77 Pictures in October

A wonderful family time in autumn. It was truly a joy to have Mama Delia and Papa Fidel vacation in our home last month. They arrived during the perfect fall weather where the leaves have all turned yellow, red, and orange and the daylight had that golden glow. I was once again cooking up a storm, but sadly did not take any pictures of the food. Filipino fiesta was on our daily menu. We were blessed.

welcome home

Sarsozo family time
Mama Delia &
Mom Mila
Sophie & Marcella
boys will be boys
dinner and karaoke
and dancing with David too
eating al fresco
road trip to Chicago
cozy hotel room
walk to Navy Pier
Mom craved for the famous chicago hotdog
fabulous pose
gorgeous day
happy walk
happy talk
architechtural tour
of the city
on the river
learning about its history
going under one of the many draw bridges
the boat ride ended by nightfall
where we walked to the famous theater
in search of an awesome pizza restaurant
thanks to Kuya Dohn's recommendation cab ride back to the hotel
for a nice quiet evening
followed by a morning visit to Hard Rock Cafe
in search of a gift for Paul
cool drums
had to take this one for my man: Hendrix's guitar
shopping at the Magnificent Mile
sunny
happy day
full house at the Cheesecake Factory it was the Chicago Marathon weekend
off to Toronto they went to visit Tita Minda & Tito Pepito
and returned to play in the pile of fallen leaves
yeah, it was a big pile
pasalubong from Tita Minda, delicious ensaymada (salamat Tita!)
a morning at the farm where we ate freshly made doughnuts
and drank apple cider
surrounded in pumpkins
more pumpkins
a big hay maze
cute couple
more pumpkins
pumpkin happy
halloween is near
did i say more pumpkins?
hayride
all to ourselves
what a treat
these horses where amazing
haystacks (wish I was a painter) riding through the pumpkin fields
and corn fields
it was a fast and fun ride
then back to town
for some sweetscaramel-making & ice cream
quick stop at my office
breakfast at Angelo's
we love this place a must stop... for our all our visitors hmm, hmm, good
ready for a stroll
at the farmer's market
apple season
and mushroom too
Papa Fidel's workout (oops, lost one picture here while I was updating...)
he was so helpful
early family Thanksgiving dinner

77th picture of cute sophie
Come back and see us again soon!

Autumn Beauty

For Sydney: It was lovely catching-up with you this Sunday. This post is dedicated to you and Izzy-- Thinking of you both fondly this beautiful fall season.

Make a left on Linwood, a left on Main Street, a left on Huron River Drive and you will arrive here. Our little city is nestled in all this beauty and on this autumn day, there's no plans, no deep thoughts, no human interaction, not even direction-- just stealing a little time for a carefree moment.

an enchanted clearing in the woods

the last remaining autumn leaves

the river just beyond

down a path

my footsteps in the leaves were the only sound i heard

down to the water's edge

the river is calm;

almost all the leaves have fallen

on the way back up the path

the view from above

Wishing you peace, love, and beauty this autumn season.

Time Passes

Time is passing by so quickly here. I need to catch-up to the falling leaves and will return here again.

Even if something is left undone,

everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.

Elizabeth Lawrence

Counting Crows

Found. At the end of our walk in the woods, we came across a large branch that had fallen off a birch tree. I decided to take it home, trimmed it, cleaned it, placed it in a terracotta pot, covered the pot in burlap, and strung orange lights around it. Having most of these items already available at home, this project only cost $12. Pretty cool. Home is starting to look like fall...

One for sorrow,

two for joy,

three for a girl

four for a boy,

five for silver,

six for gold,

seven for a secret never to be told,

eight for a wish,

nine for a kiss,

ten for a time of joyous bliss.

Last Day of Summer

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.

Celia Thaxter

Oh how I miss being here. Although these are a few pictures to follow what will be summer's past tomorrow, rest assured that more pictures of this season will linger...

The Colors of Summer

pears

basil

zucchinis

eggplants

radishes

blueberries

tomatoes

apricots

Brought to you from our Farmer's Market.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Walking the street parallel ours, we discovered a fairy door. A fairy resides in the tree located where the sidewalk ends.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

By Shel Silverstein

Little Lavender Farm

Do you remember the lavender farmers I mentioned in July? This basket is filled with their generosity.

Lavender on the Lane

the wheat field (the day after the harvest)

carrie harvesting a bouquet

perfect place to dry lavenders