Fall fun in my neighborhood

Here are some photographs of fun fall displays at the neighbors. These are country neighbors, which means that they don't live right next door, just somewhere in the area. In the country, you are just so glad to have anyone near you that even folks living miles away count as neighbors.

Many years ago, long before we arrived on the prairie, our neighbors started selling fruits and vegetables retail to the public. Through the years their business has grown. They no longer have just a roadside stand. In fact, we refer to them as the "Disneyland of Agriculture." Any way you can think of for having fun on the farm is available there. Kids can pick apples, go on a hayride, wander through a cornmaze, feed farm animals, and even play on a playground. Meanwhile, adults can get an apple donut or fritter hot from the bakery or drink some cider so sweet that you will swear someone just stuck a straw in an apple. Best of all, for the ladies there is shopping, lots of it. They have a giant warehouse filled to the rafters with country style seasonal home decor. Anything you might need for fall decorating is available here. (Guess where all my extra pocket change gets spent this time of year.)

The designers here do a wonderful job displaying the merchandise and decorating the store. I just love browsing the building and looking for decorating ideas. They are so nice that they don't even mind if I bring my camera along, so I took a few photos recently. I am sorry that the photos aren't clearer. Unfortunately they don't capture the true beauty of this place either. It is packed with wonderful merchandise.

I admit that I go over there at least once (sometimes twice) a week to see what is new. You see, they even have a clearance area which often has wonderful items at a fraction of their retail cost. It is like getting things at thrift store prices, except all of it is new.

I wish all of you could visit there with me. We would have a fun day eating our way through the bakery and cafe, then shopping until our carts were overflowing. If I ever win the lottery, I will fly all of you in and we will have a grand day in my neighborhood. Blessings to you and enjoy the weekend.

Ozarks Neighbors

These were our neighbors in the Ozarks. A herd of Black Angus cattle was literally on the other side of the chain link fence which surrounded our yard. The cattle were on three sides. We really enjoyed watching them.

Our dog Lady, a pyrenees collie mix, especially loved playing with all the baby calves born in the spring. She would go to the fence and stick her long, skinny nose through the holes. The baby calves would cautiously come closer and closer, sometimes even touching their noses to hers. Lady would bark at them while wagging her tail. The calves would run back into the field kicking their heels up in play. Lady would race around the yard as fast as she could, then return to the fence to begin their game again.

The cattle interacted with all the assorted animals we kept on the farm. For awhile we had sheep. Two of our little rams had a crush on the Angus heifers. The rams would literally follow the heifers around in the field, content just to be with them.

Even the chickens and the cattle were friends. One day while I was looking out the window, I noticed the big Angus bull was over by the chicken house. He appeared to have his head pressed against the fence while a hen was rubbing against him on the other side. They looked as if they were having a conversation.

It was a crazy neighborhood, but everyone got along well.

Prairie Neighbors

These are our neighbors on the prairie. Aren't they cute! Even though they are already fat, these guys are always sticking their heads through the fence and looking for a handout. Who could say no to such adorable faces?

I hope you are having a beautiful spring in your "neighborhood."

Blessings to you.