Friday's FIVE!

As we enjoy the last weekend of summer and prepare for autumn... the warm days and cool evenings make for perfect weather. Schedules become more routine - and a little less full without the busy days of summer fun as the days grow shorter. It's a time to curl up and read - enjoy a fire in the fireplace...eat a crisp fresh apple and enjoy a plethora of festivals. I love fall in Indiana! This week's Friday's FIVE! is a tribute to five of my favortie things to do in Indiana in Sept.

1. APPLES... Apples and more Apples.... I love fall fruit markets and Apples in September! Bruce and I made a road trip to Grovertown Fruit Farm for a bushel of Honeycrisp Apples.

We both enjoyed an apple straight from the bushel as we drove home with the VW top down with the warm sun on our faces! http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/in01.htm

2. James Dean Festival ... James Dean was born in Marion, Indiana and raised in Grant County - where I also grew up. Fairmount was the hometown of James Dean, and every September thousands of people gather in Fairmount, Indiana to pay homage to the local rebel whos untimely death, in a high-speed car crash on Sept. 30, 1955 guaranteed his legend as a true American idol. The weekend is filled with classic cars, oldies music and endless opportunities to view Jame Dean in his movies, The Giant, East of Eden and Rebel without a Cause. http://www.jamesdean.com/community/festival/index.htm

3. Estate Auctions - where you find table after table of well worn, well loved items that once belonged to someone....now up on the table for bidding. I love to browse the items ... walk around the items - drink a cup of hot cider and anticipate the sound of the auctioneer.

The days usually begin cool in the morning and end up very warm in the afternoon. The thrill of bidding on an item - and being the winning bidder reminds me of betting on a horse race! I haven't been to an estate auction for a long time, but it will always be one of my favorite early fall activities.

4. Blueberry Festival Bicycle Cruise http://www.blueberryfestival.org/pg/bike_cruise.html

and Apple Pedalers Bike Ride in http://brinin.org/content/view/393/162/.

Both rides are wonderful rides! The Blueberry ride begins in Plymouth during the Blueberry Festival and pedals around beautiful Lake Maxinkuckie and the Apple Pedalers Ride begins in Nappanee and pedals through northern Indiana and Amish country. Several years ago, we rented a 'trailer' for Bruce's bike and rode with Tyler on the Apple Pedalers ride. It was one of those memory making days that we won't ever forget - we had a great time!

5. Bonfires, Sweater and Chili.... I love to wrap up in a sweater in front of a bonfire by the lake. I love to cook a pot of chili over the fire in my cast iron kettles. Summer is over - Winter is on the way ... and Life is Good!