out of the studio: Virginia State Fair

When I was growing up Autumn didnt officially start until a day was spent at the Virginia State Fair. Then my sister and I could accept the idea that the summer was over. So with those fond memories in my mind, we scooped up Maddie, packed the car full of snacks and coffee and drove two hours to the state fair grounds. Despite that the calendar stated that it was October and officially Autumn, mother nature must have decided that she didnt want to let go of summer just yet because when arrived it was intensely hot and sunny. So after slathering up in 60 SPF from head to toe, off to the fair we went.

Maddie making her free grain jar which consisted of layers of different grains that grow in Virginia including soybeans, corn, sunflower and cotton.

Daniel, Maddie and I rode the ferris wheel together. Maddie was a bit nervous at first and wanted off but after all the people were loaded onto it and it started to move more she was ok and sad when it stopped.

Maddie feeding the giraffe a carrot.

beginning of autumn

The little one started school this year, it is her first of two years of preschool before she goes to kindergarten. I can't help but feel a little sad that she is in school already, I have to admit I really didnt want to send her. In my mind children her age should be running around wild, not a care in the world, with wide eyes and untamed hair. She still has the unmanageable hair but now she has to worry about a bit too much for my liking...waking up extra early, homework, how to properly hold a pencil, three teachers telling her what to do, what disaster did her mom pack in her lunch today, that sort of stuff. The lunch thing drives me nuts, I have no idea what to pack for a school lunch, I know I totally overstress it. I find myself surfing the internet for guides on what to pack and how to pack it. So many factors, will she eat it, will it keep cold/warm, is it healthy, will she need a fork/spoon, is it too messy. Then somehow I resort to the old tried and true, peanut butter and jelly, she loves them! 

Although I was a good student back in the day, I cant help but still feel that school is something you should rebel against(it didnt help that my mother always encouraged this thinking). As for Maddie, she loves it! Every morning she wakes up and asks if she is going to school.When I tell her "no, it is Saturday", she gets so disappointed. Who ever heard of a child being disappointed that its Saturday!

I guess with the beginning of school comes the beginning of sickness. I used to brag that my child was as healthy as a horse and rarely got sick. I dont know how many times I heard the ominous words of "wait until she starts school" from all of the knowing parents around me. Oh how right they were! I think Maddie has been 100% well about two days in the last month.  It started with fevers and vomiting turned into a runny nose, congestion, and goose honking cough and now is an ever present cough and stuffiness. I so hope it goes away soon.

If I had known Maddie was going to get so sick at the beginning of school I would have started her crocheted blanket sooner. I figured I had a bit of time because the weather in Southeast Virginia usually stays nice and warm all the way into October so I wasnt stressing it. I am hoping to finish it soon and am very pleased how it is coming along.

Maddie has been doing alot off collecting. We found this awesome leaf the other day when we took a walk around Oak Grove Lake in Chesapeake, Va. We thought it looked like a pumpkin scarecrow ghost devil leaf, perfect for halloween!

Glamour birdwatching Maddie! We have been seeing some very large grey cranes in the water lately. I need to look them up in the bird book. Unfortunately it has been getting dark earlier and we havent been able to go on our birdwatching walks as much:(

The coleus in the backyard blooming.

Maddie in her squirrel shirt. Who doesnt love a woodland animal?