Northwest Georgia: Hillcrest Orchards

After Burt's Farm, the next stop on our list was Hillcrest Orchards.

This stop was fun but definitely the best stop for Miss Izzy. She had a blast.

From the Jumping Pillow...

to the live music...

to the petting zoo...

to the big slides...

to the zipline...

my little niece was in toddler heaven.

It was fun to watch her. I look forward to going back when Jack and Levi can participate in all of the fun as well.

We skipped on watching the pig races -- the crowd was a bit much. We also skipped the tractor ride and getting to milk a cow. Though Daniel and Jack did watch some other kids take their turn.

For lunch, I managed to waste spend $28 on food. Don't get me wrong, it was great food. Daniel was a trooper and stood in a long line to get us a hamburger {him}, BBQ sandwich {me} and a bottle of water to share. For a cost of $12. I took two bites out of my delicious sandwich, then set it in my lap to take a picture and promptly knocked my sandwich out of my lap onto the ground. Daniel said that I couldn't apply the 10-second rule since were at a farm. So. That meant I got the pleasure of getting back in a {really, really, really} long line to spend more money on food. Another $16 and we had ripple fries, chicken on a stick and roasted corn on the cob to round out my rather expensive lunch. All of it was good, I just wish I hadn't dumped my sandwich on the ground.

After such a busy day, the adults and babies were starting to get tired. Izzy, on the other hand, was still going strong. Daniel, Mark, Jack and I took advantage of having a second car to make an early exit.

Thankfully we beat the afternoon crowds -- by the time we left it was quite the madhouse. We enjoyed our day and I look forward to going back... maybe when it isn't so busy?

Northwest Georgia: Burt's Farm

This past weekend, we met up with my brother and my sister and her family in Ellijay, Georgia for a little bit of family fun. We rented a cabin {via VRBO.com} on Walnut Mountain and enjoyed visiting, great homemade breakfasts {thank you Mark} and making family memories with our kids.

Friday night after everyone arrived, Daniel and I snuck into town while Uncle Mark babysat Jack. We squeezed in a dinner date and hit up Walmart for some supplies. Dinner was at Mucho Kaliente – which was not that hot. It was ok, but we have certainly had better Mexican fare. Urbanspoon with it's 96% rating failed us this time. After our WM run, we went back to the cabin and stayed up late chatting with my brother while everyone else slept.

Saturday morning we all slept in – thank goodness because when we got home from Walmart, Mark informed us that Angela was set to get rolling by 8am!

We all got a slow start on Saturday. Then Mark whipped us up a breakfast of bacon, his excelent fluffy eggs and biscuits. Not too shabby for my little brother. We finally got everyone loaded into the cars and headed out to make some memories. First stop was Burt's Farm.

Izzy was beyond excited to see the pumpkins. We could barely hold her back.

Then she got excited about the hay.

And then she realized that she could get pushed around in a wheelbarrow... and that is where she stayed for the duration of our visit at the farm.

Jack experienced his first wagon ride.

He really liked it.

He liked stealing his cousin Levi's sippy cup even more.

After numerous photo ops, we were on our way. But not before I could show off my Chicken Dancing skills to Izzy.

I tried to persuade my sister that we should go up the road to Amicalola Falls. I looked it up on my phone and it said that the falls were within "walking distance" from the lodge. Angela wanted to know what "walking distance" was. Like, was it 20 feet or 3 miles? I did more research and it was further than she wanted to walk. Maybe next time?

After Burt's, we forged on to Hillcrest Orchards...

2012 Book 24: Wrecked

I finished the book Wrecked by Jeff Goins a couple of weeks ago but I haven't had time to write about it. This particular book is about the need to grow up; to embrace the mundane along with the adventure and to find a way to make a difference in the life you are living.

The book had some good ideas but was definitely speaking to a particular group of people. I fall into this group – the young person who longs for adventure; who travels the world; who isn't sure about settling down; who sees needs in the world around them but doesn't know how to truly make a difference. I think most people probably feel these types of yearnings, but not everyone has the means or desire to seek out adventure and travel the world searching for that meaning. Or maybe everyone is searching for some kind of meaning, even if it is just in their back yards.

The book has a lot of great thoughts. The main point that I took away are that we all go through phases in our life. It is natural to be in a searching phase when you are young but part of growing up is choosing to stick something out – whether it is a job or relationship {or both}. It is important to contribute to your own life and not waste your entire life looking for how you can impact the world in a big way... it is better to choose to impact the world you live in. Even if it is only in a small way.

There were a lot of good excerpts in this books – see below, I had a hard time narrowing down my favorites – but there was a lot of redundancy too. I think this is an important topic: the need to grow up and the importance of making a difference in the world, but I feel like this book needed more meat to it.

Excerpts from the book:

Everyone in this world is searching. Each of us is searching for something to give meaning to life. To bring purpose to our work. We all know this; we’re familiar with this emptiness, this longing for more…

Without prompting, kids know how to dream up adventures and slay dragons. To embark on epic voyages and live out idyllic scenes. To spend hours in the backyard with nothing but their imaginations.

Children do not wait all year for two weeks of vacation. They don’t spend their lives doing things they hate so they can earn the right to do what they really want. They live life to the full, children do, and somehow we have to regain that innocence.

Our broken heartedness at the injustices we witness is what gives us compassion. So when we rush past these messy and uncomfortable moments, we take away the experiences that teach us mercy.

The world is broken and remains that way, in spite of our efforts to help it. This is beautiful, in a way, because it breaks us of our self-dependency. In a world that refuses to be healed, we must face the fact that we are not the heroes of our stories. It teaches us to rely on something bigger than ourselves and teaches the source of true compassion.

…when you expose yourself to deep need and pain, it feels anything but good. Compassion is messy. It hurts…

If we are to follow the Jesus who suffered with us and bled for us, we too must suffer. We must hold the dying in our arms. We must shed tears for hungry stomachs, trafficked children, and wandering souls. This is what He wants for us. It’s the reason we are called to lay down our nets and take up our crosses to pursue the Suffering Servant. And it’s the one thing we will avoid at all costs.

“What if the purpose of my life is not about me? Am I willing to give up all my dreams, my aspirations and comfort to find it?”

We know we need community and connection but, ironically, we’re not willing to commit to it...

In each of our stories, there is a moment when all our priorities and concerns shift. Our identity begins to change. We sense a disparity between what is and what should be.

…fear isn’t the enemy; inaction is. What we have to learn to do is lean into the things that hold us back, to move through the pain and push forward.

At a distance, we see a need and ignore it. We judge it, condemn it, forget it. We don’t think about it, because if we practice ignorance long enough, we don’t notice the need anymore.

When the passion goes away, it’s the practice that sustains us.

When you commit to something, anything, it allows you to practice what you love. And eventually, you get really good at it. Maybe even without noticing.

Here’s the thing about adventures: they all have an ending.

We need to break this cycle of extended adolescence. We need to help young people transition well into adulthood. Perhaps we need to grow up ourselves.

…greatness has a cost, and its name is commitment.

…we need to be careful with this obsession with novelty. We may find ourselves losing the old things that are most important to our humanity—things like doing what we say and honoring our commitments.

…we are only able to help heal the brokenness around us when we are living whole lives ourselves.

In most things, those who do the most work get the least amount of credit.

“Which was harder,” I asked, “having your second child, or your third?” He sighed. “A lot of people ask me that, but the truth is that the biggest adjustment is having your first kid. You know, all of this—marriage, buying a house, having kids—these are all lessons in dying to yourself.”

…your life is not about you.

See Jack {mid September 2012}

This is an ongoing series of videos that I am sharing so that our extended family can keep up with how Jack is growing and changing in these early years.

See Jack get his teeth brushed for the first time.

{mid September}

See Jack play with his rocking horse and Tonka truck {crane}.

{mid September}

See Jack use Mommy as his personal jungle gym.
{mid September}


See Jack entertain himself with a burp cloth.

{mid September}


See Jack and the mirror.

{mid September}

Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll

My sister pointed out that we have been having a very fun fall, full of lots of excursions and she is right. Judging by my calendar, we may not slow down until after Christmas!

This past Sunday, we didn't have plans other than to go home and work on projects around the house. But then at church some friends invited us to join them on the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. We are so glad we took the opportunity to go with them.

According the the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association web site:

Costumed volunteers will share the stories of over 65 notables, both famous and infamous, who shaped the future of Huntsville and Alabama. Included are five Alabama Governors, soldiers from past wars, artist, poet and writer Maria Howard Weeden, the notorius madam, Molly Teal and Tallulah Bankhead visiting her parent's graves.

It is an annual event that is free to the public. From 2:00-4:30 you stroll through the 100-acre cemetery and hear stories from historical figures. I believe we were able to hear 5 different tales.

The first couple of stops we only heard part of the story. Our real first experience was to hear from Clement Claiborne-Clay and his wife, Virginia Clay-Clopton. Clay was imprisoned for conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln before being released from prison after a year-long letter writing campaign by his wife.

After the Clays, we heard the story of Sally, a girl who died at the Carter mansion and is said to haunt both the mansion and cemetery where she is now buried.

Our third stop was to hear the story of Abraham Lincoln's brother-in-law, David Todd. He was a confederate soldier who became a mercenary, but ended up dieing in his bed instead of in battle.

We had to make sure to hear about Lily Flagg Cow – the owner, Samuel B. Moore, of this prize jersey cow is buried in the cemetery. The cow has a street in Huntsville named after her. During her record-breaking year, Lily weighed 950 pounds and produced 1,047 pounds of butter.

Our final stop was to hear from a man who purchased a head stone for his sister-in-law after her husband did nothing to mark her grave in the Wright Family plot. 

Overall it was a fascinating look at history. I think if I had heard stories told like this when I was in school, I would have a better appreciation and understanding of history. I hope we can make it to next year's event because there are so many more stories that I would like to hear. *Also, there may {or may not} have been a diaper change in the cemetery...

Our Trip to the Pumpkin Tree Farm

 
As tired parents you sometimes confuse your words. Daniel and I had a good chuckle when he told me that he was really glad we had made the time to go to the "Pumpkin Tree Farm." 

I'm glad that he enjoyed it because he sure gave me some grief over it the day of our visit...

After our morning canoe excursion, we ran home to get Jack and his aunts for lunch and a jaunt out to the Crow Creek Pumpkin Patch that was just up the road from our house {so said me... or so I thought the sign said}.

 

We drove to Stevenson, right before crossing Crow Creek and read the sign more closely...  
Crow Creek Pumpkin Patch. Take Hwy 117 North for 12 miles.

Oops.

So, on a very empty tank of gas we started towards the Pumpkin Patch. We were a little leery because around here 12 miles can be much farther than an actual 12 miles. As we took the exit ramp to head North on 117, there were several small signs with various things on them. Daniel took the opportunity to quote, "...you...should...have...bought...a...squirrel..." and we all laughed and hoped that we weren't getting ourselves into trouble with this little escapade.

Thankfully the Pumpkin Patch was indeed 12 miles down Hwy 117N. Also, there were several signs along the way to let us know we were going the right way {I have been known to suggest we go places with no directions -- Daniel is not a fan of this type of spontaneity}. 

Once we arrived at the Crow Creek Pumpkin Patch, we were pleasantly surprised. It was less than 30 minutes from our house. Jack was free. It cost $8 per anyone over age 2 and included the following:

• A hayride out to the patch to pick out a pumpkin
• A pumpkin for each person
• A small petting zoo -- there were chickens, bunnies, goats, a donkey and a pony
• A kid's play area
• A 5-acre corn maze

We were impressed. Jack would have been more impressed after a nap...

The donkey in the petting zoo nibbled on my arm. Jack wasn't too sure about such a big animal. The chickens on the other hand had him giggling every time they flapped their wings.

The hayride was perfect for Jack. We got to take the route of the haunted hay ride that will open in a few weeks. As we rode across the Loyd Brothers Farm, the farmer driving the tractor told us about the farm and how many acres and what types of crops they grow. It is a family-owned farm that is been in existence for over 100 years. The pumpkin patch was 5 small acres on a very large farm that mostly produces soy beans, cotton and corn.

It was a very idyllic setting, nestled in the Cumberland mountains. Jack was tired from missing his afternoon nap, but he hung in there. We didn't get very many smiles from him, but we did get some great pictures of our first trip to the Pumpkin Patch. In the coming years, I think he is really going to love this tradition. We skipped out on the corn maze since our boy was tired, but we had a great experience anyway.

It was nice to have Daniel's sisters, Amy and Emily, tag along with us. I'm glad they were able to share this tradition this year with our Jack-o-latern. 

Against the Wind

Several weeks ago, Daniel's sisters made plans to come visit us on the second weekend in October and they offered to babysit Jack so that we could go on a date. We don't have many opportunities for free babysitting -- or dates -- so we were certainly interested in taking them up on their offer.

When discussing our date options, I told Daniel that I would love to go canoeing. It has been over a year since we were on the water -- I was 7 months pregnant on our last trip and I have been anxious to get back on the water. Mountain biking was also high on my list but it requires more of a drive than paddling.

Friday night, before Daniel's sisters arrived, we loaded the canoe on the Subaru. Saturday morning we enjoyed breakfast with Jack and his aunts before heading out the door. I'm sure I left them an overly extensive list, but that is what moms do -- right?

We figured that we had a 3-hour window to get out on the water and back home. We drove out to The Docks at Goose Pond Colony to put in -- about 20 minutes from our house. We decided that our goal would be to cross the main channel of the Tennessee River.

To start, the wind was against us. We were averaging 3mph and figured the return trip would be faster since we would have a tailwind.

Lake Guntersville and this area of the Tennessee River have this lovely thing called milfoil. It is basically the kudzu of the water. When canoeing {or boating} you want to avoid this weed since it is difficult to paddle through and motors can get tangled up in it. The waterways have paths through the milfoil that have been treated, which means that you have to take specific routes to cross the lake/river. It also means that you end up in narrower channels with bigger boats. Thankfully most of the boats that passed us were nice enough to slow down when passing us, though we did get to ride a few waves.

Once we made it to the other side of the river, we took a water break before turning around.

On the return trip, the wind died down and then turned into a cross wind. While better than a headwind, it wasn't as good as having a tailwind. We maxed out at 5mph and finished our trip with 4 miles under our belts.

On the way back, we decided to cut through a section of milfoil instead of going around. In the middle of this weed, the wind died down and thousands of tiny little bugs took over our airspace. We could barely breathe as they swarmed our boat. We paddled as quickly as possible to escape the barely visible bugs. We're still not sure what they were. We hope that we don't get caught in them again. Once we were on the open water again, and the wind picked back up, they mostly disappeared.

It was great to get out and do one of our hobbies together again. The weather was perfect -- sunshine with a cool fall breeze. In case you're wondering... the only time we talked about Jack was when we discussed how soon we thought we could bring him out on the water with us.