Tolay Fall Festival

There's something about the Fall season and little 60's dresses that just seems right to me. Especially when peter pan collars and autumnal hued plaids are involved.

I've been hitting up the Goodwill Bins here in town (affectionately refered to as "the digs") with my digger buddy Angelina. That's where I dug up this gem a few weeks ago.

Clover and I wore our little plaid dresses to the Tolay Fall Festival in Petaluma last weekend and hers couldn't have been more perfect for the occasion.

As you can see from the wacky sign, there was plenty for a four-year-old in a cute little vintage dress to do and see and photo ops a'plenty for a camera toting mama.

It may look like Fall in the pictures but it sure felt like Summer. It ended up being hot, like unfortunately hot. A snowcone and a patch of shade helped.

Papa to the rescue!

So many creatures to pet, so little time.

The tractor ride out to the pumpkin patch would have been more enjoyable had we been prepared with hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, things of that nature... the person with the big black umbrella had the right idea.

As it were, our time spent wandering the "pumpkin patch" (this is obviously not where the pumpkins grow) involved getting scorched and impatient before grabbing a pumpkin and hightailing it onto the next departing tractor. Shade please!

There was a big barn filled with wild animal exhibits, both live and of the taxidermied variety, lots of creepy crawlies on display too, and a resident barn owl watching over the scene from up in the rafters. Can you spot him?

I loved how Clover's dress picked up the colors of all the different squash varieties. We made a little cornhusk doll at one of the craft booths. Carding and spinning wool into yarn by hand to make the hair was pretty neat.

How tall this Fall?

My petite pumpkin is just barely taller than her best pal Finn who is a full year younger than her. People often assume they're brother and sister. Easy to see why :)

Ok friends, there you have it, my contribution to this years pumpkin patch posting madness. Happy carving!

Check out this beautiful video just released by local Sonoma County darlings, Odd Bird. It was filmed at this year's Handcar Regatta and I must say, it's pretty dang dreamy...