Crafting Day

Today concluded all the activities I had planned in my official fall-o-fun. And what a FUN conclusion it was, too!

My friend Sarah found this amazing place called the Cherished Moments Craft Hideaway. I have to tell you - if you live around this area and you're a crafter of any kind, this place is worth it! To prove my point...I bring you what I love most. Pictures!

This is the entrance to the Craft Hideaway. I am fairly certain all the drivers on the highway found us to be a crazy lot...all of us crouched beside this sign smiling at a fence. God bless camera timers!
This business offers weekend stays, but also one-day crops, and that's what we did today. Girls, it was worth every penny, and I'm not even kidding.

These two ladies were our gracious hostesses. They pampered us so much. The food - which we'll get to in a minute - was far beyond what I expected to be served, and the service itself was exceptional. They brought us everything we needed, checked in on us often, and just made the day beautiful. Thanks, Ladies!!!

Those of you who have seen my stamp closet will understand why I was so excited to find their stamp collection hidden in a cranny of a hallway.

One of the smaller rooms serves as a tool room. They have everything. A computer with internet access in case anyone needed an email fix or anything...a Cricut...a fabulous time saver of a paper cutter...many other die cut tools, punches, scissors, and tools!

I wore my Christmas shirt to inspire me to work on my cards. I hoped to complete them today. It didn't happen, but I got so much done.

I knew meals were included in the price of our day, but I did NOT expect the extent of the food we received! Lunch started with a fancy schmancy salad with mandarin oranges, walnuts, and a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Then they brought out our main course (all plated for us and everything). This chicken and its mystery topping were to die for. And yes, I ate all my veggies.

Objects in photo are MUCH smaller than they were in real life. This brownie was enormous - with little chocolate curls on top. I thought it only appropriate to eat the entire thing.

About halfway through the afternoon, we were served a delicious snack. A crafter has to keep up her strength!!

And what seemed like only 20 minutes later, we had dinner. Salad, meat loaf, potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls....I couldn't even breathe anymore.

...but I found a tiny spot for the apple cobbler. After all, I needed a serving of fruit.

And just so we didn't get too hungry as our time there came to an end....a few more snacks appeared.

The Craft Hideaway is in a beautiful old house down a long lane...tons of original detail. Beautiful, beautiful place.

The crafting room was ideal! We each had extra space because we didn't need all the spots. But they had little tables with lights and cup holders and trash bags and lots of opportunity to have fun with friends. Be sure to check out the link at the beginning of the post to see the bedrooms upstairs - so cute!

Sarah won the first of three door prizes at the end of the night. She was excited!

And despite all the picture taking and eating, I did have time to crank out the guts to 140 cards!

So that's my plug for the Hideaway. Seriously, seriously, seriously...if you're in the area, this is worth it. Charming, lovely, cozy, wonderful.

Thanks, Fall-O-Fun, for being the best ever!!

Procrastination...

...seems to be the name of the game lately.

It is now officially November 11th (dangerously teetering on November 12th, I might add) and I am mortified to announce I have not even created this year's Christmas card design. Normally I'm well into production by this time. So Saturday has been officially designated a hard-core Christmas card production day. My goal is to complete as much of the entire project as possible in one day. Oh why do I procrastinate?

Praying on the Run

Sometimes I work out by running on the indoor track at the gym. Ten laps make a mile, so I have to count every lap to make sure I get in enough to count for the day's requirement. I have been known to try to count laps on my fingers, but it never fails...I get sidetracked and forget to keep the correct number of fingers curled into my palm.

Therefore I adopted the praying on the run method. I have written out two sets of index cards, and as I run around the track, I work my way through one set. I pray about the content of one card per lap.

The set I prayed from this evening is a (good) challenge for me, so I thought I'd share the content of the cards with you over the next few weeks. Maybe you can give me more insight. Maybe you can adopt or adapt the prayers for yourself.

Everything on this set of cards came from a book I read a couple of years ago. It's called The Best Thing I Ever Did for My Marriage. I love to read books about marriage, because I figure this is boot camp. Might as well work on my character as much as I can before I get married. It can only help, right? This book is a compilation of ideas from different authors, and I picked my twenty favorite ideas for my cards.

Card #1

"When two people join hands in marriage, there's a good chance their differences will collide like two gasoline trucks on the interstate." - Dennis Rainey

Prayer thought: Blending of differences to achieve a harmonious and productive marriage.

Opposites attract, right? I have observed many marriages, and I've learned that some couples do a fantastic job of blending those differences in such a way that allows them to achieve twice as much as they could alone. Of course, I've also known a few colliding gasoline trucks.

How does a couple learn to blend rather than collide? That I do not know. Perhaps I can't know it until I get there. Perhaps a big chunk of it is God's work behind the scenes - maybe even work that is accelerated by the invitation of prayer. I don't know.

So that's praying on the run...card one. If you have any suggestions for being a blender, not a colliding tanker, I'm listening!

Bits for Sunday, November 8

This weekend I went to a writer’s conference down in Indy. I told one of my friends that Jesus and I became extra close as I encountered the surprise installation of a roundabout on my path to the conference location. Okay, so they didn’t wake up and install it that morning just to make me crazy. It has been a year since I drove that way. But still.

After praying my way through that roundabout (and defying various known rules of the road in my maneuvering) I enjoyed the chance to learn helpful practices and techniques. One of my favorites was the session in which I learned how to be even more OCD about my editing. In fact, when he teaches that workshop again, I think he should change the title to “OCD Your Way to the Perfect Manuscript.”

One session I attended was about writing devotionals. When I started writing…way back in the day…I was a fiction writer. During college and shortly after, I wrote mostly devotionals. Then I moved on to Bible studies, which is where I still spend most of my time.

But recently my love of the devotional has been rekindled. Part of it is a challenge. I’m wordy. I don’t have to tell you that. Bless your hearts, you sit and just read and read and read every week. Motor Mouth grew up to be the Saga Story-Teller. Writing devotionals forces me to condense – something I usually reserve for milk.

While the speaker in the devotional session encouraged us to write on unfamiliar passages, I’m going to share with you one I wrote just recently on a very familiar passage…but when I studied it a few days ago, I saw it differently than I ever had before.

Matthew 28:16-20 says, Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Some doubted. Jesus’ own disciples – men who had lived with Him and observed His teachings and miracles on a daily basis for three years – doubted. Their lives had taken drastic turns in those three years. The lives they had so easily and naturally lived until Jesus’ arrival were transformed into lives that beckoned them fiercely away from what they knew…and yet sometimes made no sense and offered little normalcy.

And just as it began to develop its own routine, it all changed. Jesus was arrested, He was crucified…and then He was alive again and requesting them to meet Him on a mountain side. Maybe the disciples should have known better, but they doubted.

I’m glad they did. I’m glad Matthew vulnerably shared their uncertainty because it reshapes the way I read the Great Commission. Jesus wasn’t barking orders or even ceremoniously “tapping” his successors. He looked out over the faces He had lovingly taught in His ministry and He saw their doubt. He saw their fears. And he understood.

His response was to affirm them. He still saw in them the men He knew they could become. And the time had arrived for them to choose whether or not they would move forward with what He asked of them. He reminded them of His authority, issued by God the Father. And He gently urged them to go. He urged them to teach others to obey, which would require that they first must live the obedience themselves. And He reminded them of His constant presence.

I didn’t walk the dust of the earth with Jesus, but I have seen Him work. I have heard His voice…His commands. I have communed with Him. And yet sometimes I doubt. I feel ugly before Him when I do…I chastise myself because I should know better. But Jesus sees who I can become if I choose to move forward.

Home Again, Home Again!

The cats have nearly forgotten who I am. I've basically been the fly-through-and-fill-up-the-food bowl girl this week. In fact, a couple of nights ago, I walked into the bedroom and saw Kaegan sacked out near my pillow.

A little too sacked out.

You need to know that one of my greatest fears of adulthood is coming home to a dead cat. I'd have to call 911. I don't do dead things.

So when I saw the very sacked out Kaegan, I began calling his name in a somewhat desperate fashion until I saw his ear twitch.

Whew.

Feeling guilty about my lack of involvement, I decided to stretch across the bed and spend some quality time with the little guy. I was there about a minute, just listening to him purr...telling him how much I loved him...when I felt something moving.

Under me.

I didn't know Braeya was napping under the covers.

WOOPS!

So that's been the cats' impression of me this week. The girl that flies through, fills up the food dish, yells at and suffocates perfectly innocent nappers.

But my absence from home was well worth it. I was able to attend a writer's conference this weekend! I went last year and thoroughly enjoyed the workshops, the contacts, and the great advice offered by writers, agents, and editors. This year felt a little bit easier...a little more comfortable...since I knew more of what to expect.

My mind is already overflowing with ideas for my next steps (and, not surprising to many of you, my latest idea to redecorate the office). Time to reload the "writing coffee" jar and get busy!

Ranch Pasta Salad

In case you haven't noticed, I have a bit of an aversion to cooking or baking from a box. I always feel like I'm cheating. This recipe is one of my "ditch-the-box" acquisitions. When I was first out of college, I learned to like pasta salad. I say "learned" to like, because I had a firm belief that pasta should be hot. Eating cold pasta seemed about as appetizing as cold fries. But I learned to like it anyway. For a long time, I made my pasta salads from a box, and they were very good.

And then I had company one night and wanted to serve pasta salad. I could not bring myself to feed them a boxed salad, so I found this recipe. It was easy, it was colorful, and I deemed it a keeper. I will warn you that the broccoli starts to taste a tiny bit funny after a couple of days in the salad, so I wouldn't eat it for days on end. But that is my only complaint!

The Recipe:
3 cups uncooked tricolor spiral pasta
1 cup chopped fresh broccoli florets
3/4 cup chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato
1 bottle (8 ounces) ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, cucumber, tomato an cheese. Drizzle with salad dressing; toss to coat.

I've been known to make this salad with other versions of pasta, but the tri-color really is the prettiest. I do use low fat dressing and it works just fine. Now and then I'll also throw in some pepperoni and black olives because I love them.



This time when I made the salad, I actually wanted to assemble it on my lunch hour. So the night before, I chopped up all the veggies and put them in dishes. I felt like such a Paula Deen just dumping my prepared ingredients into my bowl. LOL. I bought grape tomatoes and just cut them into quarters for this. It's far less messy than contending with a big tomato.

...For those of you who have never seen pasta cooking before....

Make sure you rinse off the pasta well with cold water or it will end up melting your cheese!

I had to transport this salad to a carry-in, so I decided to use my Pampered Chef Batter Bowl to mix it up. That way I had a handle and a lid and the whole nine yards. :) I put in everything except the cheese and dressing, and mixed that up.

Then I added the cheese...

And finished it up with the dressing! I did this on my lunch hour and then right after work, I added a little more dressing so it was nice and fresh for serving.

Mrs. Lee (my home ec teacher) would be so proud. COLORFUL!!!!

Singing

When I was little, I longed to be a famous singer.

Sandi Patty, to be exact.

I'd stand in my room with the curling iron in my hand, dragging the cord through my other hand like I saw the soloists at church do, singing from Sandi's Hymns Just for You tape. I learned her part. I learned all the background vocal parts. I sang, sang, sang.

I used to sing solos in church, even. (Little known fact about Bekah.) Last one I ever sang was My Father's Eyes by Amy Grant. It was during that solo that I realized for the first time exactly what I was doing, and it completely petrified me. Hence the last solo.

Now I'm a shower/car only singer. I love music with all my heart and dearly love to make a joyful noise. I fire up the computer every morning, hit YouTube for some great songs, and sing while I straighten my hair. I play music in the car...at work...during my workouts at home...you get the idea.

I get goose bumps during good anthems. I've been known to clap with joy while driving, which I'm sure is only a step above texting behind the wheel, but it's true. It happens.

Anyway, last night while I was working on my little workbook assignment (that you'll probably continue to hear about for weeks on end...sorry...but not really), I was directed to Zephaniah 3:17. Zephaniah. A highly under-studied book, I'd say. It says "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

I've read the verse before, although granted, not recently. But I just loved that. This God who took time to knit me with far more good qualities than I recognize without prompting is delighting in me, even this very minute. And He's rejoicing over my drama-filled life...with singing.

I don't remember if I've blogged about this next part before, but I'm multi-tasking and can't research at the moment, so if it's a repeat, I'm sorry. When I was at the Extraordinary Women Conference, one of the worship team girls sang a solo. The song was written and originally recorded by Kari Jobe. If you search her on YouTube, you can hear her music and some of her testimony, which definitely displays her deep love for the Lord.

This particular song is called You Are For Me, and the first part says:


So patient, so gracious, so merciful and true
So wonderful in all You do
You fill me, You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You

I remember sitting in that arena...thinking of the fabulous girl who sang that day..."Well of course He loves for YOU to sing to Him. You rock!"

But I'm learning that He delights as much in my somewhat off-pitch car singing as He does in her totally spot-on singing in front of 3500 women. Because just as He rejoices over me with singing, He really does love for me to sing to Him.

Really.

Bits for Sunday, November 1

Earlier this week, I posted about my encounter with the workbook question. You were kind and left me some sweet comments, which led me to think further about the situation.

The verses Angela focused on were from Psalm 139:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (vv. 13-16).

As you may remember, Angela challenged, “List three things you are thankful God knit together in you.” And I have to tell you – it stumped me. I thought of one thing right away and wrote it down. I thought of a second thing that didn’t really need to be put into words, so I determined to just scribble down “you know what this means.” And from there, I remained stumped.

Stumped and a little embarrassed. God had worked so hard to knit me, and it wasn’t that I thought I was a bad person or lacking in some way, but there’s something very panic-inducing about being forced to think of your own good qualities.

It reminded me of a retreat I spoke at a few years ago. The whole retreat was themed around 1 Timothy 1:6 – “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

During the early moments of our time together, I handed every woman a small gift bag and a stack of blank paper. They were to write on the slips of paper the good things they recognized as gifts in the others there that day. I sat back and watched as they looked around the room, thinking of the perfect things to write about the others before they started scribbling.

Once they were done writing, we passed around the gift bags, and everyone deposited their thoughts into the others’ bags. Then I watched as they dove into their “gifts.” Some cried, some looked amazed, and all of them seemed very thankful to be reminded of what was good within them.

Why is it always easier to see the gifts and the goodness in others than it is to see it in ourselves? And yet what a gift it is to be encouraged about the person you have become.

So this week you get an assignment. (Working in a school has finally gotten the best of me.) I challenge you to find at least one person in your life and randomly surprise him or her with a note, an email, a phone call – something – that offers affirmation about God’s knitting work. Be a blessing – and I’m pretty sure you’ll get one right back!

Happy Halloween!

This has been the week that got away. I was just sitting here a few minutes ago, thinking of all I still have to do before I go to bed tonight, and I have no idea how I wasted so much time this week!! :(

Anyway, here's just a little sampling of life in Bekahland the past couple of days.

Last night I went to work out at the gym. I was running on the indoor track, and the women's basketball team was practicing in the gym below. You know what that means: skinny girls. So I not only did my two miles - I sucked in my stomach the entire time. Do you know how hard it is to run and suck in at the same time? It's not good.

So after that, I went over to my kiddos' house for pizza. (LOL.)

Hadn't seen this one in almost a month and that is too long. I was so worried he'd forgotten me, but he sure hadn't. We squeezed in a lot of good bonding time.

And then we carved a pumpkin. You have no idea how excited I was about that. I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was a kid and it was so much fun! In reality, I didn't do any of the actual carving. But Savannah and I were skilled at gutting the gunk.

We watched some fun cartoon movies and then I came home to sleep because I had to get up before eleven on a Saturday. I will give you a moment to digest that.

Drove down to Indy to meet up with my parents, my sister, and my brother-in-law to celebrate my sister's birthday. Here I am with the birthday girl!

And here she is with the parentals. Fun breakfast! (Always fun when someone else pays, right?)

After that I headed to a Hobby Lobby to soak up the aura, and then I stopped by the Gaither store to pick up the new Vocal Band CD (which I love, of course). By the time I got back home, I felt like I'd put in a full day's work and normally I'd just be getting ready for the day!

Stumped

When I went to the Extraordinary Women conference at the beginning of the month, my hands-down favorite speaker was Angela Thomas. Marie and I both bought her book "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?" - and the study guide that accompanies. I started reading the book immediately. Tonight I decided to start the study guide. Marie and I plan to work through it together, so I figured it was time to get busy.

I should preface this next part by saying I am NOT posting this in any sort of attempt to fish for compliments. Nor am I posting it for pity or any other such purpose. I'm posting it because it caught me by surprise.

In the journaling part, Angela asks several questions about the elementary school years...and then she points to Psalm 139:13-16...the verses about being fearfully and wonderfully made. I turned the page, thinking the next set of questions would prompt me to relive junior high and high school, but instead, a trick question found its way in.

She says, "List three things you are thankful God knit together in you."

Well first I had to OCD about whether she meant physical characteristics or character-driven traits. Finding no direction, I decided to do a little combo.

The first one was easy. I love my love of story-telling and writing. I love watching people laugh when I tell a story - even if it means I'm completely humiliating myself by divulging the details. I love the emails I get after I send out a round of "Bits" - and I read how people cried or felt deeply in some way after reading what I wrote. I love everything about that and since God chose not to make me a fabulous singer, then being a story-teller is just what I want to be. :)

The second one was embarrassing. So much so that I couldn't bring myself to write it in a Bible study book. (Nor will I be writing it here, so don't go looking.) Maybe I'll just put a * and a note that says "You know what it means."

And there I remain. I have closed the book and am moving on to something else. Because I can't think of a third thing! That surprises me. Makes me a little red in the face too. I mean God worked so hard on me and I know I'm not bad...and yet I can't think of ONE MORE THING I'm glad He did for me during His little knitting project? Ack.

I'm not giving up on the question. I will prevail with a third thing. I will. But in the meantime, I throw the question to you. What are you glad God did when He knit you?

Surprise!!!

I need a haircut. I can't see through my bangs anymore. But until I can schedule a haircut makeover....I just got a blog makeover. :) Thought I'd try something different. So anyway, happy fall!

I returned to work this week after a glorious week away from the desk. Well, part of it was glorious. I tend to take my work a little too seriously. (It's genetic. I stood no chance.) We have specific groups of students we work with and I think I stress as much about what happens to them in my absence as a mother would stress about her kids when she's separated from them for a week.

During the first half of the week, I stayed home to relax and sleep. And as I told you, I ended up cleaning. Part of it was from a case of the stir-crazies. And part of it was to force myself to stop stalking my work e-mail and walk away from worrying about my students!

Things were much easier once I left home and spent time soaking in the sights of Brown County. In fact, I was just about to stop worrying entirely when the alarm clock went off signaling the start of a new work week.

Go figure.

But I had a huge blessing that first day back to work. I was making my way through all the messages and notes and papers...when I had the opportunity to talk to someone who was headed straight for panic mode. That happens a lot in my line of work. I keep my office stocked with Puffs Plus - especially around this season when the money crunch hits big time. But what made Monday's conversation good was that I walked away feeling like I truly helped. I often feel that I've eased some nerves, but I don't usually feel like a big help. And when I am able to really detour someone from the panic trail, it feels so good. A little early Christmas present.

Today, as someone addressed me with a significant lack of tact - and respect, and my blood pressure elevated to pre-stroke levels, I had to remind myself of yesterday. Of the good moments. The helpful moments. Those are the ones that make the rest all worth it.

Brown County: Weekend Getaway

What!? What, you say? Did Bekah leave home twice in one year? Oh how it boggles the mind.

And yet it's true.

Let me back up and tell you how it happened.

Back in July, my good friend Julie asked how I'd feel about a girls' getaway weekend. I was absolutely amazed at her suggestion, because Julie is married and is a pretty new mom, and most of my married and/or mom friends aren't up for getaways. Needless to say, I was pretty stinking thrilled that she even asked...and even more excited that she picked me for a traveling buddy!

We settled upon a destination of Brown County. If you're not from Indiana, you're probably not impressed. :) Brown County is in the south central part of Indiana, and it's well known for its beautiful fall foliage. There are tons of cabins down in that part of the state, so that was our goal. A cute little cabin, no responsibilities, and loads of fun.

And so, Thursday morning, we departed from home and entered drama-land. The (several...sorry) posts below will show you more of our vacation. More pictures, less writing. But these stories are too good, so this post remains: Bits from Bekah's Dramatic Traveling Life.

You can see that everything began well:
We had planned to leave my house about 10, but she ran a bit late, and we had to load the car, and I had to run by work to leave something with a friend and gas hadn't gone down in price overnight like I'd hoped, so we had to stop and fill up anyway...and we got a late start.

PRAISE THE LORD.

When we reached the north side of Indianapolis, traffic was ridiculously slow. Rush hour traffic kind of slow. Helicopters buzzing overhead kind of slow.

We found out why:

I didn't take that from our car...it's a picture of a picture. But just about the time we might have been merging onto 465, a truck hauling propane exploded right at our exit. Above is the explosion where we might have been....

...and this is where we actually were.

A little too close for comfort, but how thankful we were for God's protection! And in case you're not from around here and don't already know this - amazingly, no deaths in that explosion. By the time we got up to our exit, we had to call for directions to a new route. Found that (after getting lost once) and went on our merry way.

We arrived in Brown County a little after lunch time, loaded up on some carbs, and decided to head to the orchard. (We couldn't check in to the cabin until 4, so we were trying to make good use of our time for other activities.)

The orchard was about a 30 minute drive...(more if you get lost, which we did)...but it was so incredibly gorgeous, because the roads we drove took us right through the heart of the trees.

Have you ever seen that commercial where the Dad is swinging his little boy and everything is all serene, and then the boy comes swinging back to Dad and is suddenly a huge man on the swing...knocking the Dad to the ground? That's kind of how this part of the trip was for us.

We were savoring the scenery...taking pictures, gushing about the beauty, when suddenly...

...well, we didn't get a picture of the actual event, but "dump station" is pretty accurate. There was an overlook pullover kind of spot, and as we drove by, we saw a truck parked there with a man standing beside it. Only as we passed, did we realize the man (kind of older) was standing there with his pants down to his ankles, wiping. Yes, wiping. Enough said.

We continued on our trek to the orchard, and we ended up on a 2 lane highway. Not a super-busy one, but a well-traveled road. I was driving along probably just under the speed limit (since we were looking for our road, I didn't want to go too fast), with a tow truck behind me and an SUV behind him. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw that the SUV was about to pass the tow truck and me. I looked ahead and saw a pickup coming our way.

A few seconds later, I realized the SUV did not have time to pass both the tow truck and me before the pickup arrived, so I gunned it to created enough space for the SUV (who by this time was far enough up to be almost in between us) to get in before the truck arrived. Well, apparently the tow truck was unamused by the SUV's audacity to pass us at all, because he too sped up, and he moved over and tried to run the SUV off the road. I was horrified when I saw the tow truck bump the SUV with his back end...because the pickup truck was almost there and I had no idea what to do.

The SUV managed to stay in control of his vehicle and also managed to drop back. At that moment (still in the rearview mirror), I saw the pickup truck go full speed into the ditch to avoid a head-on collision. Had he not done that, he would have hit the SUV. None of them stopped...everyone just got back on the road and went on, so we kept going too. I was scared to death of the tow truck by that point. If he would try to run an SUV off the road while trying to force a head-on collision, I had no idea what he might do to little old me who hadn't been going quite the limit. Fortunately he turned onto a side road and I could focus forward...

...just in time to enter a school zone. I slammed on the breaks just as a cop whipped into view and pulled a car over as it came toward me.

It was then that Julie and I knew we were a jinx to all drivers around us. :)

We enjoyed a great time at the orchard, followed by this lovely view....

...as we got lost going back to Brown County.

Brown County: Apple Works Orchard

In my research of Brown County,I found this super-de-duper apple orchard about a half hour away. It was called the Apple Works Orchard. We decided to go there the first day, since it had the best weather outlook.

Part of the grounds had a small lake. The leaves were floating down and riding across the water...beautiful!

I do not have the same sentiments about the leaves that floated down into my yard while I was gone.

Oh didn't I tell you about my part time job? :)

Julie's pretty cool! It has that right!

Allow me to explain. I hate the very concept of port-a-potties. In lo these many years of my life, I have refused to use them. After the Greensburg tornado, this was the only option during the cleanup efforts. Well this or the "praise the Lord for a big bladder" method. I just praised the Lord right through my time in port-a-potty-ville. But this day I decided to be a big girl and use the stupid thing.

NEVER AGAIN.

My reward for surviving the port-a-potty: more beautiful scenery.

This was the main hub of the orchard. They had apples (of course), pumpkins, all sorts of baked apple stuff, caramel apples, cider, ice cream, you name it.

There was also a nature trail that surrounded the orchard, so we walked it. Or rather, Julie skipped it. :)

As for me...well, I was just a goofball. :)

Good, good times at the Apple Works!

Brown County: The Cabin

When Julie first asked me about a fun getaway weekend, Brown County was at the top of both our lists. Unfortunately, we did not make this plan until late summer, and October (the week I already had scheduled off work) is peak season in this area of the state. I spent - no joke - an entire WEEK online every night for at least two hours a night, trying to find a cabin in the greater Brown County area. Nothing. I even tried a tri-state area. Nothing. Julie spent about 2 hours online one afternoon during her kiddo's nap, and found an available cabin. Julie ROCKS.

As did the cabin. We stayed at the Robinwood. I am not even kidding - it was the PERFECT place to stay. I have no idea how it never turned up in my searches but I'm so glad it turned up in hers.

I literally loved the cabin. It absolutely felt like home. It was fully furnished and so, so cozy. Look...even a cobblestone looking walkway!!!! (EEEE!!!)

I have decided that down comforters are one of life's greatest inventions. I want one. I priced them at the outlet mall...and the verdict is: not getting one. WOW expensive. But WOW comfortable!

The Robinwood kitchen. Isn't it cute? It's actually bigger than my kitchen at home.

They had a little journal in the cabin for people to sign after they'd stayed there. It was fun to read the stories!



This is another view of the bedroom. (Sorry, my picture posting got a little out of order.) The bedroom also had a fireplace, a comfy chaise kind of chair, and a little writing nook over in the corner. If they'd had internet access, it would have made that nook the perfect place to work on a book!!

The living room. The couch was amazingly comfortable, and it had a coffee table that ran the entire length of the couch. (And it was a super long couch.) The shelves that the TV and other things sat on were apparently custom-made for the cabin. They were so cute. There were all kinds of books and games available for a rainy day. The only bummer was no DVD player for the TV. (They did have satellite, though!) Thankfully I'd taken my laptop, so we were able to watch movies on that.

We opted to not light the fireplace. Neither of us had any clue how that worked and we thought it might be best to not burn down the cabin.

Brown County: View from the Back

Though I'd not generally describe myself as an "outdoorsy" sort of girl, I remained in awe of the gorgeous sights we could view from our window and the back deck!

Mom and Dad would raise an eyebrow if they knew I was taking pictures of and commenting on bird feeders, since I am somewhat ruthless to them about their bird feeder addiction.

This feeder was right outside the living room window on the back deck, and the day it rained, it was a major thoroughfare for the lil birdies.
Speaking of the back deck...here it is! It had a patio table with an umbrella, a grill, and of course - THE HOT TUB.

This path, lined with beautiful red trees/bushes, led away from the back deck.

Julie took this while I was getting ready one day. Love cardinals!!

So serene.....

Brown County: View from the Hot Tub

I wish I had a hot tub. It's one of those "someday" dreams. For now, I enjoy sitting in one whenever I get the chance.

Our cabin's hot tub was on the back deck and was incredibly private. Our view was as follows:


Sunset, you know. :) Love sunset. I've heard there's also a sunrise, but I don't know much about that.

Despite the cloudy day, the sun came out just in time to give us a fantastic show.

When I said the hot tub was incredibly private, I sort of lied. We did have some visitors. The resident miniature ponies...grazed right past the hot tub and disappeared into the trees.

And to make me feel right at home....we also had a visit from a cat. We'd seen this cat earlier, en route to delivering a dead chipmunk to its owners. Praise the Lord she didn't bring us a present! She just sat there by the back door for the longest time.