Colors of Fall

I love the maple tree in my front yard during the month of October. The tree looks its best in fall, when the leaves start changing color. Not even the terrible pruning job done by the township can diminish its beauty. In fact, it almost makes the tree appear to be two trees instead of one.

Pictured: maple tree
The pathway between the front yard and the side yard doesn't look as clean as it did in summer. I picked leaves out from between the stepping stones this weekend, but more have already fallen since then. The magnolia on the side of the house still has plenty of leaves yet to drop.

Pictured: pathway along side of house
The lilac tree has been dropping a lot of leaves, but so far the dogwood has just been changing colors. It's too close to the house and should be removed, but I'll get as much enjoyment out of it until that happens.

Pictured: dogwood on side of house
The colors of fall never cease to impress me. It's a shame that the colors don't last longer, but it gives me a reason to look forward to next fall.

2012 Oktoberfest and Bethlehem Harvest Festival

Last Saturday, October 13, was a busy day in Bethlehem. Oktoberfest was still going on at SteelStacks, and the Bethlehem Harvest Festival was in full swing on Main Street. It was a great opportunity to sample a lot of different foods. I was a little limited in my choices, since I'm still eating a meatless diet, but I still managed to enjoy myself.

We started our afternoon at Oktoberfest. While Jay was eating a hotdog, I had a childhood favorite prepared just the way mom used to make it: pierogies with butter and onions.

Pictured: Jay enjoying a hotdog at Oktoberfest
We left Oktoberfest and walked from SteelStacks to Main Street, via the Fahey Bridge. After walking all the way up to the Sun Inn, we stopped long enough for me to get one last ear of roasted corn for the season from Aw Shucks.

Pictured: eating Aw Shucks corn at Harvest Festival
After walking back to SteelStacks, we stopped back into Oktoberfest long enough for Jay to get chicken bites and for me to get funnel cake. It's the only time I've had it this year, and after walking 6 miles for the day, according to my Fitbit, I didn't feel guilty for the indulgence.

Pictured: funnel cake at Oktoberfest
For pictures of the actual festivals, I have additional photographs on my 2012 local events webpage. It really is nice to combine the two festivals on one day out. They're so different from each other, but they both have a lot of great aspects to enjoy.

The Last Couple of Months...

It probably seems like I've abandoned this blog, but I haven't. I've just been busy the last couple of months with family issues. Specifically, with my husband's health. Jay was hospitalized twice in August. The first time was due to gastroenteritis; the second time was due to another stroke.

Jay's doing better now. He's back to work as of today, and I can see the improvements he's made since August. The only bad news is that he can't drive until at least January, which means we won't be going many places since I'm not fond of driving.

Also of note, I had poison ivy for three very long weeks. I've had to take over all the yard work while Jay has been recuperating. This is the first time I've had a reaction to poison ivy since I was a teenager. I hope I never have to deal with it again.

One place we did go before Jay got sick was Musikfest. We only got to go one day, but it was enough for me to discover a new love: Aw Shucks roasted corn.

Pictured: enjoying Aw Shucks corn
It was the best corn on the cob I've ever tasted. I can't wait for summer of 2013 so I can have it again!