Our life in the Burgh: Shaker Woods

Every year, for the last three October(s), we've headed up to Shaker Woods. The first year we went with friends, last year Mema and Pop-pop joined us, and this year we ventured out alone...It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon for the drive (it takes us about an hour from our house in the 'burgh) so we dvr'd the game, and off we went to go spend a couple hours in the woods. Thank goodness it's pretty much highway driving, all the way into Ohio, otherwise it would probably take a lot longer. It's really the start of everything Fall like for me...I know I've been working like crazy, and leaves are falling everywhere, but getting my hot apple cider(with the cinnamon stick) and looking at all the crafts on a crisp fall day is what does it for me. Before we moved, it was tradition that we always went to the Peak n Peek for their fall craft show, just a day with most of the family, out browsing around, so I think that's where this all started...
Shaker woods is awesome, you park in the middle of this field, and walk into this grove of woods(which is fenced off with open fields all around it)Most of the vendors are dressed up for the event, either old fashioned or chrismas(y) as this is the "Christmas in the woods" event. Two years ago Maggie saw a guy(a vendor) dressed up in red long johns with a long beard and ran up to him and gave him the biggest hug, she thought he was Santa...I played along, and so did he, lol. There are all these great carvings in some of the tree stumps and other trees throughout, and they are just beautiful. There is one little booth that's our favorite, it's built around a tree, and every year Maggie marvels at it as we walk through it. We're getting pretty good about finding our way around now, the place is huge, and the paths can be a bit confusing, but we know where the vendors are now that we want to see...

We got Maggie her pink knit hat there last year, and went and found Fionn a matching blue one. We know where the fudge is that we like, and love the smell of the roasting almonds as we walk around. It really is a great place to spend the day!! God bless Greg for staying up after working third shift so that we could go! He knows how much I love going there, and it was the last day! So here are a couple great pictures from the day that I got, I hope you love them as much as I do!!