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

Celebrating Autumn

The trees are amazing this time of year in Central PA so we thought we would make good use of our membership to Hershey Gardens and enjoy the autmn splendor.

Giant Chinese Silver Grass above,

a magnificent Japanese Maple below.

Beauty berry with stink bug:)

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

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

Pumpkin Farm

I recently discovered that an Amish farm about 3 miles down my road sells a wide variety of pumpkins in the fall. I knew this place selled dried gourds year round but I had no idea that they had so many for autumn decorating! Needless to say I was in pumpkin heaven (an the prices were great too). I love how they've set up their displays from the pumpkins in the barn windows to the big curly tree branch in on old milk can to the stack of crates with different varieties of gourds labeled for curious minds like me. So if you're in Lancaster County, check it out. It's on Landisville road between Landisville and East Petersburg, right around the corner from Roots Market.

Happy Autumn!

My favorite time of year!


There is a harmony
In autumn, and a lustre in its sky,
Which through the summer is not heard or seen,
As if it could not be, as if it had not been!
- Percy Bysshe Shelley


“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” Emily Bronte




The top of a Sleepy Hollow box I'm working on. Should have it on ebay in a day or so.

Pumpkin Carving

I love to carve pumpkins, the bigger the better. Every year, for the last 5 years, I've competed in the Chadds Ford Great Pumpkin Carve with my mom. I'll be there again this year if you want to check it out. I've also been invited to carve at Newtown Square Harvest Festival this year on October 10th, how exciting! Here are some pictures of the pumpkins we've carved with my original designs...


Haunted Holstein - 2004 Best Overall Winner


Arise from the Fire - 2008 Best Overall Winner


Sleepy Hollow - 2007 Best Carving Award


Headless Horseman - 2005 Most Halloween Award