Autumn Perfection and a Barn Sale
On Sunday, the temperature was pushing 90 as the sun convinced us summer was still here. It was the perfect day for an afternoon bike ride on the Allegany Passage. Fifteen miles of beauty with a 1% downgrade almost the entire way? Yes, that is pretty close to perfection.
On Monday, the thermometer barely reached sixty as a steady rain drizzled the parched earth with liquid life drops. Fall candles, apple dumplings, fuzzy blankets … the perfect way to start Monday’s school work since no one wanted to go outside anyway. Don’t you love it when the weather meshes with your plans like vanilla ice cream melting in molten chocolate lava cakes?
This fall has been beautiful in so many ways. Cool, then warm, then hot, then perfect with glorious splashes of color and phenomenal sunsets. It’s been so gentle in it’s introduction to the bone-chilling winds that lurk around the corner, ready to bury us in winter’s icicles. For now, there are apples and pumpkins and plenty of sunshine. Short sleeves one day and hoodies the next.
It’s also been a fall filled with fun things. One of my favorite’s this year was the Perennial Barn Sale in Virginia. I first heard about the sale when Amelia messaged me to see if I’d consider being a guest vendor. After browsing their facebook page, I was thrilled at the chance! It’s a lovely sale and the perfect way to get excited about fall. Even when you’ve grown up thinking fall kind of smells like death and depression. Who me? Oh, yeah, that’s me.
I loved being surrounded by so much local talent and beauty! Handmade signs, vintage jewelry, june jars, pottery, darling baby outfits, and oh my stammering taste buds, food that was just beyond description. My booth was across from this one and let me tell you, the pumpkin scones were phenomenal! Served with a dollop of cream on the side …. just take me back ….
There was barbecue and happy people browsing booths and pumpkin painting and donuts and coffee and live music and laughter!
Like usual, I waited until the week of to start thinking about my booth. Note to self: no matter how many times you’ve done it, this is still not a good idea. 🙂 It was fun pulling items out of corners and arranging them and sparked my dormant want-to-do-a-small project gene. Maybe I should make mock deadlines for myself and see if they happen.
I love that old white barn door for a backdrop behind my booth! Too bad it didn’t fit into the stuffed to the gills van for the trip home. I wonder if Amy would have missed it? 😉
If you’re in the area next year, you really should check it out. It’s the perfect place to eat, shop, relax, linger … just like the sign says. It’s also the perfect place to be inspired, to make peace with autumn’s arrival, and to meet up with some talented people!
Til next time …………..
Yessss, take me back!! Those pumpkin scones were so amazing. I don’t know whyyyy I didn’t buy a dozen to take with me in my travels (or maybe I DO know why!). You captured the day well~and with a few shots that I wish I had too: the pottery and a close up of that little photo booth area outside. And don’t you fret none about YOUR booth. It was beautiful! Loved meeting you in RL for the first time. Oh wait, no we DID meet as girls . . . I always forget that part . . . but so nice to meet you as an adult . . . and I’m sure I won’t forget! 🙂
Your family bike trip . . . so great! Fall biking on rail to trail paths holds a special spot in my heart since moving to PA. Happy, blessed, Autumn to you and yours!
Yes, it was fabulous meeting as adults … the day was perfect except for one thing. I wished so much to just be able to sit and talk with all the wonderful women there! Next time we meet, hopefully that will happen!
Oh my, be still my beating heart. So much loveliness in one post. Wow. Would love to stroll through here and just look at everything. Someone should probably keep my wallet while I walk tho. 🙂
I’d be happy to take care of your wallet … just don’t expect it to weigh very much when you get back. 🙂
I have to make the trip one of these years! I absolutely ‘love’ your pics and the way you write! You’re wonderful and very inspiring!
Nancy! If you make the trip, make sure I know you’re coming because I would love to see you again!
Oooooooh, this Barn Sale looks like such a dreamy place! I love when local artisans meet together and make a beautiful event out of it. It looks like it might be worth the 9-hour drive to get there. 🙂 I love love all your pictures, and your booth is so adorable too! It looks so cozy and inviting. The lamp and chair are so cool!
Annnnd, I was planning to make pumpkin scones for Friday morning, but now I’m very intimidated. We’ll see if I’m confident enough to try them. ha! 🙂
You would have loved it, Clarita! Annnnnnnnnnnnnd, please don’t be intimidated because I adore pumpkin scones so much I can’t imagine a bad one! Cannot WAIT to see you!
It’s too pretty to even buy anything and disturb! Thanks for sharing the pictures with us!!!
Welllll, you could always buy books. I had plenty to replace the piles. 😉
ooooh. love all the pretty pics Michelle!! How fun that you got to be there! where you selling books?
my goodness this looked fun.
Also. WHERE is the pic of you with the cute baby bump??? I reallly wanna see:-)
oh, you described our fall perfectly. it’s been the exact same here and i’ve loved it.. and that’s coming from a non-lover of fall. but that barn sale!! oh my word.. now there’s something i DO love!! those kind of things are my absolute favorite kind of things to go to. it’s weird but canadians don’t seem to be into that as much – or atleast this part of canada. once a year they have a festival on the main street in town where different vendors can set up and i love strolling and looking at it all.. this year i went TWO days in a row. but i always go straight to the antique vendors and there’s only a few. i would DIE in this barn sale. so.. maybe it’s a good thing we don’t have more things like that up here. haha!!
i loved that first shot of your bikes all lined up. and did a double take of the shot of you and shelly. like, “oh, i know her now!!” thanks to the blogger page. ;))) fun fun.
have a happy weekend mis.shelley!!! xo
The bike ride sounds FUN. One unanswered question–if it’s downhill the whole way, how do you get back then? 🙂
The barn sale! So happy to finally see pictures. I loved seeing them, and your both is my favorite. It looks pretty, and it definitely looks like a book-ish place where you’d want to sit and read. (Shouldn’t there be a little credit to sisters who helped give feedback and suggestions late at night????) 🙂 Sometime I want to finish our conversation. Maybe Sunday.
Absolutely credit is due? Did I not write about that part? I had it in my head but it must have not made it in the typed post. Oh, and the bike ride is one way. Which gets even easier when someone is heading out that way and offers to shuttle your vehicle.