Da...Da...DaWHAT?? Dahinda!!

Ryan planned a short trip to celebrate our anniversary...but it was a surprise!  All I knew was that we would be driving and that our destination would be 3-4 hours away.  One might think that really narrows the field, but a four hour radius around Sutter really does provide numerous possibilities.

Branson, Galena, Southern Illinois, Kansas City, St. Louis...these had all crossed my mind.  But after heading north and meandering through rural roads, these slowly got crossed off my mental list of possibilities.   

Eventually, we hung a left at a sign for "Dahinda". 

Again...more rural roads...then we came to Dahinda...Da WHAT?!? Dahinda.  

We drove through THE Dahinda (which left something to be desired) and right up to a quaint farmstead tucked back into the base of a few small hills.  

*Still perplexed*
We're at someone else's house.  Hmm...???

Ryan pulled up to the sweet red barn (below)..."We're here!"

Long and short of it...The Barn was built by the owners as a bunk house.  It is a "peg barn", meaning its frame was built without the use of nails - only wooden pegs.  It was later converted into a Bed & Breakfast.  

Here's a glimpse into the "horse stall kitchen" complete with an ice box and working vintage gas stove.  

 The upstairs loft had sleeping for at least 9.  

After getting our bearings in "The Barn", we enjoyed some time in neighboring towns - we went line dancing (Ryan is the boot-scootin' master) and to a hockey game.  Ryan and I decided that 97% of hockey players have some sort of anger issue.  

All in all, the entire trip was refreshing.  It gave us an opportunity to reflect on the past year - all the Lord has done in our lives - we have so much for which we are grateful.  Our time at the Barn also provided time to pray and think about the coming year.  

Da Barn in Dahinda will always have a special place in da hearts of da Woods.  

Wrapping up & Gearing up

August has come to a close and we are at the doorstep of Labor Day - what the young and young-at-heart recognize as the end of summer as we know it.  
Auf Wiedersehen to long evenings and endless sunshine.  
Good-bye to that carefree, laid-back attitude.
Hasta La vista, Baby, to beach balls and swim suits.  

I'll miss you, Summer.  *sniff*

*ugly cry*

----

Ryan and I are bidding summer "adieu" with his family on a vacation in gorgeous, yet quaint Galena, Illinois.  However, to kick off the weekend, on Friday, the boys all took part in the Nascar driving experience in Joliet, Illinois.  Here are a few pics of the fast-paced feat.

 Ready.

Set.

GO!!!

He was a pretty happy lover-of-fast & powerful-things afterwards.  His lap average was 145.7 mph.  

And since then, we've been chill-axing, sight-seeing, applesauce-making, boating, and celebrating two very special birthdays (Ryan's sister, Carrie, and Brother-in-law, Bill).  Did I mention we've been eating scotcharoos??  Those very wrong, but wrong in a right-sort of way, peanut-buttery, corn-syrupy, rice-krispie, chocolate & butterscotch-topped decadent morsels.  (Just a side note - Scotcharoos should really have their own Facebook page...or the U.S. should celebrate Scotcharoo Day.  Just sayin'...they're that good.)

Where was I??  I lost myself in the Scotcharoo goodness.  

oh yes...
So last week before we left for all of this fun, Ryan and his dad started Harvest. 

Ask any Ol' Timer, and he'll pull out his tooth pick and put in his dentures to tell you that this is one early harvest.  Last year all the talk was about the early harvest in September!  Who knew this year we'd have combines in the field in August!!!  

So as vacations and fun in the sun wrap up, we are gearing up for the rest of harvest.
And of course, for all of those things that *are Autumn*.

scarves.
pumpkins.
bonfires. 
hay-rack rides. 
crisp air.
hot apple cider.  
football games.
snuggling under blankets.
combine lights in the cornfield at night.

Oh, Autumn, how I've missed you.    

So long, Summa!!!

She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain

Last week my family was together vacationing in Twin Lakes, Colorado.  It was as gorgeous as I had expected (or even more so)!  

This was the view from our house.  

I at times wondered why I live in Illinois when such landscapes as this can be seen right outside the window.  

(I'm still chewing on this one...I think it has something to do with corn...and beans...and chickens...but I'll get back to you.) 

So anyway, on Thursday of last week we decided to hike Mount Elbert.  Haven't heard of Mt. Elbert?  That's no surprise. Neither had I!  Nestled next to Twin Lakes, Mt. Elbert is what hikers call a "14-er"...it's the highest mountain in Colorado and the second highest in the lower 48 States.  Who knew?? Right?!  Definitely missed that in Geography class.  

So a handful of us decided to hike it since we were in the neighborhood.  

A bit of background on the crew- my brother-in-law, Brian, is a regular hiker of tall things. And my twin sister and her husband, Leslie and Pat, are avid runners in great physical condition.

Ryan and I...we are....

hmm...we are...???

Well, put plainly, we are a devastatingly handsome farmer and his somewhat active wife.  

But we were told that anyone with "basic fitness" could do the hike. 

No problem.  We got this.  

Not being able to sleep the night before should have served as a forewarning.  

My unconscious trying desperately to warn me of ominous things to come.  

Not to be thwarted, we started out early, leaving the house at 5:30AM.  After getting through the Aspens, both Ryan and I fell to the back of the pack and started huffing.  

The conversation went about like this:

Leslie - Are you guys doing ok?

Lin - *GASP*  Yep...*GASP* Totally hanging in there...*GASP*

Leslie - We can stop if you guys want a break.

Lin - *GASP* Ok...*GASP* A break might be...*GASP* a good *GASP* idea.  

 Here's the team during one of our breaks.  (Did I mention that I love..seriously L.O.V.E. breaks??)

Are we there yet???!!?  It was at this point that I seriously questioned my sanity in even starting such a venture.   I was whipped, and not even in sight of the summit.  

After four hours of steep uphill climbing, my legs and lungs revolting, desperate prayers for mercy, numerous liters of water, untold breaks, a near heart attack (just kidding...I think) and tender encouragement from my Sweetheart, we finally arrived at the summit.  

Ahhhhh.......

While pretty heady stuff, I was suddenly struck by the urge to crawl.  A precipice on either side, I feared falling off the side of the mountain.  Not quite the pinnacle experience I expected.  But Brian and Ryan had no qualms about dancing with danger...

One thing I took away from the hike - a change in perspective can change so much.  When we realize our feet are planted on the biggest and most secure Rock, the other mountains and challenges don't seem so big.  

The Penn Top 10

To recap our time in Pennsylvania, here are the top 10 highlights of the our trip:

10. Chick-Fil-A Cow Appreciation Day - This got our trip Mooo-ving in the right direction! :) (I just couldn't resist)

9. Realizing the Smuckers are Amish and sell more than just jam.  

 8. Old Town Philly

 The Betsy Ross house

 Independence Hall

Cute historical homes...

 Elfreth's Alley

Christ Church, were many of our Nation's early leaders worshiped.  Ryan is sitting in the pew where George and Martha Washington's family sat.  Later John Adams would also sit in this pew box to worship.   

7. Jim's Steaks - We needed the authentic Philly Cheese Steak experience.  

Come to Mama...

6. Camping at French Creek State Park

Tent up, Check. 

Doesn't it look so happy and cute! 

10 minutes later a thunderstorm hit...

5. Invention of the Sm'Oreo - It tastes good when it's all you've got!

4. Gettysburg Battle Grounds and Military Cemetery - 

   Lots of cannons 

And here's Ryan at the monument in the military cemetery where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.

Battle of Gettysburg fact: 51,000 Americans died in just 3 days.  It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

3. Touring Lancaster County

 BUGGIES!!!

The most gorgeous farmsteads I've ever seen.  

 WHOA?? WHAT?! Mom, forget you've ever seen this.

uh...

er...

Did I tell you about the beautiful and scenic farmsteads?!?!?

And here's the cutting edge of Amish farming - brand new Amish machinery...hook it up to your trusty steed and watch your steel wheels roll, Baby!

2. Meeting Ryan's friends from Brazil - the reason we went to Pennsylvania in the first place was to attend the wedding of Ryan's friend, Nancy, and to see her parents, Steven and Lourdinha.  

 Here we are with the newlyweds, Nancy and Brian.  Ryan and I felt like the old married couple! 

Here's Ryan and Lourdinha!  It was so great to meet some of the people who were Ryan's good friends while in Brazil. 

*Drum Roll.....*

1. It's all about the.....

Nothing tops getting to spend 120 glorious uninterrupted hours with my Sweetheart!

Grazing Across the Midwest

So did you know that today is Chick-Fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day?  They set aside an entire day to celebrate the bovines that have become so much a part of the Chick-Fil-A identity.  Unfortunately, we have no Chick-Fil-A in Sutter.  Nor in Quincy, the nearest mid-sized city.  Some of you shake your heads in amazement...how is such an existence possible??  I know.  I have no idea how I go on each day without a Chick-Fil-A....and a Target nearby.  But it is my burden to bear.  
Allow me to continue - Yesterday we were visiting with our precious friends, the Gallaghers, who told us that on their way to a family wedding today, they planned to take advantage of Chick-Fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day.  They went on to explain - Anyone who dressed from head to hoof in a cow costume would be rewarded with an entire combo meal, free of charge!!  Chick-Fil-A?!? FREE?!?  Sign me up.   And, as providence would have it, we were going to be on our way to a wedding in Pennsylvania, and would be passing a number of large cities that have a Chick-Fil-A!!!  
So, off we were - Chick-Fil-A....err...Pennsylvania bound at 7:30AM!  

The first CFA (Chick-Fil-A) branch we would be passing was in Urbana, Illinois.  So around 10:30AM, we ran into the U of I student union with our cut-out cow pieces, courtesy of Holly Gallagher and the CFA website.  Fortunately for us, a desk worker at the union allowed us to borrow her tape to adhere the pieces.  

Here we are getting ready to go...

So we shamelessly strolled into the Union CFA and ordered our #1 Combos - FREE!

Back to the car and onward east. Fast-forward to Indianapolis...

We ran into the Circle Centre mall food court...and scored our next two combo meals! 

MOOOO!!! 

Head 'em up, move 'em out, Rawhide!! On to Columbus...

Welcome to Ohio!  

And, for our final stop, CFA pulled out all the stops...

Say "hello" to the CFA cow - let's call her Molly.  Molly was so nice...even allowed us to get our pictures with her. 

Basically, Ryan ran up to Molly in a giddy tizzy and begged her to get a picture together. 

Really. 

Yep. 

It happened.  

Two #1 combos in Urbana - Free.

#7 and #2 combo meals in Indianapolis - Free.

#7 and #2 combo meals in Columbus - Free.

Eating for free across the entire Midwest - Priceless.  

And at home, the chickens are holding down the fort...