Images of Fall

This weekend we had a very typical fall weekend.

We gave out Halloween candy Friday.  By the way, I am not allowed to do this anymore because I wanted to take all of those kids inside and keep them. We also gave away all the candy except one of the six bags. It was even more fun when our friend’s five year old was over after his adventure in the neighborhood to help me pass out candy. He sat at the door enticing kids to come to the door as he ate candy from the bowl. It was adorable.

2013-11-01 18.41.56

We had to barricade the dogs off, but they wanted to trick or treat too. If you didn’t notice, Grace is underneath Crosby as he tries to climb over the bench.

 

Friends of ours had a bonfire Friday night, which I am not sure can make you feel anymore like fall.

We played in the beauty of fall. Tom and I spent about an hour driving through the woods on base looking for that perfect fall picture. Hello leaves!

We cuddled on the couch watching Scandal last night (and probably today). I have gotten Tom addicted. Yes. While I realize Scandal may not scream fall to you, being lazy and cuddly on the couch is like that moment when you drink hot chocolate in front of the fire thing.  So to me it just lounging inside was fallish.

Today was “fall forward” daylight savings.

Hello fall!

Since I wasn’t able to show you fall earlier this year, here are some shots from yesterday. The landscape has been beautiful with the change of fall this last week!

IMG_8515

IMG_8544

IMG_8558

IMG_8503

IMG_8562

IMG_8565

IMG_8569

IMG_8577

IMG_8591

IMG_8594

Today we are going to watch the Chiefs, hopefully go 9 and 0! Love KC Chiefs!

Happy Fall Y’all!

Autumn on My Mind-Fall Collage

buttons2

This is our last link up of this series. I can’t believe it’s been a full month since we started!

“Autumn on My Mind Collage”

  • They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is a link up to show in photos what you love about the season. We would love to see what fall looks like in your community!

Rules of the Link-up:

1. Do one entry or all! It’s up to you!

2. Add your entry’s link below, and be sure to put the button in your post!

3. If you do link up, check out a couple fellow bloggers to see something new.

4. Your hosts (Elizabeth and Stephanie) would love a following on Bloglovin, but it is not required! We are just glad you stopped by for “Autumn on My Mind!”

The leaves haven’t changed so much here. They all just have tinges of orange and yellow. I see it coming in the next few weeks, but that means that I haven’t been able to document fall in this area yet.

Since I don’t have pictures of true fall here, I have a compilation of photos that say what I love about fall.

fall views

October . Anne of Green Gables quote . pumpkin . by joystclaire, $15.00

football and Dabo

Bowman Field at Clemson University, South Carolina

The Friendship Tower at the University of Central Missouri

Marching Mules at my Alma mater (UCM)

one of our engagement photos

So what photos do you have that describe how you feel about fall? Link up below!

Check out my lovely partner! It has been great getting to know her through this link up!

buttonss2

Autumn on My Mind-Autumn Creation

buttons2

Here is another opportunity to link up about fall things! We hope that you join for today’s prompt!

“An Autumn Creation”

  • What are you inspired to make this time of year? Are you getting gifts ready? Are holiday decorations coming out? Show us your autumn creations!

Rules of the Link-up:

1. Do one entry or all! It’s up to you!

2. Add your entry’s link below, and be sure to put the button in your post!

3. If you do link up, check out a couple fellow bloggers to see something new.

4. Your hosts (Elizabeth and Stephanie) would love a following on Bloglovin, but it is not required! We are just glad you stopped by for “Autumn on My Mind!”

Our front door wreath recently fell to it’s tragic death. And I mean literally fell.

before death

It is not the first time it has fallen, and we have fixed it numerous times. We had surgerized it with fishing wire, gardening wire, hot glue, adding more ribbon to cover tears, and screws. This time, Tom made me realize that it was time to make a new one.

And just in time for this link up.

This is fairly inexpensive to make on your own. I got pieces from Walmart, the $1 store, and Hobby Lobby. I think I maybe spent $15 which is much cheaper than buying a pre-made wreath.

2013-10-09 18.28.54

The supplies

2013-10-09 19.12.44

ribbon wrapping

I first wrapped with the wide gold ribbon, then spaced out the small purple. This is sooooo much easier than the yarn wrapping because you cover more ground with less. The last one I did was a work out for the arms wrapping all the yarn.

Then I took the flowers and placed them where I felt was the best position. I kept over thinking it each time I thought I was done, but that is the fun part of doing it on your own.

I also added the wooden “W” which is the surviving piece of the previous wreath. I just spray painted it to match this one.

2013-10-09 19.49.10

the finished product

I love that fall colors also happen to be Clemson and Phi Sigma Pi colors.

Here is a fall craft that Tom’s Grandma just made us. I hope someday I can have her sewing skills! that seems to be a big deal for the Whitener women.

2013-10-09 19.50.53

So what crafty things do you have up your sleeves? Link up below!

We hope to see you return on Sunday for the final link up with the fall collage! You can see the full schedule for our Autumn link up here.

Check out my lovely partner!

buttonss2

Autumn on My Mind-Fall Date Night

buttons2

“A Date With Autumn”

  • What would be the perfect date night you can only do in fall in your area? Are there go to places for couples?

Rules of the Link-up:

1. Do one entry or all! It’s up to you!

2. Add your entry’s link below, and be sure to put the button in your post!

3. If you do link up, check out a couple fellow bloggers to see something new.

4. Your hosts (Elizabeth and Stephanie) would love a following on Bloglovin, but it is not required! We are just glad you stopped by for “Autumn on My Mind!”

Ok so I didn’t exactly follow the prompt with an activity that you can only do in the fall. I just think it is better done during the fall because of the cooler weather and scenery.

IMG_6310

We went horseback riding last week. I have not been since high school, so it was a little nerve-wracking when they gave me the horse that is usually skittish and likes to bite people. Awesome…

But Sue (mine) and Ranger (Tom’s) were our pals for our hour long ride. It was a fun afternoon doing something a little bit different. Although my legs were not happy with me for several days after. Sue made sure that I remembered her long after I got off.

2013-09-22 14.11.04

There are riding stables here on base that provides trail rides every weekend from March until December. They also do carriage rides every Friday and advertise that as date night. Tom and I wanted to be part of the “action” instead of just sitting there, so we opted to actually ride and control the horses.

The stables are two minutes from our house, and I drive by them every day to work. I have been pining over the opportunity to ride.

It is $20 to ride, which is a little more than we spend on our average date nights. We did make a deal that once a month we would do something “bigger” and not just a dinner date night, so this fit the bill.

It was perfect weather since you really want to wear long pants and shirt when riding. We rode all through the back woods of base, which Tom continued to scout for deer tracks. (I have become a hunter’s wife…)

2013-09-22 14.11.39

We stopped by the horse pasture on afternoon too. We got permission to go inside and get pretty close to the horses. This was so much fun to watch these beautiful animals up close.

IMG_6352

What do you think they are thinking?

IMG_6339

Do those people have food?

IMG_6378

So pretty.

IMG_6356

I love watching them gallop past us.

IMG_6396

This guy was really curious about us.

IMG_6401

Such a gorgeous horse, and really friendly.

IMG_6392

And then he didn’t want anything to do with us once he realized that we didn’t have food.

IMG_6390

I loved the patches on this one.

Dating is really important even when you are married. We try to do one thing each week to focus on our marriage and relationship. Each date is new adventure for us.

Just this week we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for date night. Right beside us was an old couple on their date night. While Tom was in the little boys room, they leaned over and asked how the daiquiri was that I was drinking. They were thinking about switching over from the margaritas they were downing. This sparked up a conversation that just really made the night for me. They told me how they met after their first spouses had passed. The man told me that the woman was making him try new things and getting him out the door as they both giggled and winked at each other. Adorable. The man had been a medic in the Navy, and the woman had been an Army wife for 30 years. We ended up talking for awhile and had a sweet and endearing conversation. It was delightful. When Tom and I left, we were so touched by this couple.

Never stop dating. There are always new things to experience, and relationships to deepen. So whether it is dinner out or game night in, it is really important to make time for each other and your relationship.

So what do your date nights look like?

We hope to see you return on Thursday for your Fall Food Must! You can see the full schedule for our Autumn link up here.

Why I Love Fall Link Up

Today is the first day for Autumn on My Mind!

buttons2

We have a pretty easy prompt for today!

“What I Love About Fall”

Link up with us to describe what you are excited about this autumn. We want to hear what you love about the fall season. That could be everything pumpkin flavored, the scarves galore or how the leaves get crunchy. Tell us what you “fall” for!

We have a few simple rules for this link up.

Rules of the Link-up:
1. Do one entry or all! It’s up to you!
2. Add your entry’s link below, and be sure to put the button in your post!
3. If you do link up, check out a couple fellow bloggers to see something new.
4. Your hosts (Elizabeth and Stephanie) would love a following on Bloglovin, but it is not required! We are just glad you stopped by for “Autumn on My Mind!”
I always think of this song when I think of fall. Plus it was one of my favorite marching shows I ever did because the saxophone part is pretty swell and just so upbeat and fun.

Here is why I love fall.
1. The colors-I love the variety of hues you see. I love driving through the country and seeing the skyline just colors every day. I am really excited for my drive to work this fall since the trees are huge and glorious here.
2. Marching band. What can I say? I am a band geek at heart. I love cheering on my teams! I love hearing them practice in the morning on my way to work. Oh the memories…
47_506955809901_5676_n 49_508607829241_4112_n And nothing says fall like wool uniforms.
2744_520124010705_1516026_nI would try to learn the cheers too at every game. If I did any reality show, it would be like “MTV Made” where they make me a cheerleader/pommie. No lie…
3. School starts. Even though I am not in classes, I love the excitement of school starting and getting to learn new things. So many great things have happened at the beginning of the school year. I still feel the need to buy crayons and a Lisa Frank trapper keeper each year.
4. The fruit picking options: blueberries, blackberries, apples… I just love getting out there and getting my hands dirty!
6569_564686172791_7211146_n
5. Crunchy leaves. I will go out of my way to step on crunchy leaves.
196979_506953529471_6642_n
6. Football. It probably started from watching the Chiefs every Sunday with my dad growing up. Then have my Friday nights, [then Saturdays] filled because of marching and having to pay attention and learn the game because of pep band. The infatuation for the game blossomed, and I love watching my teams each week. (Tom doesn’t so much appreciate the yelling and cheering that occurs, but oh well!) And thanks to my time at Clemson, I also was exposed to the best tailgating experience. Really no where can compare to the “Most Exciting 25 Seconds in Football.”

There really is something in those hills.
13937_575946826351_297321_nPart of my grad cohort after a Tiger game.
317_528071578731_3697_nWe tailgated before, and after, pretty much every game guaranteed.
I am really bummed that I will not be making it to either Central or Clemson to watch a game this year.
431763_965147984111_1018736824_nThis was my first tailgate at Central since I was always in the band. And it only came 5 years after I graduated! Go Mules!
7. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. It is the perfect holiday focused on family and service, without having to worry about gift giving. And really it is all about the food…Love me some cranberry salad, marshmallow yams, and stuffing with noodles.
8. Hoodies. Fall has the best weather for hoodies. If I could, I would live in hoodies. I own a hoodie for every school I work at, plus several from Worlds of Fun, my fraternity, and some just because. I have a giant stack of them in the closet. They are just so comfy. I do need to get one for Austin Peay though…
9. TV. shows return from the summer hiatus. I am a TV junkie, and I love fall premieres. One of my task list items this weekend is to set up the DVR for all my shows! Cannot wait to have some closure from all those season ending cliff hangers.
10. The weather isn’t awful. My husband is hot blooded so this weather is perfect for him, which means that he is much more likely to enjoy the outings that I put him through. Which then means, that I enjoy them more too! Yes outdoor date ideas! It’s also not just events for dates, but fun times with friends and family at things such as corn mazes and pumpkin patches. There is just so much fun stuff to do!
7432_572696500031_6925678_nWe went through a Corn Maze, and of course they had other fun stuff to play around with.
644709_965150778511_992280106_n
My family last year at a pumpkin festival. We were only missing Tom who was having a very different kind of fall in Afghanistan. Look at the Missouri Hills behind us! Glorious!
Tom said that he loves this season because all of his favorite hunting seasons are now. He said his mind always goes to a deer stand when he thinks of fall. He is trying to convince me right now that he needs a new bow….
So we all have our reasons for loving the season. Link up and show us your reasons!

<!– start InLinkz script –>

<a href=”http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=313973″><img style=”border:0px”  src=”http://www.inlinkz.com/wpImg.php?id=313973″></a>

<!– end InLinkz script –>

I am having trouble with my links today. Of course it worked when I did the test site, but not when it needs to go live. I am not sure why sometimes they show, and sometimes they don’t. Anyway, if you don’t see the graphic for the link, you can either click the first link shown above, and it will take you to a separate page, or you can go to Elizabeth’s page by clicking the image below.

Check out my collaboration partner!
https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=799a29d528&view=att&th=140fbefbf325f363&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_hlbsjpcs0&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P_ShA-cx8FtQAlIq0Jr2U9k&sadet=1378950264721&sads=4ngo0ZMBW2Z5Jr4QBlljsGUAsAw&sadssc=1