My Top Eight

A couple weeks ago I told you my Top 9 Reasons I love Fall, number two on the list was Fall festivals. Last weekend, the family headed to Apple Butter Makin' Days, which sometimes I say too fast and it comes as Apple Makin' Butter Days. This is one of my most favorite traditions. 

Each year we meet at Chris' Grandma Pearl's house, in Mt. Vernon, and make the short jaunt to the town square to check out what the vendors brought for us to oohhh and ahhh over this year. 

Hurry up guys!! I can already SMELL the fried onions and potatoes!

If you have never been to Apple Butter Makin' Days in Mt. Vernon, here are My Top Eight reasons to convince you it's the BEST Fall Festival ever, and that you must go to next year:

1. They have thought of everything! Mini-carnival? Check. When your kids start whining, you can dump them off with your significant other, then venture to the square alone and uninhibited.

2. Different strokes for different folks. I don't know if it's the crisp Fall air, or the scent of Apple Butter, but people seem to feel free to express their truest self:

 You know you want to know this fabulous lady. I NEED a ride in that car.

 and look at these little hippies....

 

You go, girls! Express yourself with those tie-dye skirts and funky glasses!

3. The proud courthouse that looks on proudly as the square fills up with excited shoppers throughout the day. Even if it's crowded, you're in the Midwest.....people still have manners and say excuse me.

4. Entertainment. This stage has performers singing, and dancing all day, serenading you while you haggle with the booth owners hawking their wares:

This was a particularly delightful blue grass group.

5. Spending time with the ones you love, hinting at possible Christmas presents:

I think Chris' outfit is very Fall appropriate and manly, don't you agree?

6. The WIDE variety of goods to admire or purchase:

This photo doesn't do these justice, but they are mobiles made from branches with with sweet hand sewn colorful birds birds perched on them.

I loved this stuffed owl that asked: "whoooooo tooooted?" 

We could have used this growing up in my house!

Blue is my favorite color, and I bought the PERFECT pair of earrings then found some awesomely creative necklaces:

The incredible car show comes in at 7:

 

I don't remember giving them permission to show my car? 

 Oh well, I can ride home in my other one:

Sure! I'll give you a ride. I'm just heading to the beach!

What's that you ask? What is the very very very best part of Apple Butter Makin' Days?

It's not the fried potatoes, or frozen cheesecake on a stick. It's not the cool stuff, or even spending time with your family.......

The very best part of Apple Butter Makin' Days is....

8. The Wiener dog races:

I've never been more happy in my whole life than I was in this moment....

When Mr. Speckles took home the gold.

See you all there next year!

You'll feel better once you listened:

  

I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.-Billy Joel

Since I've been SUPER busy this past week with baseball (of course) and took a short visit to see my friends Josh and Jana in Arkansas, I didn't have any time to present you with your TOP TUESDAY TUNES this week! So we're switching it up and here are

CHRISTIAN'S THURSDAY TOP TUNE PICKS:

(Please hold your applause)

1. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros- That's what's up

2. Chappo- Come Home

3. The Walkmen- The Rat

4. Lay Low- The Backbone

5. Punch Brothers- Rye Whiskey

Enjoy and Happy Thursday from the guy who dressed like Elvis...

.....as a Four year old.

How to enjoy a Willie Nelson concert:

Here's how you enjoy a Willie Nelson concert: 

Step one: Get into the back seat of your mother-in-law's car....

....it's best if your squished between your mother-in-law and grandma-in-law.

Second: Tell your husband, who is co-piloting for his dad, to "GET ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES!" then say ''C'MON LET'S GET THIS ROAD ON THE SHOW" and finally, "PULL INTO THE NEXT GAS STATION I HAVE TO PEE!!" and head on down the road: 

I think my F-I-L, Jeff, is saying: "Is she gonna sing the whole way there?!"

Next up, make sure you have Puh-lenty of energy for the concert, this is where the delicious food of Ebbet's Field comes in: 

I had pizza. Weird, right?!

When your belly is full of good food and a little bit of Bud Light, make your way to the concert and find your seat: 

The in-laws were all mighty impressed, and they were doing the next important step in enjoying a Willie Nelson concert.....make sure you can see the stage:

Mission: Accomplished.

Now be sure to take a pre-concert pictures, 

 and double make sure you take one of your husband's mom and grandma.

 this way you can document how all your faces looked BEFORE you rocked out to a living legend singing his classic tunes.

When the lights dim and the crowd cheers, be sure to get a picture of Willie taking his place on the stage because he's 80; and let's be honest, who knows how many concerts he's got left!

That bright shiny light is Willie, singing his heart out.

 Next, take a million pictures trying to get a good one of Willie. Then yell at yourself for not bringing a decent camera, and swear you'll never rely on your stupid iphone camera again: 

Hey Willie! There ya are!

Finally, on your way out of the concert -after you've properly rocked out to Willie Nelson and his brilliant catalog of songs- grab a random passer by and say: HEY! Take our picture!

And that's how you do it, folks.
 Wearing a Hank Williams shirt optional. Having a good time? NOT optional.