This post is written with you in mind. It is also an opportunity to win big.

Let me introduce you to a dear friend, fellow blogger, and passionate mother, Joy. She blogs over at Treasures where she is sharing her gift of writing with her passion for orphans. I am writing to ask if you'll join me in reading.

Joy says, "I want more readers. I need more readers. I really want to be an advocate for orphans." There is no need to plead me to read as I definitely draw hope and promise from her posts. But, can I invite you to read?

Now, for your opportunity to win. Joy is giving away two Barnes and Noble $25 gift card. Visit Treasures and I'll let Joy know I sent you. That's your ticket to very good odds in one of two $25 gift cards being given away. Drawings will be held on December 5 so head over straight away!

Here are the Ballston Babes hard at work with Joy and Emmeline on a Treasures project of shoeboxes for eight children in an orphanage in Ukraine.

Interview with Rowan:
1. What did you do on your birthday?
I got lots of presents. I went trick-or-treating.
2. How old are you now?
4.
3. What do four year old's do?
Ugh, play.
4. When will you be 5?
On January 2nd.
5. What is your favorite color?
Red. Someone else likes red too, can you guess it? Dad, and someone else. 6 people. Mrs. Rowe doesn't like red, she likes orange and pink.
6. Where do you go to school?
At the 4 year-olds class. In Ballston Spa and at,...I'm gonna call it Brick Church because it has rocks on it.
7. What is your favorite thing to do when you play?
When it's a cold day in the summer I like to come inside and get warm. I like firetrucks.
8. How many books do you read each day?
One and when I go ni-nights I read 5 books.
9. If you could spend one day with anyone who would it be?
Mommy or Daddy.
10. Who loves you?
Mommy and Daddy.

We celebrated Rowan's 4th birthday last Monday with special moments,
with caramel apples,with friends, and lots of smiles!Interview with Rowan, the now 4 year old, to follow in subsequent post.

Happy Halloween!

This Nascar driver waits all year to Trick-or-Treat! It finally arrived.
Snow White, without much memory of how this whole thing works, caught on in no time!Now, let's hope they don't run to the neighbors tomorrow asking for candy!

A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!

I love my home, being at home, and being all homey. It's true. When the chance arises in the fall to have coffee on a Saturday morning while 'preparing' for winter I am all over it. This year I am all over homemade apple sauce. Thankfully, the entire family is too. Alan cut and boiled, Rowan and Evangeline milled, and I processed. 1/2 bushel of apples from our local orchard is now our very own delicious homemade apple sauce. Nothing added but a pinch of sweet cinnamon. No canning just yet; it's the easy freezer sauce for us now. Though, I might be swayed to canning in the very near future. In addition to our apple sauce there is also plenty of apple crisp on hand and at least an apple a day for all of us. We are nearing the end of our upstate New York apple harvest so what else to do today but head back out this afternoon to pick-our-own at Saratoga Apple. See you at the orchard!

Lots of around the town action for us once again!
A day trip to the lake house allowed for some much needed play time with Pops!A dear friends' Pablo birthday party with a mini bounce house, pizza, and Pablo cup cakes. Everyone is happy (but looks tired!) at a birthday!Rowan's first field trip to the local pumpkin patch and fall farm fun! It was a beautiful, clear, crisp morning for fresh air fun!After attending the Keller Williams Kids concert at The Egg in Albany there was beautiful weather to play around with on Empire Plaza. We love the capital district!