Gotta Love October

As we say goodbye to the month of October, I have much to look back on and be thankful for. Craig and I are a year wiser and older. Well, maybe just older. Our birthdays were spent with each other and family, the way it should be. I received some birthday money, in which I promptly blew at the Canton Flea Market. That place is amazing. It is truly like the Peter Anderson Festival on steroids times a hundred.

The Canton Flea Market is located in a small town north of Jackson, MS. The city looks like something out of an old movie. Well, as a matter of fact, it is. Several films have been created within this city including: My Dog Skip, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and Mississippi Burning just to name a few. I was invited to go by my mother-in-law. We would be going with my sister-in-law who knows her way around the market. She charted our way prior to going, making sure we stopped at the hottest spots first. I was able to see a friend that was set up selling her great artwork. Check her out at Paintings by Holly. I have several of her pieces including a portrait of Bella and Asher, which is amazing!

We moved briskly through each section of the market, but it never felt like we even made a dent in visiting what was there. This place is MASSIVE. Unlike the focus on fine art and pottery of the Peter Anderson Festival, it is geared more towards arts and crafts. I found many great things that were at a decent price (also unlike the PAF). A hundred dollars was gone in a flash, but I had so much fun. That night I was completely exhausted. My in-laws are hardcore Canton Flea Marketers, but I would love nothing more than to visit again.

The weekend of Craig’s birthday, he decided he wanted to stay at his family’s camp. This cabin is secluded within a cypress swamp located right on Caswell Lake in Mississippi. It is very beautiful and quiet, a nice place to just get away for a few days. We took the pups with us and they enjoyed being able to go on walks and tromp around in the woods like we used to do at North Farm in Starkville. Both have become very well behaved, staying close and running right back to me if I call to them. They love being off leash, so I think our next home will have to have land associated with it.

 

 

Craig’s parents had a get together for our birthdays, where we had a special MSU cake to celebrate. Hillary’s name was included for her birthday in September. She loved having an MSU cake with Uncle Craig and Aunt Tara. Muahahaha! (both of her parents attended Ole Miss) It was very nice of them to think of us. Shortly after, Craig headed for Columbus, MS for a fishing tournament with his dad, and I got to go home for the weekend and hang out with my family.

I have also been helping out with my friend’s shop. We painted the entire place, and I helped her inventory her stock. She will be opening this weekend for the Peter Anderson Festival. Everyone should check out her place. I am super excited for this weekend. I haven’t missed this festival as far back as I can remember. I LOVE IT! I’ll get to see some close friends and spend the rest of my birthday money that I stashed away. At least I will get to stay with my folks, where they actually believe in using the dang HEATER! Seriously, I have been frozen the past few days because Craig refuses to turn the thing on!

Last week, Craig and I were trying to find a haunted house or trail to go to, and we thought we found something promising. Wales West Pumpkin Patch was a camping resort and offered a train ride out to a pumpkin patch. I have never been to one so I was very excited. When we got there, I was pretty impressed. Everything was decorated for Halloween, and there was a legit train. However, shortly after we purchased our tickets, it became evident that this “scary” train ride was for children. Every adult was accompanied by a child except for us. We looked like complete doobs. But, we still enjoyed ourselves. When we arrived at the “pumpkin patch” after the train ride, children got to pick a pre-picked pumpkin out of a fenced in decorated area. I grabbed a pumpkin and promptly return to the gate to avoid the over stimulated children. We even got to witness a little girl pee herself. Oh, what fun! I can’t wait to be a mother. Hmmm… I was able to find a for real haunted house in Hurley and got to go with my friends, Kati, Allison and Luke. Needless to say, Luke was a little girl about it and made the night for everyone.

 

 

Which brings us to Halloween. There was a trick or treater tonight dressed up as a mouse. It made me think of Lola. We still miss her like crazy, but it is nice that every time we think of her, we smile. Unfortunately for us, we only had 9 trick or treaters. So that means a crap ton of treats left… as if either one of us needed more of that. I hope everyone had a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN! See ya next month!

Cheers!
Tara