as the front and had a nice little veggie garden growing too. 

And some lovely trees.

Just what I was looking for...

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  

~George Eliot