Another Pumpkin Patch

While I was in South Carolina, Silas and I had several "adventures". One such adventure was a visit to a pumpkin patch. Saturday morning, we loaded up the car and drove to Inman to the Johnson Farm.

After perusing the various offerings, we purchased a ticket for the hayride and then explored the pumpkin fields while we waited for the whistle to begin.

Silas was especially enthralled with the tractor that would be pulling the hayride (no hay, but a trailer with comfortable seating). They driver, Farmer Andrew, helped him climb into the cab. Although he was quite excited about that prospect at first, he approached it much more tentatively after he was  asked if he'd be driving the tractor.

We climbed aboard the trailer and enjoyed a ride through the woods and other fields where storybook characters were set up in simple displays.

Silas commented more than once, "This is fun, Lovey!"

There was a playground set up that he enjoyed after our ride, as well.

When it was time to pick our pumpkin to take home, we loaded up one of the wheelbarrows and headed to an area where I was sure we would also be able to watch the tractor come by.

All the big pumpkins in the field, and this is the one that he picked.

Last, but not least, we visited their barn to see the chickens, goats and donkey.

We spread out our picnic blanket in a grassy area near the parking lot and enjoyed our lunch while watching the tractor. Lunch probably took twice as long as normal because of that tractor, but there was a happy boy eating, so it was worth it! I bought some of their homemade mini donuts for our dessert. YUM!! They were really good---and warm!

The ride back home was easy and I kept Silas busy so that he wouldn't fall asleep in the car. (Having him take his nap uninterrupted at home is just as good for him as it is for Lovey!)Our time together was so fun--I love him so much and wish I could see him every week!! I can't wait until our next "Lovey and Silas Adventure"!

Colorado Road Trip

Having just returned from a wonderful "girls trip", it still feels a bit unreal that at this time last month I was settling in for one of the best meals ever in a tiny town in Colorado with 2 of my closest friends! We had such an amazing time together---so much laughter and sharing and fun adventures. We started the trip with a day full of travel. Since this was the first time Debbie and Valine had spent much time together, it was a time filled with getting to know each other through some of the most ridiculous stories you can imagine. All three of us are doing the monthly Instagram challenges, so it was fun to brainstorm ways to interpret each prompt. We had so much fun together and I took so many photos, so I should warn you that this is a PHOTO-HEAVY post!  And because of the sheer number of pictures, I am posting them SOOC, with absolutely no editing at all. :-) But, as you will learn, I had lots of battery issues, so there are not as many as there COULD have been.

Debbie's baby, Cassie, joined us for the trip. What a sweetie!! She is so cute and well-behaved that both Valine and I came home wishing for puppy just like her!

Debbie's house in Colorado is beautiful and we had fun exploring the yard surrounding it our first morning. It was quite chilly that first morning and we got our feet wet jumping over the spring-fed stream, but had enough time to dry them a bit before we headed out on our first real adventure.

Debbie's good friend, Ruthanne, took us on an amazing journey up the mountains and through the passes in the four-wheel-drive side-by-side. 

 Everywhere we looked there was beauty--from the towering evergreens that still showed the effects of a wildfire to the quaking balls of gold and orange that clothed the aspen trees.

I completely forgot to charge my extra battery and my phone battery was not cooperating after the latest OS update, so I had no photography equipment for the second half of that adventure. Not to worry though: Valine let me use her camera while she used her phone and of course, I captured it all in my memory forever!

One of the really fun things about this whole trip were the somewhat impromptu, unplanned stops we made during the week.

• Lavender Ridge Farms in Texas

• Searching for, and finally finding, the ruins of Morley Church, all that is left of an old mining camp near Trinidad, CO.

• Stopping for pictures of old churches and buildings along the Highway of Legends, as well as the rock formations in Stonewall, CO.

Learning of a different route up to Lake City, that took us through tunnels of aspen trees and up to North Clear Creek Falls

Spending time in Lake City, CO (food, gardens, galleries, churches and deer)

• Watching the colors of Lake San Cristobal turn to fantastic shades of turquoise as the north wind blew in.

• Stopping to find a mama moose and her baby at Deer Creek Lakes

• The fun and quirky Tumcumcari, NM

• and of course, stopping by Cadillac Ranch on the way home.

Sometimes, when you put 3 women together, one of them tends to be left out. But, that was not the case with the three of us. We shared stories, laughed till we cried, relaxed when we wanted and explored the beauty of nature together without even a touch of uncomfortable vibes. Seeing such beauty will stay with me forever, but the very best part was the friendships that were deepened. As different as we all are, we shared something incredible that connected us in a way that is difficult to describe. I am so very thankful for the hospitality of a dear friend that allowed us all to spend that week together!