The Desjardins: Color Drive!

So, I finally got all my pictures uploaded to the computer .... and I fear the whole thing is about to crash. Anyway, I'm going to have to share pictures from our recent trip to Illinois over a couple of posts because there are just so many.

We finally made it back to Pike County for the annual Color Drive. Something I have been wanting to do for a loooong time. I have heard about it all my life and with it being in October just have never been able to make it. This year was the year. Unfortunately, Rudy was unable to take that weekend off of work because one of the other supervisors had already requested it off. I was so disappointed and thought, once again, that we wouldn't be able to make it. Then I decided that Ryder and I would go without him. I was really nervous about traveling by myself with him (and carrying 2 weeks worth of luggage for the 2 of us!) but then my mom decided to go too. So we went on Thursday and then Rudy came and joined us the following Tuesday and we spent another week on the farm.

The scenery was absolutely beautiful. I experienced a real fall and it was amazing!! It ended up being MUCH colder (40 degrees a couple of days!!) than what the forecast had predicted while I was packing - but luckily I did pack for all types of weather. For those who don't know what the Color Drive is - all of the little towns in Pike County participate with fall festivals, garage sales and of course, FOOD. It's fun driving through the little towns and I guess the name comes from all the colors of fall. Anyway, if I am being completely honest, I'm not sure the actual Color Drive part lived up to it's hype. My cousin Meghan and I went together, with our kiddos (she has a 4 year old) and we had a good time, but the kids definitely slowed us down and made things more difficult. It was such a pain to get them in and out of the car so many times, since we were making so many stops. We left them in the car a couple of times, but no matter what, they just weren't having fun. Also I am not a huge garage sale go-er. I have my own garage sale about twice a year, but I really don't go out to other sales very often. There were some neat crafts and tons of holiday decorations at the festivals but I couldn't really buy anything since I had to fly home anyway. We only went to 2 towns (and I made it to a 3rd one on Sunday) and if I get to go again, I'd like to go to a lot more towns.

Even though the Color Drive wasn't all I thought it would be (don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it - I think the crazy wind put a damper on it for me too), I really had a great time that weekend! Hanging out with the family and having us all on the farm together is one of my favorite things. I think most of us are alike in that the farm is our favorite place on Earth. Saturday night EVERYONE was there - just a few cousins were missing, and of course my grandpa who is missed every day. We had a bonfire and weenie roast, followed by a hay ride. It was a blast!! We did 2 hay rides - one with alllll the kids, young and old (it was jam PACKED) and then a longer one that was supposed to be for us older ones, but ended up being a mixture of young and old. Ryder wasn't about to let me go without him - he really enjoyed it! The second one was pretty long .... in fact my uncle, who was driving the tractor, got lost! We made it back though and a really fun day/night came to an end. That was one of my favorite days of the whole trip and I really hope we can make it back next year. We won't go without Rudy again though. We REALLY missed him. By the time he got there, all of the out of town family had left, Ryder had come down with a cold and I was suffering from the worst allergies of my life.

Here are the pictures from the Color Drive weekend ......

I think this was Friday. Meghan and I went to some yard sales with the kids and after awhile, met up with my parents and traded cars with them.....and left the kiddos in the car to head back to the farm with my parents. When we got there a little later, they both came RUNNING over to the car, so excited to see us. It was pretty cute! (Notice my grandma's yard sale in the back. That's such a small fraction of the stuff she has. It's nuts!)

Ryder and his truck that we got at a yard sale for $1.

Ryder put on my grandma's shoes and begged to go outside.

Story time!

I couldn't get over this .... the "Information Booth" was...less than informative, considering it was nothing more than a sign. No actual booth to be found.