A busy October!

I think this October has been one of the busiest months yet. With birthdays, family get togethers, friends, work and preparing for my trip it has been non stop (but wonderful too!). Mom spent a week with me up here in LA. I had gotten tickets for the stage show The Phantom of the Opera for Thursday night. So we got all dressed up and went to the Pantages with some friends from work. This was my first show and it was amazing. It brought back lots of memories from my college days when it first debuted and I had the soundtrack on a cassette tape that I used to play and play until I had most of the songs memorized. I love the beautiful yet tragic story and of course it always makes me cry to hear the moving heartfelt lyrics of the songs. I am very glad we got to go as this is the farewell tour before they retire it.

That Saturday most of my family met up at Oak Glen to celebrate my brother's birthday. I planned a whole day of apple picking, cider pressing, candle making, knife throwing, archery and lots of good eating! The location of all this wonderful fun was Riley's Farm. I think from what I could gather that there are actually two Riley's who have adjoining farms and we ended up first at one and then at the other quite by accident. I've been reading a novel about Juliet and of course it made me envision a feud much like the Montagues and the Capulets. Well, I'm sure it's not quite that dramatic! We all had a wonderful time together and I think the kids enjoyed themselves quite a bit. To finish off the celebration we gathered at The Publick House and had some wonderful colonial style food and a most delicious apple pie baked right there in their bakery. Can't wait to do this again next year! Anyone have any good apple butter recipes? That evening the Myers came for a short weekend visit and of course we had a great time sharing some delicious wine & cheese. Time spent with family and friends is priceless! This week I have been catching up on sewing the purse organizers I'll be selling at the boutique. Yay, I'm almost done! I also got a chance to babysit the two little Clark's so their mommy and daddy could have a much deserved date night. Kate and I enjoyed our evening together making purple playdough bracelets and reading her cute little books. Savannah was already down for the night so she just slept the whole time.

This week it looks like I'll be making and decorating a cake for my dear friend Terri's 25th anniversary and so the fun continues!