The Countdown is ON!

On Friday July 22 David proposed!  We've set the date for April 21, 2012 in Pittsburgh and the countdown is on!We're pretty psyched and I think our families seem pretty happy with the choice too.  Can't wait to celebrate the big day -- I have a feeling the next few months will fly.

Geocaching on the Montour

The last few weekends we've headed over to the Montour Trail for some geocaching fun.  The Montour is part of the rails to trails program.  I really dig this program - and the plethora of trails in the area as a result.  The Montour will eventually be about 50 miles long.  I think one of my new goals is going to be to eventually have walked every mile of the trail.  That doesn't seem too difficult does it?  We've hit probably got about 8 or 9 down over the last 3 weekends.

The trail makes for a nice Saturday afternoon diversion.  Some of the caches are right on the trail and others have had us out bushwacking and exploring side trails.  Yesterday we met our friend JoAnn and took out a 3.75 mile section of the trail (and back) and grabbed a few caches out near Robinson.  Here are a few of my photos of the 'pretties' I saw during my death march.  I hit magical number 150 during this trip, although that was a silly little micro that was in the mall instead of out in the woods. 

There was also a less than pretty along the trail...

 

ETA:  biking, running, and other random forms of personal transportation count too :)

Homeward Bound

It was great to see family... but at the end of the trip it was great to come home to my bed and my pupsters :)

Primanti Bros

While KJ was here we stopped at Primanti Brothers in the Strip District for lunch.  It is a Pittsburgh original...

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

It is that time of year -- Fall is upon us.  All my friends with little kids have been hitting up the pumpkin patches.  Although I have no child, we are like a little kids at heart so we decided to join the fun.  We went out to Simmons Farm where they actually grow the pumpkins.. as well as apples and squash and flowers and an assortment of other vegetables. We took the hayride out to the field and picked a few pumpkins and some Indian corn, followed by a trip into the corn maze.  The pumpkin picking was serious business -- definitely had to find 'the one'. On our way home we stopped by Giant Eagle and found an even more impressive pumpkin.  Eventually we'll carve them!  No promises on showing you the finished product.

Acres upon acres of pumpkins!

Yup, they actually grow them here!

A little baby pumpkin hiding in the shade.

Seriously, Acres of pumpkins

Nope, thats definitely not "the one".

But maybe this one is!

Or this one?

Here are a couple more options...

I'll take this one -- she's a keeper :)

Picking Indian Corn

They had some amazing jack o'lanterns up at the farmstand.  mine will look nowhere near this fancy, for sure.

Mr. Ed's

 On the way home from Gettysburg we ran into this awesomely creeptastic place.  Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Shop.  Unfortunately, the Museum burned down several months ago, but the creeptastic fiberglass elephants are all over the place to suck you in.  It was certainly something.

Weekend in Gettysburg

We spent Columbus Day weekend in Gettysburg PA for my cousin's wedding.  It was great to see the entire family!  We're happy to have Courtney in the family.  Here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

A cupcake for breakfast before the long ride to Grandpa and Nana's.  Sure glad I wasn't in the car!