Chasing Fall

I'm a huge believer in using what you have, making do with what you got and making the best of things.

Now when I think about Fall, Arizona, or at least the area we live in, is NOT what you would call Fallish at all.  I don't get to enjoy the changing of the leaves and reveling in reds and oranges and yellows.

I also don't get to enjoy temperatures low enough to make me think of lighting a fireplace and sipping hot cocoa.

So I have to chase Fall, wherever I can find it.

I'm going to tell you about my day today, it's now almost 5PM and I'm home, in my pj's after a hot shower and just relaxing in the living room.  Actually, we all are, showers have been had, we're wearing freshly laundered comfy pj's and we're just relaxing.

It was a fun day which started early this morning with the Base's Fire Safety Week Parade.  Loud and I mean LOUD firetrucks come around every street, waving at the residents, with Sparky the dog giving thumbs ups and waves and big smiles to the kids.

Get ready, you may want to grab some coffee, because I'm going to take you on a ride and have quite a few photos to share :)

The parade just starting to come towards our house.


I love fire trucks and especially the older ones


What a beauty isn't it?


Sparky the dog saw me out there with the kids, I had my zoom lens on and he got all happy lol


Big Thumbs up.  I'm so thrilled with this photo, just love it :)


It's always fun. I do remember that back in Idaho, they would throw candy for the kids, but then it became a bit of a safety issue when children would run out in front of the trucks, so they stopped that.

Shortly after this little parade, we set off to the Tolmachoff Farms. I've mentioned them before, we try to go every single year in October, matter of fact we only didn't make it there last year. But they have Pumpkins and preserves...a petting zoo, food, fun things for the kids to do and a corn maze as well.

Now it's starting to feel like Fall.  Pumpkins make me happy :)


and so do preserves, and pickles, and butters.....


and Habanero Mango Salsa


and little oinkers.  I am telling you, when we get back to Idaho, I am getting a little piglet.  I know they smell and stuff, but they are so adorable.


Little chickies which I love


and big chickies, this one is so pretty


fruit trees, and red barns in the distance


horseys enjoying some grub


and this handsome girl who posed and posed and posed for me


the petting zoo is always the favorite for the kids




Of course there's some fun activities just around the corner to burn some energy, like this huge bouncing thingamagig


some race cars




which my poor husband had to push them on


my boy however found a lot of pleasure in this ducky water pump game


Tired yet???? No??? We're almost done, matter of fact I'm not even sharing them all LOL If you want to see them all, you can check out the Album here.

We picked up some pumpkins


and I also got some Steak Sauce, Toasted Pecan Syrup, Black Bean and Corn Salsa, Salsa Grande, Apple Butter, Pumpkin Butter, Honey and Apricot Preserves


and at the Farmer's Market I got these beautiful chilies and some chili mix, and some steak sauce and some more salsa and the yummiest beef jerky


We were pretty hungry at this point, so we headed over to the Uptown Alley, it's a fun hangout with a game arcade, laser tag, bowling and a great bar and grill with some of the best food ever.

Hubby picked Spaghetti and Meatballs


Jasmine had Jack's Meatloaf


My Cuban Panini


with some awesome fries and I am in love with the little buckets


and Nic picked baby back ribs which were falling off the bone and delicious


Kids and hubby enjoyed a game of laser tag, we all played some arcade games together and then home.

And as much as I love having fun with the family, and believe me we had a LOT today...there is quite nothing like coming home at the end of the day. 

I have crochet, I have TV shows to catch up and the weather just took a turn, temps dropped significantly and the skies went dark, not sure if it will rain but we'll see.

Hope you all had a great Saturday, I'll be back tomorrow to chat again :)