hiking in the Wissahickon

We've enjoyed spending time in the woods this beautiful autumn whenever we can.  We explored some new paths in Fairmount park and grown very fond of the Wissahickon forest.

One morning we took our neighbor, Jack, with us and had a fun time tramping about in the woods, building rock towers, and throwing rocks in the stream.

family hiking photo!

hiking with Granna and Grandaddy during their visit in October

autumn at the arboretum

Over the past 2 months, we've spent several lovely mornings at the arboretum with our dear friends. 

I can't get enough of these girls together and their joy-filled smiles!

Matilda is growing up so quickly, and what a beautiful girl she is!

best buds :)

2 years ago, my friend Joanna and I took our 2 year old girls walking in the arboretum as our first play date meet up.  Since then, we've spent countless hours at the arboretum over the past two years, in each season - to visit the trains, play in the stream, explore the grounds, for family evening picnics and we've added another two girls into the mix!  I love that we have a chronicle of memories tied to the beautiful Morris Arboretum as our children have grown and the seasons changed.

autumn harvest

Our garden has been bountiful this season.  Harvest has continued late into the autumn and is just now ending.  We've had plenty of kale, arugula, tomatillos, hot peppers, broccoli and a few slow tomatoes.

Erik made a boatload of hot sauce!

We had our annual applesaucing over a few days in October.  

Apples from our farm up north of Philly - beautiful red cortlands!  

Both girls were sweet helpers - washing apples and helping turn the hand crank on the processor.  

I canned a few dozen quarts, froze some and we are enjoying a lot of it right now.

Erik's made two delicious 2 gallon batches of saurekraut in our new-to-us crock.  We are becoming addicted - so yummy!  Recently Eliza Wren and I had a hankering for a late afternoon snack, so we settled down on the kitchen floor to enjoy some together.  It hit the spot. :)

Germantown in Autumn

The last two Fridays have been so mild and beautiful here.  So, we've walked six blocks up to the historic Wyck House of Germantown to enjoy their wonderful garden-fresh farmer's market stand.  Their carrots are the sweetest (and cutest) around!  Meredith walked the whole way there, and munched and crunched carrots the whole way back - a well-deserved snack for a mile long journey. :)

Eliza Wren - 11 months

Eliza Wren turned 11 months on Thursday, Oct 30th.  During the last few weeks, she has taken some dramatic turns in her life - namely the freedom to move about.  Here's a quick shot when she was on the brink of taking off during the first few days of Oct.

She has also become quite expressive. :)

And boy, does she love the bath!  (mid-Oct.)

Now she's movin' and a groovin'. (late Oct.)

October Visit #3

Robb (Erik's college roommate, and RA pal from Wheaton) came to visit us this weekend.  He was involved in a wedding nearby, so we enjoyed moments with him in between his wedding festivities.  So fun to reconnect and hang out again.  Meredith was a huge fan of another guest staying with us, as always. :)

The weekend also included naps for various family members...

 And, we attended the Harvest Festival at the nearby Henry Farm in Philadelphia.  

Meredith had her first experience feeding goats and sheep.

 Baby Ellie was tucked in and "sleeping" during the whole adventure!

Next up - pumpkin painting!

and, finally - a chance to sit on a real tractor!

October Visit #2

Our dear Seattle friends, Ted and Jane arrived on Tuesday evening and stayed through Friday morning with us last week.  We had a wonderful time together!  Jane celebrated her birthday with us during their stay - so she and Janie popped out for a thrifting date and treats at a local coffee shop. :)

Come again soon!

October Visit #1

We just finished a full 10 days of guests visiting and staying with us.  It's been busy, but oh-so-good!  First to come were Granna and Grandaddy for 4 days.  Lots of fun times together with beautiful autumn weather!

Late-night applesauce making extravaganza!

 Soooo yummy and soooo pink!

 picked our own home-grown pumpkin :)

 evenings around the firepit

a jaunt to the beautiful Morris Arboretum on Granna/Mom's birthday

"Let's run, Granddad!"

 a baby woolly caterpillar :)

 homemade apple pie for Granna/Mom's birthday

 and, a beautiful stroll on Forbidden Drive and duck feeding 

Fun times!  No wonder Mer said, "I want Granna and Granddad to stay at my house for a long, long time!"