Fall Reading

In terms of reading, this fall has been a major disappointment. I quit Bradberry's "Farewell Summer" 19 pages in. This one was a random pick off the library shelf - not on my extensive "To Read" list- so I felt no guilt when I put this book down.
I feel a throwback to Damon Wayans and David Alan Greer from the Show "In Living Color" is needed to describe my feelings on "The Casual Vacancy." HATED IT!

And I don't even know where to start with "The Girl on the Train." HATED IT! There is such hype about this novel, and I was more than disappointed by this book. I was disgusted. There was no redeeming quality in any character.
The one book I have liked so far, "The Nightingale," is the story of two sisters and how differently they view love and war. It was a moving portrait of the way both women deal with the Nazi's invasion of France.

I can't weigh in on "Nora Webster" yet because I'm set to begin it tonight. As a novel shortlisted for the Mann Booker Prize, I'm hoping it won't be another letdown.

Scarecrow Sightings

Just before Halloween we took a little walk, and on this walk we found some scarecrows.

Scarecrows in the Park is an annual event in October and November at Frank Jackson State Park in Opp, Ala. Because this fall has been unseasonably warm (who am I kidding, it's been downright HOT!), we don't appear to be dressed for fall and scarecrow outings.

The kids loved this nature hike.

They also loved the many, many variations on scarecrows we came across and doing their own imitations of the displays.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Toward the end of October my mother-in-law invited the kids and I to go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with her. She had heard about a Dale Chihuly exhibit and wanted us to see it before it ended.

We are familiar with Chihuly's work because our local art museum has a blown-glass chandelier he was commissioned to make for the museum's opening about 14 years ago.

Below are just a few of his many blown-glass designs we saw that day on display in The Gardens.

While my mother-in-law and I were in awe of Chihuly's work, the kids were much more interested in the Halloween displays submitted by local residents, school groups and businesses on display throughout The Gardens.

Even though this fall has been unseasonably warm, it was a pleasant day we spent wandering through The Gardens.

Field Trip Fun

The past couple of weeks have been devoted field to trips. The trips, taken with our homeschool group, were informative, delightful and fun.

Several weeks ago we visited the Museum of East Alabama. I had to warn Jack ahead of time that this would not be a place where we would come across dinosaur bones or Egyptian relics.

My kids loved seeing all the old valuables of industry and labor from a time gone by. Their favorite portion - and mine- were the areas set up like old kitchens, dining rooms and music rooms. The look and smell of it all reminded me of my paternal grandparent's home. They died when I was in elementary school, so the nostalgia brought on by the items in this museum was a bit unexpected for me.
 
After the museum we walked with everyone to a nearby ice cream shop. We then proceeded next door where I ordered, for the first time, a cup of coffee that had no set price. In fact, the entire premise behind the coffee shop is for the consumers to determine what they think the cup of coffee in their hands is worth and pay just that. I stood there stunned for a moment and asked "what?" several times before setting on a price.

We also recently ventured to a local farm to tour their land and understand how today's farmers use irrigation systems to keep their crops thriving.