Mile: 106,850

As part of our pre-Halloween planning we had to check out this great find on Facebook … Barton Orchards. This is one of the largest apple orchards we have ever seen and they had a pumpkin patch too!

This place was huuuggeee. They had multiple places to eat and a bakery with apple cider donuts. The line was stretched further than Jackson’s patience so that is about the only thing we did not eat that day.

They also had a market and even a tap room for the moms and dads to have some of the apple cider hard variety.

There was a ton of stuff to so. A barnyard with a bridge over the people walking. Luckily we had enough common sense to run under it quickly so we didn’t get peed on by the goats!

Jackson even got to take a bucket of “pay dirt” and sluice it to see what treasures he could find! Just like our experience he struck gold and found many crystals.

They had multiple musicians performing, a magician and even a guy doing chain saw carving.

They also had a pirate’s playground and a corn maze.

And how could I forget RACING pigs!!!!

Interestingly, I realized it was directly adjacent to a planned community called Dalton Farms. When I was 13 or 14 my day would load up his old Ford tractor with a York rake behind it. Him and I would spend the day over there raking out the lawns and then seeding and haying them. I will never forget how badly the hay made me sneeze. I will also never forget the life lessons my father taught me over there and how teaching me that hard work does indeed payoff. We always had to have lunch at the Pot Belly Deli and have some curly fries. Although the Deli may not be there the life lessons my father taught me most certainly are!

Hope you had great adventures this weekend.

Mile: 106,610

Today was a perfect day for adventures. The temperature was perfect and the skies were blue. Action Jackson and his buddy Christopher definitely made the best of it.

CAMA Fall Show

The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association never disappoints with their fall show. They have everything a 6 year old could dream of … wagon rides, antique steam train rides, a swap meet with all kinds of treasures, a antique steam model train set, tractors, steam shovels, dozers, antique engines, an antique ice cream machine, saw mill, rock crusher and more! They even have a building with gems and fossils from Connecticut!

Tony Hap’s Farm

The Town of Sherman bought this farm to preserve it and under the management of David Jellen they have not disappointed. Tony Hap would be proud looking down seeing how his legacy has been preserved. Jackson and Christopher loved the cows, pigs and chickens. Even more tractors were her too!

New Milford Apple Festival

The Town of New Milford put on their first annual Apple Festival. Jackson and Christopher LOVED the bounce houses and blow up slides as well as the ice cream truck. This was the perfect way to end the day as Jackson zonked out before we even got home.

Hope your adventures were just as fun as ours!

Mile: 106,631

We know there aren’t many more days left like there was on this day last week. There was a breeze in the air, the sun was shining and by the end of our adventure it was just chilly enough for sweatshirts. Before you know it we will be picking out a Christmas Tree and Action Jackson will be writing out his wish list for Santa.

We chased the sunset all the way to Southbury for a roadside stand called Denmo’s. Denmo’s has been in existence for a looonnnngggg time and my fond memories of going there as a kid a few times has made this a somewhat frequent stopping point for us on our adventures.

On our way we got to see a bunch of flags and were quick enough to snag a few pics. For the Fourth of July I made a playlist of patriotic songs and Jackson has taken a liking to them so it felt pretty good as we were listening to Ray Charles singing America the Beautiful to see all these flags. We Ar trying to instill in Jackson what America is all about. In our mind, it is coming together no matter the color of your skin or your political beliefs and working together for the betterment of all. That those who work hard and do good will be rewarded. That being working hard and being rewarded you then have the opportunity to do good for others who may not a hand up not a hand out. That we should say hi to all those we see, that we should smile often and be thankful for the freedoms and opportunity that we have.

Ironically, on our way there we passed by Chainsaws Unlimited. This was one of my stomping grounds when I had a little landscaping business in high school and through college to help with the bills and I used to buy all of my equipment there. Great memories of hard work paying off early in life and setting the stage for the future!

Action Jackson got his favorite, chicken fingers with honey mustard and washed it down with some chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. No better drink in my mind than ice cream.

As fate would have it my bus driver, Mrs. Finch, was there as well. Mrs. Finch was my bus driver from Kindergarten all the way through high school. I remember she almost never missed a day of work. Heather asked her how I and the other kids was on the bus… she said, “I only wanted to throw them in the River a few times.” I’ll take that as a positive. We reminisced about how no matter the weather we would still have school. Heck, back then they threw chains on the bus. Now at the littlest bit of snow, school is canceled.

I almost forgot … I love the sign in Roxbury now where people have been blowing through the stop sign. It says, “really, you have to stop.” I feel like we need to heed those words more in life. With technology and our tablets and our phones we are constantly on and, “really, you have to stop,” and see all that is there to offer in this wonderful world and learn to enjoy it, like we used to.

Hope your adventures were just as fun as ours. Be sure to like or follow our page so we can keep you up to date on our adventures. We have some neat things planned for Ole Red for Christmas. Stay tuned!