Changing Colors

We had a great Fall Season.  My Mom, Aunt, Cousin and her husband came out to visit.  None of them had seen the changing colors of fall.  Being from California and Arizona, they haven't seen the beauty offered when all the leafs change color.  We all had a wonderful time!  I have only added part of the pictures, there were way too many taken to put them all here.  I do have them all on my Kindle and on the computer, so I can share them all with you if you like, just let me know.  Enjoy!

Arrival at Elmira Airport.  Me, my Mom and my Cousin... we're
all so happy to be together.

I took my Aunt Arla on a "Ranger
ride" to show her some of the
property.  We went all over, even
into the wooded area.  She enjoyed
seeing it all.

Cousin Laura and I picking jalepeno and
habanero peppers in our garden.



Standing around the garden, enjoying being outdoors.

Jim, Laura's husband, took a turn at
shooting Larry's crossbow.



He did very well!  Being a
retired SWAT from California
probably helped with his
aim!

We went to the 1890's Days festival.
Truly an experience we all enjoyed.

Laura and I even learned how to milk
a cow.  I know that's not a big deal here
in Pennsylvania, but both of us are
California city-born girls, we had
a blast!!!

We got to go to one of Ryland's football games.  Here he is
receiving instructions from one of his coaches.  They
did win the game!  Lots of fun.

Raegan and the other cheerleaders did a great job for the
team.  I'm sure their spirit and enthusiasm helped
the boys win the game.

Evan had his 3rd birthday while everyone
was visiting, so we spent the
afternoon with Ben & Shannon's
family.  It was very nice.



Jim pumped water at one of our stops at
a state park.  It is so peaceful and very
relaxing at the parks around PA.

Lunch at Kelsey's just two
blocks from Niagara Falls.



  Laura and I were the only ones in the group who
had been to Niagara Falls before, although it's
been many years.  Unfortunately, it
rained the whole time we were there, but
it didn't stop us rom having a great time.



Yes, we did have a few
adult beverages.  Mine looked
like a milk shake, but there was
a little more punch to it.
Yummmm!



Mom and me on the big wheel that
looked over the Falls.

Laura and Aunt Arla in the
same ferris wheel.

Jim and Laura enjoying themselves.

Me and Larry



Laura in front of the Falls

Me in front of the same Falls.  We're
such tourists!!!



Laura and her new found
Mountie friend.

The large ferris wheel that overlooked
the Falls.



It was quite cold the day we went to
the Falls.  Evidently it didn't matter
if it was raining or not when you
stood next to the Falls.



Me and Laura.  We were so close to the edge of the Falls.
The sound and mist were amazing.  It was quite cold, as
you can tell.

Laura and Jim shivering at the edge
of the Falls.

Aunt Arla and Mom (Mary Ann) also
a tad cold at the edge of the falls.



Absolutely a wonder! 



We survived!  Back to the warm van for more sight-seeing.

We made a visit to Barnsteads just
outside of Troy.  One of my
favorite shops to find things
that you can't find anywhere
else.



Laura saw her first ever
Amish person.  She couldn't
pass up taking his picture.

We visited the Farm Museum in
Troy.  Mom and Aunt Arla
enjoyed it, as well as the rest of
us, but they found things they
used on their farm when they were
children.  It was very cool.

Lots of things to see.  Many memories
to re-live.

Tools galore.  They knew what most of them were too!

Laura and Jim made dinner for us
all.  It was a chicken spaghetti
casserole.  Very yummy!

Jake helped Jim and I gather some
wild apples when we visited Mt. Pisgah
State Park.

Lunch at the Turkey Ranch.
Very good!!!

Chuck and Nancy were soooo
kind to let us use their van
for their visit.  It made things
so much easier for us all.
Our truck is just too tall for
easy access.  The van was a huge
help.  Thank you again, Chuck
and Nancy!

Laura gets to drive one of Chuck's
tractors.  She had a great time trying
to figure it out.

Our friends, Lamar and Jean let
us look around their place too.
Jean is very creative, her garden
has a LOT of personality.

The pond at Lamar and Jean's home.

Jim throwing the football
with Ryland.  We spent the
evening there having Shannon's
famous lasagna for dinner. 
Very good!

This was my favorite thing we did.
We sat around the fire until way past
dark talking about when Mom and
Aunt Arla were young.  I learned
more things about relatives and we all
had a great restful evening.  No, we
didn't do smores.  :-(

Chillin' by the fire.

Me and Laura enjoying the fireside chat.

It was a bit chilly, but the fire and the
conversations kept us all warm.



Visited Gardeners Orchards
We got apples and lots of
other goodies.  Mom
remembered that type of
desk from school when she
was a kid.






We all sat on the front porch watching
Larry cut the grass.  I know that
sounds boring, but we had a good
time.  Jim gave him his "pit
instructions" on one pass.

His instruction was to pit in 3 laps.



Of course, we had to rate him, as if we were judges
at the Olympics.  Too much fun!

We also visited a quilt shop in Troy.  It
is called "Nothing Fancy".  It was a
nice visit, found lots of quilting
things that of course we needed.

From the apples we got at Gardeners,
I made Apple Dumplings.  A first
for me.  They turned out pretty
darn good.

Of course, we spent time at home too,
making Laura's first "Quillow".

Mom and Arla holding a quilt that
was made by their mother in the
1930's.  It is what I put on the guest
bed in their honor.

Me and Mom chilling on the front
porch in our rocking chairs.

Aunt Arla, Laura, me, Mom

Laura doing her embroidery while
in the sewing room

Sewing lesson in the sewing room. 
We did quite a bit of sewing/quilting.

Aunt Arla adding the label to a quilt
for Chuck and Nancy.

We got Michele involved too.  She's a
good friend and neighbor.  We got some
yarn all tangled up.  It took a bit of doing,
but we got it un-tangled.

Laura at the machine, working on
her Quillow.

Morning coffee.  Pajama's and all.

Of course, we did see the color changes on
many sight-seeing drives.  They were all amazed
at how beautiful nature can be.

We had great weather for most of their visit.  Of course,
the only time it rained was during the trip to Niagara.
Other than that, it was cool but sunny and just perfect.

Hope you enjoyed looking at these pictures.  We had such a
great visit!!!