fall Archives - Mother 2 Mother Blog

Things to Do in the Blue Ridge Mountains

March 31, 2019 by Rhonda Gales

Today, I’m sharing travel tips on things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains. First, have you seen the fall foliage when it’s in peak on the Blue Ridge Mountains? These are the mountains that John Denver sang about. Fortunately, I live near the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River.

Furthermore, the picture below is about a mile down the road from me. I pass it when I’m headed to the grocery store. I decided to stop yesterday and snap a few pictures. They are boasting brilliant colors in the background of the apple orchard. The apple trees are loaded with crisp apples to be used in fall dishes.

Additionally, week-end drives are a must for me during this time of year. It requires me to unplug for a minute and it is so worth it. Seeing this kind of beauty warms my heart and gives me a new found appreciation for the beauty that surrounds me. It is truly an incredible and breathtaking view that brings peace to my soul. I have learned to appreciate it, and now sit for a few minutes just to absorb all that is being offered to me. Use God’s beauty to feed your souls. Furthermore, learn to stop and smell the roses.

As I was taking pictures, I wondered if those passing by noticed the beauty that I was inhaling. It’s so imperative to not take things for granted. God wants us to enjoy his creations. Fortunately, I learned that lesson over the years. I have learned to slow down and enjoy the small things in life.

Here’s a list of things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains:

Wineries – The Blue Ridge Mountains boasts incredible wineries from West Virginia to North Carolina.

Floyd’s Country Store – Known for its Friday night Blue Grass Jamborees and lunch counter. If you’re into Blue Grass music and a little Two Stepping, check it out.

Gearhart’s Chocolates – Gearhart’s Chocolate is located in Charlottesville, VA. An ex-Marine started the chocolate company. They offer mouth watering fine chocolates to customers near and far.

George Washington’s Ferry Farm – Perfect for a family outing and history lesson for the kids. Visitors can explore the 80 acres that the farm sits on. They can walk down the old ferry road, enjoy the hiking trails, and watch for birds in the Wild Meadow located on the farm.

Jordon Hollow Stables – Jordon Hollow Stables offers view of the Blue Ridge Mountains on shaded riding trails. The adventure also offers views of wildlife on the property.

Monticello – Visit the home and grounds of Thomas Jefferson. Located in beautiful Charlottesville, VA.

Shenandoah River Outfitters – Finally, you can enjoy canoeing, tubing, and white water rafting on the Shenandoah River. If the weather is too chilly, enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains while enjoying a luscious steak cooked over a campfire. Rent a cabin for a week-end, and extend your view of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.

Finally, you may like Transitional Pieces from Summer to Fall for Every Woman.

Filed Under: Travel Tips, Vacation Destinations Tagged With: autumn foliage, Blue Ridge Mountains, fall, West Virginia scenes

How To Throw an Epic Fall Barbeque

September 30, 2016 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

The summer might have come to an end, but there’s still plenty of time left in the year to make use of your barbeque. The weather is still mild enough, but the change in season makes it a little different to your average midsummer cookout. So get your family and friends around, and fire up the barbeque while you still can! Here are just a few of the ways you can make a fall barbeque special, and ensure your party is an epic success.

Photo from Wikimedia

Cook Seasonal Produce

Now we’re in fall, take advantage of the awesome fall produce that’s available! Don’t be afraid to think out of the box when you’re planning your fall barbeque. Just because certain things aren’t traditionally done on the barbeque doesn’t mean they won’t taste great. Ingredients like squash, sweet potatoes, meats marinated in warming spices are all great options to cook on the grill. You have things like mushrooms (which are at their best during the fall and winter) and corn on the cob which are both in season. We all know they work well on the barbeque. You could even grill some seasonal fall fruits such as apples, quince and figs. Serve with some mascarpone cream for something tasty yet unusual.

Serve Up Warming, Seasonal Drinks

You could whip up a big batch of warming apple cider with spices for guests when they arrive. Or you could create cocktails using seasonal fruits to sip on through the evening. Think pear mimosas, blackberry margaritas and bourbon hot toddies. You could even make some homemade hot chocolate and keep it warm in the slow cooker ready to serve later in the evening. Mugs served with whipped cream, sprinkles and maybe even a shot of Irish cream liqueur are bound to go down well.

Keep Everyone Warm

While the weather is still nice, there’s definitely more of a chill in the air especially as the evening draws on. So investing in fire pits or outdoor fireplaces could is a great investment for the garden. You could provide guests with blankets, and all sit around the toasty fire. Toast some marshmallows or drink hot chocolate in the cool, crisp evening to finish off the night. Perfect!

Photo from Pixabay

Think About Lights and Decorations

There are so many ways you could go with fall decor ideas. Hollowed out pumpkins displaying seasonal flowers make a fabulous fall decoration which doesn’t look ‘halloween-y’. You could line some mason jars with pretty fall leaves and put some tea light candles inside. You can even buy cute battery operated autumnal fairy lights featuring things like faux leaves. These kind of things will set the ambience. Having lots of lighting around is useful when the days are shorter too. As well as your smaller light sources, it’s worth having an outdoor light or floodlight if your party is going to carry on through the evening.

Have you ever thrown a fall barbeque? How did you make it different to a standard summer one?

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts Tagged With: BBQ recipes, fall, fall activities

Gardening Accessories You’ll Need This Fall

August 24, 2016 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Die-hard gardeners know that a good pair of galoshes can turn a rainy day into a productive one in the backyard vegetable garden. However, do not overlook any of the other gardening accessories that can make your yard work easier too. These accessories will come in handy whether you’re harvesting, weeding, planting or cleaning up this fall. We have a few tips below.

Knee Protection
If you suffer with knee pain and standard strap-on knee pads make you uncomfortable and sweaty, try a garden kneeler wave pad instead. This foam-constructed pad not only cushions your knees, but protects them from sharp and rough elements as well. When you’re not gardening, use it around the house while cleaning.

Tool Organizers
When working in the yard, a garden caddy can keep you from stretching and reaching for tools that you use as you go. Plus, it saves time because you won’t have to try to find tools that were placed in the soil in between use. When it is time to tidy up the yard at the end of the season, don’t overlook the importance of a tool storage rack to keep everything in place until the growing season begins again. That way you won’t have to look for everything in the spring. Some racks even come with casters to allow for easy mobility. Make sure the rack you use has a grid bottom. This allows for air circulation and reduces the probability of rusty tools.

A Gardening Apron with Pockets
Even if dirt on your clothes doesn’t bother you or you use a bucket caddy for tools, a gardening apron with pockets comes in handy. The storage pouches work well for harvesting vegetables or fruit, leaving your hands free for other tasks. Additionally, you’ll save time on doing laundry by protecting your clothing, even if you wear separate gardening apparel.

Adjustable Hoes
Whether you use scuffle, draw, push or chopping hoes, your body will benefit from the adjustable kind. Longer hoes cause less back pain, but don’t work too well with raised beds. Adjustable hoes provide the best of both worlds. Plus, every family member can regulate the length of each for their comfort.

Fall is the ideal time to pick up gardening accessories. That’s when many Central Farm and Garden stores have end-of-season sales. Even stores in zones with longer growing seasons lower prices during the cooler months to make room for new inventory. Not only are these accessories beneficial in the fall, they will all benefit garden endeavors during the rest of the year as well.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.

You may also like: Container Gardening Is the New Black

Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Nature-Gardening, Vegetable Garden Tagged With: fall, garden cleanup, gardening

Ten Reasons I Love Fall

October 23, 2013 by Rhonda Gales

Fall is my favorite time of the year, and here’s my Top 10 reasons that I look forward to this season:

Beautiful yellow, orange, brown, and red colors – There’s nothing more beautiful than fall foliage on a country drive.
Crisp, fresh air – Sipping a cup of coffee on the deck while inhaling the crisp, fresh air warms my heart.
Visiting the pumpkin patch with the grandchildren – We’ve made visiting the pumpkin patch an annual event.
It’s boot season – I love my boots, and I have plenty.
Chili and soups move to the top of the menu – I love simmering a pot of chili or soup on the week-ends during the colder months.
Roaring fires – The fireplace comes to life
Mums and pansies are in bloom – I love pops of color in the landscape in the fall. It brightens everything.
Halloween costumes – I love how excited the kids get deciding who or what they want to for a night of spooky & candy.
Scarves – I love scarves, and have a drawer dedicated to them.
Roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire pit – There’s nothing like roasted hot dogs and smores with the grandchildren in the fall.