wave runner

Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.

farm fun

October has been full of family visitors in our little corner of New England -- grandparents, aunts, and best of all (for Aidan!), Cousin Grant! It's been so great sharing our new home with our loved ones from Texas and Oregon.

Yesterday's festivities centered around driving the boys to Smolak Farms in North Andover, Mass. We shivered our way through a cold and sunny day as we soaked up some more of the sights, sounds and smells of fall ... including pumpkin patches, tractors, climbing on bails of hay, hot apple cider, iced pumpkin cookies, lobster bisque (YUMMY), chasing [fast] turkeys, apple orchards, bright leaves, Halloween witches, apple scones, and an evening in front of the fireplace.

We crammed a whole lot of autumn and some great memories into a few short hours. So much to see and do!

postcard

I had to snap (and share!) this shot in Boxford, Massachusetts.

The colors of fall up here never get old -- I can't get enough.

vampire wine society

Just in time for Halloween ... here's a club where the dues are worth every penny. The Vampire Wine Society is comprised of "enthusiasts, friends and family of Vampire Vineyards family of wines."

For $105, buyers get four shipments per year that include a combination of Vampire, Dracula, Chateau du Vampire, and Trueblood wines (plus a bunch of other fun perks).

If you've never tried a wine from Vampire Vineyards, you're missing out. I was introduced to my first bottle several years ago when Costco carried it, and I've been a fan ever since.

Deliciously vampy. :)

fall glory

We took a drive through scenic Maine on Sunday on our way to "Pumpkin Land" in beautiful Mechanic Falls, ME.

Amazing color. Amazing view. Amazing day.

sharpie liquid pencil

How great is this?

Those smart folks at Sharpie, the best pen-makers on Planet Earth, have done it again. Sharpie's latest product, the Sharpie Liquid Pencil, becomes permanent after three days exposure to air .. in the mean time, it can be rubbed out with an eraser. Some other features of this cool little gadget include:

• No. 2 lead equivalent with no breaking lead ("liquid" graphite technology ... no need to re-load lead)
• Smooth like a pen, erasable like a pencil
• Durable eraser
• Refillable

I love Sharpies.

yard work

hampton beach

Even though we live in a "beach town," we've chosen to avoid the actual sand and water for the most part, as a huge chunk of the northeast's residents descend on Hampton Beach in the summer. The result is thick traffic, loud crowds, and weekly fireworks that drive our dogs mad. I sound like an old, crusty fart, I know, but it's not exactly a calming environment.

So now that the crazy summer beach-goers have packed up their mini vans and headed home, we're planning on spending much more time on the New Hampshire seacoast. I love winter time at the beach. Yeah it's cold, but there's just something about it that makes you appreciate cozy blankets and hot drinks.

a trek to the tracks

Aidan has two loves in his life -- fire trucks and railroads. And if the truth be told, railroads probably trump the big red rescue vehicles.

So he was in total Engine Heaven today when he took a drive up north to North Conway, NH in order to ride the Conway Scenic Railroad with his Grandpa and Nana who are visiting from Texas.

It was a beautiful time of year for a day trip to the White Mountains.

autumn splendor

October foliage in Gorham, New Hampshire -- on the northeast edge of White Mountain National Forest.

bright maple perspective check

While rushing around in a crazy mad dash this morning, several four-letter-words worked their way off my tongue as I was trying to get Aidan to school on time and facing an unexpected dead car battery.

And then I saw a fallen maple leaf on the evergreen right outside my backdoor. It had me stopping, taking a deep breath, and smiling. No worries over the small stuff, right?

Such a little thing, but so pretty.

if you build it

This was a big, multi-day project that finally ended with a very happy four-year-old.

Even though Aidan dumped a can of Sprite in the grass and attracted a gajillion bees to the "work site" as a result, he was able to "help" his dad along the way -- good stuff.

playdate on the merrimac

Cashman Park, Newburyport, MA.

Aidan with some of his new friends.

red, orange and yellow

One of the first thoughts that flashed through my mind when we received our orders to New England was that I'd finally have an opportunity to experience four seasons ... specifically, a true, honest to God autumn.

Moving so far from home and living up here has been an adjustment for sure, but I've kept my eyes on the prize -- the changing colors of the leaves.

For months, I've been watching the green leaves on all the big maples outside my windows, anxiously awaiting any sign of color. And finally, sure enough, it's beginning to happen.

The pumpkins have appeared on the porches around the neighborhood, the temperatures have dropped to the 40s in the evenings, and yes, the leaves are changing color.

Here's a view from my front porch, complete with the first hints of orange, red and yellow. I can't imagine what the full explosion of color will look like, but I'm soaking up every second of the transformation.

perfect football food

We received a care package containing some Texas chili mix a few weeks ago from one of my besties back in Houston.

This past weekend was the perfect time and place to mix up a bowl of meaty goodness -- football on TV all weekend (ahhhh, it's the most wonderful time of the year), the Aggie flag flying proudly outside, and temps dropping more and more each week (highs in the 60s, lows at night in the 40s and 50s).

It's chili-time, y'all.

she's here!

Paige Brooke Farrell was born on August 31 at 2:31 a.m.

Out little peanut was 5 pounds, and 18 inches long.

Life is so full, and we're blessed beyond words.