Thursday, October 25, 2012

Making Happy Fall Memories

 All of that cleaning I talked about in my last post has led to numerous donations to the local thrift shops.  So many things that I have been holding onto for years have gone on to new homes and I am loving the feel of open space in my cupboards, closets and attic.  I was beginning to feel like my stuff was ruling me and I was spending too much of my time moving things around.  While I do like to change things up for the seasons, I am ready for a much simpler approach to it all.  
It feels like my load has been lightened and I'm ready to get out there and enjoy the season... the beautiful fall season.

This Fall season has been a lovely one here in North Carolina.  The clear blue skies and cool, crisp days have a way of luring us outside.  Last weekend our oldest son asked us to accompany him and his girlfriend to the local pumpkin patch.  It's not every day that our grown kids want to hang out with the parents, so when this offer came along we were happy to join them.
 
 We took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and searched high and low for the perfect pumpkin. 


We visited with the farm animals, had our fill of apple cider and soon it was time to head for home.

 Had to make sure the pumpkins made it home safe and sound :D.
Yesterday I called my neighbor to see if she was interested in a little day trip.  She was, so we headed out for a drive through the country oohing and aahing at the sights of farmhouses surrounded by trees of gold, orange, russet, yellow and green, cows grazing in the pasture, pumpkins growing in the fields and folks out in their yards raking leaves.  Eventually we ended up at the antique mall.  With my new mindset on minimizing the stuff, I was quite content to just window shop.  Although there was one little item that was calling my name.  One of those things that I've been looking for for quite awhile and it finally surfaced in this antique mall.  I will feature it in an upcoming post and I think you'll see why it couldn't be passed up ;-).

 Our final destination was Carolina Lily where we enjoyed our Picnic-in-a-Pot lunch under the sprawling magnolia tree.  We enjoyed getting caught up on each others news as the birds chirped in the background. 

 Wondering what might be in that Picnic-in-a-Pot?
A very large piece of corn bread with honey butter, Harvest wild rice chicken salad with pecans and craisins, pumpkin pie crumble cake and iced spiced apple juice.  Mmmm, Mmmm ... a very tasty fall lunch.

This lightening of the things in my home has made way for more time for spontaneous events in my life and I'm kinda really liking that.  One time I read an interview where the person was being asked what she collected and she said she collected memories made with her family and friends.  I liked that answer and while I will probably always have a few collections of things that are special to me, I think I'd rather work on the memory making.
Here's to creating some happy memories with the special people in your life.


 

18 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Sorry, Kim, I hit send too quickly and had too many typos! I loved this post, and there are some very wise words here. I need to curb my spending, I downsized and was so happy and felt free, I am buying things I really don't need but want. And that lunch in a pot sounds so delicious. Sitting under a magnolia, sigh, I really do love your state! xo

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  3. I like how the pumpkin was ensured a safe trip! Fun outings...with family and friends are the best way to make memories.

    The picnic in a pot sounds/looks fabulous. Do you buy it like that...or was that your creative way of packaging up your lunch? Love it!

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  4. Judy,
    We bought the picnic-in-a-pot like that. If you click on the Carolina Lily link you will see Picnic-in-a-Pot along her sidebar. By clicking that you will be taken to the place where she shows the different lunch options (including a picnic-in-a-purse for the little girls).

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  5. What a great day you had! Your picnic lunch looks and sounds like it was fabulous. What a cute idea in the pot with the flower! I also need to start giving up things to lighten my load. I know when we've done that in the past it always feels so good! Bet your day at the pumpkin patch was fun. Glad your pumpkin had a safe ride home!

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  6. Oh way cool! Love these wonderful photos of you and your family and friend. A lunch in a pot? Nifty idea that!

    You're doing so well to get rid of things holding you down. Wish that I could get myself in gear to do much more of that. Yet, I'm looking in your trunk and I'd haul every last thing out of it. Do you know that you can remove handles from baskets and they make handy storage on shelves? I'm no help. I'll skedaddle...

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  7. Vee,
    Good thing you're telling me that now or I might have been tempted to bring those baskets back into the house. LOL. Actually part of my strategy this time was to fill the trunk and deliver it to the donation spot ASAP ... before I started having 2nd thoughts.

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  8. Hi Kim...such cherished moments! Many fall memories were made ... I am sure! Weekend Blessings!

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  9. Hi Kim,
    I'm not sure how far Salisbury is from me, not too far I'll bet. This sounds like a charming place to visit. You have a very sweet blog. Glad I found you today.
    Blessings~

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  10. I love the photo of the two of you getting ready for your picnic! How fun! And you've really inspired me. When we get back to FL...I'm going to lighten things up a little! I made a plan last night. I'm going to work on one room at a time and try not to get overwhelmed! Enjoy your weekend! It was beautiful again today!

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  11. I'm in the process of purging my over 150 collections...yes, you read correctly. I stopped counting at 150 because I started to get a panic attack when I realized how crazy my collections have taken over (which the house looked fantastic, the name brand clothes I got for my family was great but...).

    Everyone is becoming more in awe when they come over (as well as my family) when they see 'bare' walls in my house.

    Instead of 10 rubber maid bins of Fall decorations, I am down to one now...it hurts, but it sure feels awesome. Getting healthy does hurt. Ask anyone who works out at the gym..lol. (I don't..lol) well not yet..

    Blessings and keep it up..it is really amazing what happens when we purge 'things' (that includes painful memories, failures, relationships, etc.)

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  12. What a great outing, Kim!
    I like your thinking when it comes to paring down. I think you are exactly right. When we empty our homes a bit, we feel lighter and more open to the real girth that life and relationships offers.

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  13. Lunch in a pot! How cool is that. Looks like a wonderful day! I so agree about the down sizing. I started this summer and I know it will take a while to finish since school has started back. But it is such a great feeling!

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  14. Hi Kim, it sounds like you had some lovely memory making days. That picnic in a pot is so very cute. Beautiful Fall weather and scenery where you are. I definitely need to lighten up the load over here -- way, way too much stuff. Feels so good to just give it away. Wishing you a great new week. Tammy

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  15. The lightening of our loads does feel good, I agree with you. The invite from our older children is a special privilege and your pictures are so good of your time together. You made the autumn come alive with each picture. I especially liked the picnic-in-a-pot concept is a great one! I never heard of that and I can't imagine how much fun that was to share that rare time with your dear friend.

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  16. I really did enjoy this post! : ) You made some nice happy memories. It was nice seeing pictures of you and your family.

    It seems so many people are trying to get rid of their extra stuff now a days. Though I've gotten rid of some stuff, I still have more to go.

    The rain is still coming down here - my rain gauge says over 4 inches so far, winds have picked up a bit too. Up over at Happy Trails its snowing!!!

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  17. Proud of you for 'getting rid' of stuff you don't need. I think it's such a good feeling to give away and have less to contend with.

    I love your sweet, sweet pictures!!! Looks like a fun time.......
    Hugs,

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  18. Had to smile at the strapped in pumpkin. If you'd had him in the front seat you would have had to turn off the airbag.

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