A New Type of Fall

We are enjoying a new season of "Fall" in California. It is not a season of Fall like we love in Illinois. I am going to take you through some of the things I love about  fall in the Midwest and how they are the same and different in our area of California.

Joan's Farm & Pumpkin Patch in Livermore- Outside of the Corn Maze

Same: There is corn in Illinois and in California.

Different: Corn in Illinois is harvested for feed and what not; there are fields and fields of it along I-74 (I heart that :) ). Corn grown around Livermore is used for "entertainment" purposes in the form of a corn maze. In fact an irrigation system is required for the corn to grow tall enough since it rarely rains in the summer in Livermore.

Greg measuring his height at the pumpkin patch.

Same: Greg's height at the pumpkin patch.

Different: Wearing shorts and a T-shirt in California and wearing jeans and a sweatshirt in Illinois. As I write this it is 80 degrees and sunny outside today. This does not feel like "Fall" weather to me! I brought out our "Winter" clothes from storage in hopes that it will cool down soon!

I am sporting my block I hat at the pumpkin patch as I use my had as a reference point for what size pumpkin we want to pick. I love having a husband that is an engineer, he comes up with great ideas!

 Same: We support the ILLINI no matter what time zone we are in!

Different: We don't have the option of watching all of their losses since we are in a different time zone. It saves a little heart ache....

 Greg and our friend Adam with the pumpkins  we bought at the pumpkin patch

Same: There are trees with leaves in Illinois and California.

Different: The leaves on the trees in the Midwst are a gorgeous array of red, yellow, and orange. They stay on the trees and fall throughout the season, making for lots of raking. The leaves on the trees in Northern California can rarely be seen in beautiful Fall colors. By looking at the trees in this picture you can see that they are still very green in Mid-October. Often times they will turn yellow and fall immediately from the tree, with other green leaves still on the tree. This beautiful part of the season is something I miss dearly!

 Greg and our friend April assisting with the pumpkin carving contest at Youth Group.

Same: Pumpkin carving in October.

Different: I have great memories carving pumpkins with my Dad and sister on the floor in the kitchen a few weeks before Halloween. We would then light the Jack-O-Latterns every night until Halloween. We carved pumpkins with the Youth Group on Thursday night and hope that they don't rot on our front porch before Monday night! Again, why is it consistently 80 degrees or more outside?!?



 In progress to becoming the winning pumpkin in the carving contest.

 Jack-O-Lantern Pizza from Papa Murphy's

Same: Jack-O-Lantern pizza, we love this! We enjoyed a great time catching up with friends and having this pizza just like in college for only $7!

 The fall tray on our dinning room table, along with a bowl of Candy Corn for Greg :)

Same: Fall decorations.

Different: No pumpkin potpourri to be found. I love going to the Covered Bridge festival in the Fall with Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and Jess. I always wanted the little bags of cinnamon smelling pumpkins for myself. I have looked and looked with no avail. Thanks Grandma S. and Dad for sending some to me and making Fall in Livermore a little more like Fall in Illinois!

 Wine tasting at Cedar Mountain Winery in Livermore.

Same: An abundance of Halloween candy. (Greg really likes this!)

Difference: In Illinois we usually just eat the Halloween candy and love it. In Livermore Halloween candy is taken one step further and paired with a wine flight, so of course we had to try this! Surprisingly some of the candy tasted great with the wine.



Greg tasting the Scarlet Syrah wine through a Twizzler "straw," it really enhances the strawberry undertones...

So here is to new and old understandings of the season of Fall!

-Love you all, Leslie



Visitors

Last weekend Jacob and Kelly came to visit! We really enjoyed spending quality time with our good friends from college. There was sightseeing in San Fransisco, exploring Mt. Diablo, and even a few games of Settlers.

 Golden Gate Bridge

This is a great view of the East side of the bridge. We were able to find a parking lot for Fort Mason (Battery East), and walk to the first tower of the bridge. We even saw a few dolphins on the bay side of the bridge as we walked across.

There is "The Rock".

The lighthouse on Alcatraz.

The "Agave Trail" was open during our visit. We were able to walk along the trail on the edge of the island for a close up view of the water. I am standing in front of the warning sign that can be seen by boaters approaching the island.

Jacob and Kelly on the Agave Trail.

Greg and I walking along the trail, look how close the water is!!

We headed to Pier 39 for dinner and shopping. Greg became part of the performers show unexpectidlley, but willingly. He held the stick with the rope and helped catch the spiner to toss to the person below.

Sea Lions at Pier 39. It was quite entertainig to watch them fight for a good spot. They often lay on top of one another or push each other into the water.

Making sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery.

We enjoyed delicious ice cream sundaes at Ghiradelli Square!

Check out the sign as we approach the "crookedest" street in
the world, also known as Lombard St.

Here are some views as we drove down Lombard St.

On the second day of their visit, Greg convinced everyone to head to Mt. Diablo State Park. We did some hiking and climbing in "Rock City", drove to the summit, and had a pinic lunch. It was a great way to enjoy some of the beautiful things God created! Here are some of our favorite pictures.

It's Been One Year

We said "I Do"...

We said "See Ya Later" to family...

And "Hello" to California...

The last year of life for Greg and I has been a whirlwind. We have finally feel settled in our new home in California. We have found a church community, made close friends, and have enjoyed many new adventures together.

I am starting this blog to stay connected with friends and family that we miss dearly. I hope to write and share pictures about our daily lives here in Livermore. Even though we might be hundreds of miles apart, I desire for us to feel close at heart.

So here are some snapshots from our first year as "The Schebler's" living on the West Coast!

Wine tasting with Sam and Anne.

Walking on the beach in Half Moon Bay.

Cheering on the Illini at Fresno State.

Our First Christmas Tree

Home for Christmas Eve with the Vacketta Family.

(I heart pictures like this!)

Enjoying the snow with Jessica!

Baby Jaymes enjoying the wrapping paper as we celebrated Christmas

with the Schebler Family in Schaumburg.

 Kate came to visit!

Enjoying the typical San Franciso weather with Mom and Dad, we had a great time despite the cold, wind, and rain!

Greg and his parents enjoying an unsually nice day in San Franciso.

Julie and Jaime's Wedding in Carmel, CA.

Considering eating the top layer of wedding cake Mom and Dad

saved for us for our first anniversary...we opted to just take a picture.

We have hosted many gatherings with friends at our apartment, this was a Lady's Tea for friends before the school year started.

At the top of Ange's Rest hike in Portland, OR.

Sunset in Portland, OR

We love and miss all of you and look forward to staying

connected through our updates here!

Love,

Leslie & Greg