Lake Drive

Last Sunday we drove to lake Canadice, one of the pristine Finger Lakes only 20 minutes from our house. I wish we could have kayaked, or I could have hiked, but it was still a beautiful drive, and we loved all the colors.

Travis was our chauffeur.

Miranda, Megan (in the back), and Zoë Looking out their windows.

Nica wasn't really sleeping, but faked sleeping when she saw me trying to take a picture.

Miranda, of course, made friends with the first person who would pause for a moment. This gentleman and his wife were walking down to the waters edge, and this kind man listened to Miranda (his wife wandered off)

Nica immediately took to rock hunting. Yes, it was sunny and pleasant out, but not what I would call shorts weather. But Nica wears shorts year round.

Nica & Megan at the water's edge, Travis behind them. Another couple was loading up their canoe in the background.

Crazy Megan

Sweet Megan

Nica with her rock. She and Megan found some amazing rocks along this lake.

Nica dancing under the Falling Leaves.

Megan, Travis and Miranda walking back to the van.

They turned around for me.

I could hang this on my wall. It feels like I am laying on my back, in the warm sunshine, and I can almost feel the warmth on my face, the cool breath of air, and smell that leaf-smell of fall.

We drove to the other side of the lake and I had Travis take the girls and walk down to the lake along a trail. I didn't go because I still didn't trust my leg to work correctly (couldn't feel uneven ground, and I have tumbled more than once because of it).

Hunting for rocks.

The girls unconsciously lined up in order while they were hunting for rocks.

The geode Megan found.

Grape Picking in Naples

Upstate NY is famous for its grapes: concord and white Niagara grapes. We were given some Concord grapes from a friend who couldn't use them, and I used the steam juicer another friend gave me to make delicious grape juice! I think our mouths might stay purple for weeks!

Because we enjoyed the juice so much, and because I wanted more, and because it was so easy to make, we decided to get more grapes, and so drove about 45 minutes. It was only $0.35/lb of grapes. Pretty cheap!

The girls were AWESOME pickers, and in no time we had almost 150 pounds! Whew! I took home 5 boxes of grapes, but only kept four boxes (Another friend asked us to get some). I have since turned three of those into 6.5 gallons of concentrated grape juice. (13 gallons after mixing to a drinkable dilution).

Nica pulling a wagon with empty boxes, ready to be filled with grapes.

Shortly after starting down the hill, Nica lost control and we had a runaway wagon! Thankfully Veronica Morphy caught the wagon and nobody injured. Whew!

Miranda getting ready to pull her wagon.

The row of concords we picked.

Megan showing her green Niagara grapes. They were not as plentiful, but were super sweet! Megan picked an entire box of Concord grapes by herself in half the time the rest of us took.

Nica in her Halloween garb (yes, she is wearing shorts over her pants- it is her signature fashion statement), eating a snack of Halloween fruit Gummies.

Zoë was a fast and hard worker. She found great clumps of grapes (purple or green).

Miranda flitted from side-to-side of the vines, picking here, and there. She loved being outside, with friends, and picking fruit.

We took our friends, the Morphy's (Mom on far left is Veronica, son Garrett, then Zoë, and Mya Morphy on far right).

Zoë was taking a video of the vineyard.

Grape field with beautiful fall colors in the hills surrounding us.