I couldn’t believe it when I spotted these dandelion blooms on my walk yesterday! Dandelions typically bloom here in early Summer. What are they doing amongst the fallen leaves of Autumn?
It reminded me (like oh so many things) of a song 🙂
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Standing out in the Crowd – Perfection in Imperfection wwMc9 – Click to enlarge
On my walk yesterday, this leaf stood out so boldly among the others. It was an unseasonably warm 80 degrees F October afternoon, but the sky was filled with fast-moving clouds and the warm wind was whirling the leaves all around Mikey and me. This leaf with its vibrant color and curvy shape laying on the fallen tree just spoke of perfection in it’s imperfection to me.
And does anyone else see the little face in the bark staring at the leaf and it’s eye reflecting the orange glow? Or do I just have a really wacky imagination?! I can’t take my eyes off “him.”
Yep – these are the things I notice on A Walk with My Camera #wwMc – at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It was an absolutely gorgeous Fall weekend, and a great one for the Annual Brugnoli Krautfest Party! What a joy to be a part of the amazing festivities.
You may be thinking to yourself – “What the heck is a Krautfest?”
Our family has a long-running tradition of making homemade saurkraut, and our amazing Joyce and Rob know how to turn a “chore” into a party!
So about 40-50 family members and friends ranging in ages from 2 to 82 got together on Saturday with 600 pounds of cabbage and made a party out of making kraut!
Join me through a pictorial journey of the wonderful day.
It started with cutting…
then chopping and slicing and dicing…
Marty used his grandfather’s 100-year old cabbage cutter and embraced the heritage of using something today his grandfather used in exactly the same way all those years ago.
and new generations learned the tradition.
there were measurers and salters…
Then lots and lots of pounding and stomping and smooshing and smashing.
There was food galore!
One of my favorite treats of the day were these Reuben Pierogies! We sauteed potato and cheese pierogies in butter until browned, then layered with a slice of pastrami, swiss cheese, picked purple cabbage, and a small dollop of Thousand Island Dressing.
Warm soft pretzels were served with homemade mustard and cheese sauces.
We also had Parmesan Ranch Crusted Pierogies and Buffalo Hot Sauce Pierogies.
There was pumpkin painting,
There were games…
Zip-lining and Swinging
Friendship, Hugs, and Laughs
Delicious cocktails – my favorite was the Bourbon Apple Cider with Rosemary Sprig!
We ate halushki, halupkis, pork and saurkraut, kielbassi, german potato salad, cheese polenta with homemade sauce. Oh the delicousness!!
We sang!
The saurkraut is divided up evenly between all the crocks and buckets to send home with each family…
to wait – and taste test – and wait some more – remembering the special memories we created and looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labor throughout the year.
It was a BOOtiful day! Thanks Joyce and Rob for your amazing hospitality. We love you dearly!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A daisy among the colorful Fall leaves – trying to hang on for just a little bit longer to Summer – the season it loves.
I can’t think of a much better way to spend a Fall Sunday afternoon than a hike at McConnell’s Mills State Park on a crisp October day with an all-time best friend.
McConnell’s Mills is only 30 minutes from our home; and I am shocked to say it has been years since I have visited. That will not be happening again! Janet and I spent three glorious hours hiking around the beautiful state park.
Enjoy the adventure with us.
Cheers & Hikin’ Hugs,
Jodi
from our little corner of the world to yours
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It was an absolutely AMAZING Fall Weekend here in Western Pennsylvania. Who couldn’t love Fall with this kind of weather!?!
The crisp mornings were perfect for brisk early walks and baking yummy apple treats (like yesterday’s Apple Dumplings).
The days warmed up with bright sunshine and deep azure skies sprinkled with cottony clouds.
And the evenings – oh so extraordinary – cooled to perfect weather for a picturesque sunset cruise.
Now granted – a sunset cruise around these parts is in a Bass Tracker with Captain Marty and First Mate Mikey on Lake Arther, but check out the amazing beauty from our little piece of the world.
WPA Early Fall Foilage, Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park 9/27/14
First Mate Mikey
Picturesque House on Lake with Fall Foilage, Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park
Captain Marty
We throw fishing rods in – not sure why?
Azure
Tree Reflection, Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park
Pink at Night is a Sailor’s Delight
Pink Reflections
On Duty
Breathtaking Beauty
Art of Water
Art of Life
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane – Art of Sky
Crescent Moon Boat at Dock
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 