Fall Bucket List

We have a few days off this fall...and I probably have bigger dreams than free hours. What is it about fall, anyway, that conjures up these ideas of doing extra things just for fun? It's always been that way. 

Do you make fall bucket lists? Do you like going to do all the fall things? (And if it's a yes, let me guess: you're probably a pumpkin spice fan too, aren't you? Ahhh, that's unfair. I'm a fall list-maker, but not a pumpkin-spice lover.)

But as we sit here in the middle of our weekend, I wanted to think about things we hope to do. It may not be an exhaustive list, but here are a few of our ideas:

1. Watch our beloved meadow slowly morph into fall. 

It's starting. I've seen some of the first hints of changing leaves. It was so beautiful last fall, and apparently I didn't fully photograph said beauty! I can't wait to see this year's repeat performance. 

2. Take a bike ride on the trails.

We are actually hoping to do this today, and I know all the colors won't be in full force yet, but I am looking forward to being outside, enjoying the pretty weather!

3. Visit the sunflower fields. 

I thought they didn't plant them this year, but it turns out they did...just a bit later! I don't think the sunflowers are as tall and full this year as they were last year, but they're in full bloom!

4. Visit a corn maze/pumpkin patch.

We haven't done this every single year we've been married, but we've visit one several of the years, and I really love going. This is what makes fall...fall!

5. Fire pit night!

I'm hoping we can have one of these here at WillowBridge - but also on our next camping trip! We've enjoyed several this summer on camping trips, but there's nothing like a true fall fire pit night!

6. Take a drive or kayak trip to enjoy some fall foliage.

Or both!!! :) One of these years, I want to do a proper east coast fall foliage trip, but for now, I'll be content to see some pretty trees from the road or water!

7. Take a nighttime walk in sweatshirts around town.

Ryan and I don't often take nighttime walks, but I always like to do one in each season. A crisp fall night in town with the smell of fire pits and grilling still lingering in the air? Oh yes please. 

8. Chili...and all the fall foods.

I do love some of the foods of fall, like a good pot of chili on a rainy day. We've already done it once, but I'll take more. :) 

9. Hiking!

I love hiking anytime of year, but I especially love it in the fall when it's usually not so buggy - and definitely not so hot. 

10. A good fall dessert.

I used to wait for fall to get apple pie chai at the coffee shop at IWU. I've been told they don't have it this year, which is heartbreaking, even though I'm too far away. Ryan and I have also historically loved the huge apple dumplings at Cracker Barrel. (We only made the mistake of ordering one for each of us the first time. Then we shared!) But I don't know the perfect fall dessert to get here. I'm still on the hunt!! But something warm and apple-y or maple spicy would be perfect!

One Year

Today is a monumental day, and I almost missed it!

One year ago today, we welcomed a new family member:

Our multi-year dreams of having our very own RV came true one year ago today. I'm pretty sure we were both scared to death as we signed on the dotted line and felt those keys drop into our hands. 

There she was, with her overwhelming smell of cleaners, her floral couch, and all the oak. So. Much. Oak. 

We stood on the lot with the sales guy, and I snapped photo after photo while Ryan took a crash course in things like shore power, how to manually run the awning, and the finer points of a sewer hose. 

It was National Coffee Day, we learned, so we poured two cups of fake lattes from the dispenser in the dealership and drank them in our new home on wheels. 

We received our "RV Starter Kit" and took it home to our Amazon wish list of things we'd learned we needed...mostly from our Pinterest research. 

And then we stood in our parking lot and leapt with joy and trepidation at this major project we'd just acquired. 

Could we do it? Could we figure out how to renovate an RV together? Neither of us had ever spent a night in one in our entire lives. Would we even like traveling in an RV? 

And so our fall and winter began. Every spare minute went into updating Miss Abby. 

So much demo. So much rehab. And finally...the decorating. She was so so pretty when we finished!

We loved her so much and thought she felt just like home. But we still had to see if she really could be home.

We went on our first official trip in April. The weather wasn't great, but the trip was delightful. Having an RV was everything we thought it would be. 

That trip whet our appetite for the big trip west, where we just wanted to keep driving for a year and see everything everywhere!! (A special shout-out to all the pictures in this row re-ordering themselves.)

But we did come home. We did. And throughout this summer, we've gotten to enjoy short trips locally that have reminded us why Abby was such a great decision!

We even took Phoebe on her first ever camping trip!

Happy birthday, Abby the RV! What a spectacular first year we've had together! Five trips. Eight states. Sixteen nights. A whole lotta miles. A whole lotta learning. A whole lotta rest. 

Here's to many more adventures!!

Sitting in the Sun

 No two days are alike for us, and it's possible that after yesterday, I say hurrah to that! 

I started working around 8 in the morning - while I still sported bedhead. I typed lists and ate yogurt and drank coffee all at the same time.

Then I tamed the hair and ventured forth to have conversations with tenants.

The day gave way to more lists, soooooo many emails (I think I ended the day with 35 sent emails, where a normal day has maybe half a dozen), sorting, printing, arranging, rearranging, scheduling, and somewhere in there...cooking dinner. I finally wrapped up the last of the things about 10 p.m. And I jut remembered I still have a load of clothes in the washer. We'll address that tomorrow.

It certainly wasn't the most stressful day I've ever had. I actually enjoy administrative tasks, so a day in the office is fun for me. But the day was still long, for sure. 

Partway through the afternoon, I headed into the yard for Phoebe's potty break, and it was just so beautifully splendid out there. It was the perfect blend of breeze, sun, warm, and cool. Perfect days like that don't happen every day in Indiana! 

So I sat down.

I sure did. 

I put down the keys and the phone and sat back in the patio furniture that I don't think has had a date with me one time this entire season. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and felt the warmth of the sun on my face. I felt the breeze blowing through my hair, and I heard Phoebe's collar clunk against the deck as she sank down beside me. I peeked and saw the wind blowing her ears. So sweet. 

I didn't stay long. Maybe twenty minutes? Ryan wandered out to see what we were up to and ended up sitting in the chair beside me, soaking up a little sun of his own.

You know what it reminded me of? The summers when I used to visit my friends at the lake, and we'd head out to the middle of the lake in their boat. We'd leave sometime after lunch and wander back whenever we got tired of the water. (Okay, so really just when someone had to use the bathroom. No one ever got tired of the water.) I'd take my Bible and journal with me and once we landed in the middle of the lake, I'd kick back to study and pray. I'd feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my face...and I'd hear the gentle lapping of waves against the boat.

Our landlocked backyard had no gentle waves. Just a lawnmower down the block. But it was every bit as peaceful as those days on the lake. 

I don't know what your schedule is like this week. I don't even know what your weather is like this week. But if you have one of those perfect-ish days, go sit on the porch for a few minutes. Sit back and let the Lord wash over you you. Rest for a moment. Savor. You'll be so glad you took the time!

Photo Essay

When Ryan and I were in fifth grade, we had to do photo essays for school. The assignment was to do a poster board with a day-in-the-life style essay about something people might find interesting about our lives. I did mine about my dad's radio program. Ryan did his about his mom, who was a nurse. He went to work with her one day played the part of the patient so he could show what she did. 

Who knows? Maybe that's when my love of documentation began! 

While this isn't a day-in-the-life post, I thought I'd share a few photos from our September. A few may have popped up in other posts along the way, but I'll try to make them fresh finds for you!

We live in a small town that may not have much, but it does have four restaurants! (Impressive, right?) Throughout our first year here, we'd tried all of them but The Woodhouse. It's only open for dinner, and it can be hard for us to get away for dinner. But just recently they started opening up for breakfast two days a week. So we went one day! I wasn't super hungry, so I just ordered a scrambled egg and a bowl of fruit. I'm so used to fruit bowls at restaurants being two grapes and some bland melon served in about a half-cup sized bowl. Look at this serving of fruit! It was like an actual bowl of fruit!! And it all had flavor! I was impressed. 

Maybe this is going to be a photo essay about food. I'm not sure. :) Nah, just kidding. I took this photo at the coffee shop one morning when I settled in for a work meeting. Ryan and I are IN LOVE with the cake at this coffee shop. I got a piece so I could surprise him with half. And their southern pecan coffee is pretty much the best thing ever. Also...can we pause to appreciate the ambience of the upstairs? It's in a log cabin, so...

I'll have to go back now that this is complete, but I grabbed the picture quickly as I passed through the parking lot and saw the giant mural underway. It's on two sides of the building and is so striking! We didn't have any murals in town before, so this is kind of a big deal!

Who loves encouragement mail? EVERYONE!! :) We have been so very blessed with kind notes and gifts in the mail, and this was a super fun one to find one day. It's from our good friends out west...and look at the card! It's all of us!! :) Ahhh, memories of the ranch. 

Ahhh...mums!! We haven't had any flowers at all this year at WillowBridge, because Ryan and I were overwhelmed/gone last May when we normally would have planted summmer flowers. SO I was excited to get some mums for the front yard. The building looks so happy now!

Sweet Braeya still loves to drink from the faucet. She's been doing this for years. She has a water dish. We keep fresh water in it at all times. She does drink from it. But if she hears anyone going anywhere NEAR the bathroom, she wants a faucet drink too. 

Phoebe and Ryan running up the hill one night. This is about the extent of Ryan's running right now, thanks to his ankle. (It's killing him to not run!) But they did have fun conquering Mt. Grabill. (For those of you who may be confused, this is the town's sledding hill. But it's really pretty in all seasons.)

Her ears laid out on the pillows...I can't even. Too funny!

Ryan sent this of our beloved lake - when he went to the men's retreat. Ahhhh. This is my favorite place to meet with the Lord.

Sitting on the sidewalk waiting for Ryan to come home. She got to him faster only in real-world time. I got there faster in my heart. 

Yesterday we sang hymns in church. From a hymnal. Who knew there would be a day in life when this was a treat?

And because I feel I should conclude with a food item...everyone needs friends who makes AND DELIVERS these:

(I only had one sliver. Ryan gets the rest.)