Halloween Festivities

On Friday afternoon, the Cannings came for a visit.

We wanted to get the kids together in their costumes.

It was an added plus that my Mom could come over at the same time, of course.

Snapping a decent shot of all four didn't happen,

but they were funny!

Queen Elsa striking a pose in this beautiful dress that Mrs. Sanson made for Faith to wear last year.

Jess and her boys

sisters Elsa & Anna

Jill changed into her witch outfit for trick-or-treating at her school on Friday night.

Hugs for friends Sophia and Holly outside of the school

Kylie, Cadence, Sophia, Jill, Lucy, Gavin & Colton

pumpkin carving involved power tools

For Saturday night, Jill selected a different Elsa costume.  

counting and sorting

and smelling the chocolate goodness

* Happy Halloween *

Calling All Pickers

I was intrigued by the subject line in an email from Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, RI.  "Calling All Pickers," I mean, come on, how much fun could that be?  OK, so I got a little carried away by taking a vacation day and asking my husband to do the same.  I pictured a scene straight out of I Love Lucy of Lucy and Ethel.

But that's grape stomping, and grape picking is very different.  Not as glamorous and bees are included.  Grapes had been harvested on the vineyard grounds for the week so we drove with a group to a private residence on the water.  Picture a scene straight out of The Great Gatsby.  The all-organic vineyard was there as decoration.  And so we were the help for the day.

Too bad my lens wasn't secure.  This pic is pretty classic.  It was a diverse group of pickers and we were the only English-speaking.

Back at the vineyard and tasting room...

These grapes, which weren't ready to pick the day we visited, are for the Cabernet Franc wine.

We came home with a bottle, along with bottles of the Greenvale Chardonnay, Greenvale Vidal Blanc and Rosecliff Pinot Gris.  Paid in wine.  Now that's pretty sweet!

Around the House & Yard

sporting her new outfit from Nana

Jill's face is priceless.  This didn't last.

Beautiful fall sunset from the front porch

requested a pic in her vest and boots

fall-themed sister pics

beating up on Sarah Friday night

The 9-Month Comparison

Jill looked at this side-by-side comparison and declared, "I was cuter."

EMC GS Marketing: Farmers For a Day

A beautiful fall day for "apple picking" in North Grafton, MA

OK, so we didn't end up apple picking, exactly.

We removed 30 rows (20 pepper and 10 tomato) of plastic and irrigation lines from the fields.

As a rough conversion to food servings, that's 72,510 veggie servings that we helped maintain and get back into the Worcester County community!

It was SERIOUS work.

And Keith dressed for apple picking.  Silly guy!

our fearless leader

Awesome job, team!