The Jolley's in Upstate New York

 Autumn is officially here and it is a little chilly.  We are trying to figure out how to heat our home without cooking us is some rooms and freezing us in other rooms.  I guess that's what comes with 100+ year old houses.  We hope that we will see a few more days in the 70's but for the next 10 days is looks like the 50's and 60's for us.  And it's the great leaf changing show.  I can't wait!  The trees change a little at a time-most of them- and some all at once.  It's so interesting to me.  I'm not sure I remember a few red leafs among the green but I love it.  And this week, the magic is supposed to happen and we can't wait. We spent Tuesday in Waterloo, or Fayette, at the Peter Whitmer Farm for our Zone Conference! What a place!  What a spirit!  We were taught by our Mission Leaders of the importance of finding Amuleks among our members to help in the missionary work.  We are focusing on part member families and tryin...

 All of a sudden the color is coming.  We have been watching a few leaves, here and there, starting to change and so far it is just spotty- but as we drive down these roads, we find little surprises!  Sometimes an entire tree will be red but mostly just a few branches- but look at these trees.  I just had to capture them on the way to church today.  I am so looking forward to see the magic that happens with the color here. I think Fall is my favorite! We are wondering how another week has passed.  It seems like Sunday rolls around faster and faster.  We are knocking on October and I think October is probably one of my most favorite months.  I love the Anne of Green Gables quote, " I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers".  I feel that exact way.  Mike is really in for it with my camera.  Bless his heart, he just drives and pulls over and drives and pulls over-and I take way too many photos!  He's the best and I a...

 Monday was Labor Day.  We had planned a fun day, with the Rome Sisters, to hike to Pixley Falls and then have a Shish-Ka-Bob cookout.  Well what is it they say about the best plans? Yup! It rained us out. We didn't hike but we still wanted to eat shish-ka-bobs so we fired up the coals and got ready to cook.  Unfortunately we bought an off brand of charcoal and guess what-wouldn't even get hot.  We did get enough of a second flame to give a bit of taste to the skewered meat and veggies and then finished them off under the broiler.  Man, so frustrating.  The Sisters brought the most amazing dessert for us to eat.  It's called S'Mores Crack and we could not stop eating it.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I'm dying to make it but then I will eat the whole pan!  Here's the recipe-you might want it!  BUT beware!  It is ridiculously addictive! Tuesday was the beginning of our Senior Missionary Retreat in Palmyra. ...

We actually started our week off with a day at the NY State Fair.   We have never been to the Utah State Fair-not sure why-maybe because I hate crowds of people?   It was probably the hottest day of the fair and that’s the day we went.   There weren’t a ton of people so that made it fun.   But there were also not all of the animals there or the big shows.   (Actually Boy II Men were in concert that night so I’m sure it got busier after we left).   We saw lots of chickens and bunnies and ducks.  We stopped to watch a rooster crowing contest- Silly me, I thought it would be a bunch of people crowing their hearts out, but it was real roosters and they didn't crow very well. We didn't see any cows or horses but we did see some gorgeous flowers in the horticulture building. ( The  flowers in the picture reminds me of fireworks for some reason-so pretty)  We saw some great photos and paintings, quilts and scrapbooks and lots of creative projects in...