Operation Pumpkin

This past weekend, John and I took in a local festival we had never before attended. It was called Operation Pumpkin. I had a really good feeling about this festival for some reason. I think it was its clever name. The previous weekend, we attempted to take my in-laws to an apple festival that was a disaster. No parking. Huge crowds. Long lines for food. We spent as much time searching for a parking spot and walking to the festival as we did at the actual festival. So, I wanted to redeem my festival mojo with this one.

Come along with me!

Yes, that is a pumpkin. Many people carve out pumpkins of this size, or larger, and compete in the Pumpkin Regatta. This was happening the next day so we missed it but apparently, pumpkins are quite buoyant. Armed with an oar, sailors paddle their way down the river, praying not to capsize. Fastest pumpkin wins!

There weren't nearly as many craft vendors as a festival this size should have had. Lots of jewelry booths and random things like soap and olive oil. Can't a girl get a nicely crafted wooden, holiday sign or something? Oh well, we spent our money in other ways. And when we got hungry, we noshed on Pulled Pork with Pumpkin BBQ sauce which was tasty but not very pumpkinny. We also had sweet potato fries which I simply cannot resist.

Then we perused the pumpkin carving contest. These ain't yo mama's jack-o-lanterns.

This is a big face. Sorry for the fuzzy pic. The pumpkin probably came up to my hip.

Jack Skellington from Nightmare before Christmas -- so cool

I voted for this one in the contest. I thought it showed the most creativity and transformed the pumpkins into something else completely. The detail up close was insane. I hope he wins!


Then, we were off to the main reason I wanted to come to this festival (no joke)..........Wine Garden!!!

Sorry again about the fuzziness when I enlarge - this was taken with the new panorama feature on the iphone5

Five local wineries had tents set up for tasting. You purchased tickets, $1/taste or $3/glass. You'd be so proud at my restraint. I only bought 10 tickets and I split them with John. The tastes were just that, not overly generous. You would not be proud at my bottle purchasing. We bought 5 bottles. But before you scold me, hear me out. 1 is a gift. 2 we would have to drive 45 minutes to buy normally, and the other 2 were only $7/each. BARGAIN!!! And none of them have been opened yet. So there.

All but one of the wineries were familiar to us. In fact, one of them we had just visited the weekend prior with our guests so we skipped tasting at that one. We tried a red and white, various varietals, at each spot and revisited our favorite for a second time. It was fantastic! Standout for me was a warm, mulled spice wine and John's fave was a Ruby Red Port. I would have hung out there a lot longer if I felt like spending even more money, but I didn't. Remember? Restraint. Plus, I had to go to the bathroom and was avoiding the port-a-potties like the plague.

And that was it for us and Operation Pumpkin! They had live music and there was also a 5K that I had considered running but knew the wine might put the kibosh on that. John and I got our run out of the way in the morning (39 degrees!) I am glad we went though. Next year, we'll take my in-laws to this one instead!

T-Minus 4 days until 13.1..........

Need Now

I always have lots of needs in my life. Some might classify my needs as wants but they would be incorrect. A necessity is something you need to survive. Fact.


Navy Nail Polish – I’m told this is going to be a big nail color for fall. Trust the experts. I have been in love with OPI’s Russian Navy since I saw it on a friend’s pedicure but have yet to purchase my own bottle. I need to see what the other lines offer as well. Ten possible options found here.





I was bending over at the waist if you think this is a strange shot.



Colored Cords - I bought these obnoxiously orange cropped cords at the Gap recently. They were on sale for $17 and I LOVE them. If you haven’t been shopping lately, you might not know that colored bottoms are all the rage. While I can’t bring myself to purchase colored jeans, I think these keep me on trend enough. Who doesn’t love a good corduroy? I wore them around the house for a full hour before cutting the tags to give John a chance to warm up to them. When I buy something a little outrageous I will seek his opinion but ultimately do what I want anyway. Let’s be honest. That chain of events happens on a daily basis with us anyway because I am always right. Anyway, I don’t need these now because I already own them but I do need MORE of them, in other colors.

New Glasses – I went to the eye doctor a little over a month ago and guess what? I still can’t see. I also just realized that the prescription in my glasses is over 2 years old. Oops! I have long been a consumer of cheap glasses on EyeBuyDirect. (Read: no vision coverage) but there are so many new sites for the frugal eyewear shopper out there that I might stray. I like to be able to buy 2 pairs, one plastic, one metal or rimless. Stay tuned!

Buy Here

Necklace - This tortoise shell monogram necklace is rocking my socks off. Not only is tortoise shell one of my all-time faves but a good monogram is just the kind of prep I like. Safe to assume I want it in all other metals too but the tortoise shell is so unique. It's $58 linked above but I've seen them on Etsy for less.


Cell phone Case – My brand new iphone 5 needs some protection. After suffering for    2 ½ years with the crappiest case ever on my junky iphone 3 (yes, 3) it’s time to upgrade. John bought an Otterbox but he’s tough on his phone. I am more delicate with mine and therefore deserve to purchase fashion over function. Just waiting for Kate Spade to release the newest models…….

What do you NEED now?

The Death Cure

Source

The Death Cure wraps up the Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner. Disclaimer: If you’re planning to read this series but haven’t started yet, skip this review! There won’t be spoilers but just like Scorch Trials, the synopsis might give away part of that story.

Good Reads' Synopsis: "Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.
The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?"


  What I Thought: This was probably my least favorite of the three books but still worth reading to find out what happens. It wasn’t as suspenseful for me as the first two but I enjoyed the direction the plot went and how the trilogy ultimately ended. Again, don’t let the Young Adult genre throw you. This is a series worth reading and I’m a big advocate of stepping away from your normal reads anyway.


Rating: * * * 1/2

Recipe Reblog

I just can’t get enough pumpkin these days. I made a new pumpkin recipe for my in-laws last weekend. They were visiting the B&B so this was our very light breakfast.

 
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins: That’s a mouthful, yes? A mouthful of goodness! I had chocolate chips in the freezer and thought they would jazz up the muffins nicely. I also prefer to use whole wheat flour whenever possible. I cut this recipe in half and it still yielded 24 mini muffins. These came together quickly, were healthy and delicious. Bake them up. Now, now, now.


P.S. Half Marathon, T-minus 7 days.........

Beer of the Pumpkin Variety

It's hard to come up with a post title other than "Pumpkin Beer" when you're writing about them so frequently.

Terrible shot - my apologies. We drank them all before I could remember to photograph!

Rivertown Pumpkin Ale: Rivertown Brewing Co. is a local, Cincinnati establishment but this is the first of theirs I've tried. Holy pumpkin, Batman! This is a winner. I have discovered I prefer the pumpkin-forward beers and get the spice on the back end. This one delivers that. $9.50 for a 6-pack.

From the site: "OUR PUMPKIN ALE IS A SPICE INFUSED ALE, USING DARK SUGARS, REAL PUMPKIN, AND FRESH GROUND SPICES. THIS IS HOW WE DO PUMPKIN PIE! BEST SERVED AT 55ºF IN A WIDE PUB GLASS. 5% ABV"


Sorry just one this week. I have others that I need to edit the pics from. Some winners, some losers, some local, some un-pumpkin.

More next week!

The Scorch Trials

Source

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is the second book following The Maze Runner. If you haven’t read Maze Runner and are planning to, don’t read this post! It won’t have spoilers for this book but it will spoil the end of Maze Runner for you.

 Good Reads' Synopsis: "Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?"

What I Thought: Oh, this is getting good! I don’t think I liked it as much as Maze Runner but it’s definitely still a dramatic, suspenseful read. The new characters are interesting, the old characters are not to be trusted. Lots of twists and turns in this short-chaptered, fast-paced tale.

Rating: * * * *

October Running Round-Up

October 1^st everyone!

Safe to say September brought me the most miles I’ve ever run in one month. This could be why I’m a bit burned out on training. It could also be why my left foot has started hurting. I just need to get through the race and then I’m going to take some time off from running. 

Here’s what happened on the pavement this month:

 Sep 1: 3 mi OT in 31:00, humid

Sep 4: 4.5 mi TM in 40:24, 9:20/9:02/9:02/8:41

Sep 8: 4 mi OT in 40:00, finally

Sep 9: 9 mi OT in 1h38min, 10:56 avg pace, tough!

Sep 11: 5 mi TM in 43:249:05/8:47:/8:42/8:48/8:09, left foot pain

Sep 13: 4 mi TM in 33:52, 8:28 avg pace

Sep 16: 10 mi OT in 2:00, slow....HARD

Sep 18: 5 mi OT in 51:00, 10ish pace. Foot pain

Sep 23: 6 mi OT in 58mins, 9:40 pace. Foot pain last mile

Sep 25: 5 mi TM in 44:01, 8:48 pace, some foot pain

Sep 30: 10.1 mi OT in 1:44, hip pain halfway

 Total: 62.6 miles!!!

Holy cow! Most miles in a month, EVER! I’m really proud of those miles, even if some of the times weren’t my finest moments. I am ready for this race to be done though. I’m not sure what I’ll do after that. I’ll still shoot for 50 miles/month that I think I’ll be able to attain easily. One thing’s for sure. Distances like 5 and 6 miles seem easy to me like 3-4 used to be. That’s progress, right?