Hello November! Although the calendar still says it’s fall, Mother Nature decided to dump a few inches of snow on us in time for Halloween. Not fun! But on a positive note, I had the pleasure of visiting my sister and enjoying fall on her farm in southwest Michigan with both my daughters and their families.
Today is cozy living Saturday with my blogging friends and I want to share the wonderful weekend with you all. Because to me, being outdoors in the fall, picking apples, enjoying a corn maze, cozying up on the couch with loved ones – are all things that give me warm fuzzies this time of year.
The photo above is the front porch of the Airbnb cabin we rented just north of Kalamazoo. My sister’s place is in Hastings, about 30 miles west of Grand Rapids. The area is slightly hilly with tons of trees. We were lucky to visit just as most of the trees were reaching peak color. The following pics show the pretty views from the back deck of the house where we stayed. (I’ll apologize now for the number of photos ahead.)
And just down the road were these fun longhorn cows grazing in the field. I had to pull over to get some photos.
Our cabin was about 5 miles from my sister’s place, which is Cotant’s Farm Market. In October they offer the typical farm fall activities like a gigantic corn maze, bounce houses and obstacle courses for kids, fresh donuts and caramel corn – you get the idea. My favorite activity was the apple picking in their expansive orchard. The “pink ladies” were ripe and ready for us.
We also picked Jonagolds, Red Empress, and Golden Delicious. Needless to say, I’ll be doing some type of apple baking or preserving this weekend. Here’s my daughter picking I don’t remember which type of apple.
And Little Foo (Forrest) enjoying a Jonagold.
The kids had a blast riding the John Deere tractor course and all the other fun stuff. Zoe is trying to stay in front of two of the local boys.
Aiden is helping Bear despite his walking boot (he’s okay now). You can see the zip line in the back – even Bear enjoyed it and hung on the whole way. I just love when the entire family is together like this and am so glad everyone gets along well enough to stay in one house together.
And I have to introduce you to Buffy the farm kitty!
Here’s a few more images taken along country roads in southwest Michigan. I love the rolling hills and abundance of trees.
Our family returns to southwest Michigan this coming summer but this time we’re staying just steps away from Lake Michigan in a different Airbnb rental home. I’ll leave you with one last shot of fall color from the mitten state.
And yes, I did take photos of historic homes throughout the town and will share those in a couple of weeks. For now, enjoy visiting my blogging friends who are also sharing some of their cozy living goodness!
Duke Manor Farm / Sincerely Marie Designs / Finding Silver Pennies / Creative Cain Cabin
Town and Country Living / Making It in the Mountains / It All Started with Paint
I am totally enjoying Town & Country Living! Thank you so much, I look forward to more. Enjoy and be well!
Thanks so much Lynne! Glad you enjoy my blog!!
We have the most blessed country in the world! Thanks for sharing the beauty of Michigan. Such a special time of bonding and memory making for your family. You’ve got some real cuties 🙂
PS: The farm kitty could me my Max’s twin except Max is all orange. Same head and silky coat. 🙂
Thank you Deb! Max sounds like a cutie-pie!
Your photos are absolutely beautiful Jennifer! What a gorgeous place to spend time with family. It reminds me so much of my grandpa’s cattle farm in IA. I’m completely envious of these northern falls, so much pretty foliage. Happy November friend!
Hi Amanda! I’ve been to several parts of Iowa and think it’s a beautiful state. I loved seeing the cows when we were in Michigan so I can imagine you enjoyed your grandpa’s farm!
Loved your Michigan photos. We used to vacation in Northern Michigan when my children were growing up and I’ve always loved it as a vacation spot – feeling as though we had traveled much farther away than just one state away from Indiana. To us, Lake Michigan was the ocean. I have good memories there.
Thanks, Pat! I think I’ve been to all parts of Michigan at some point in my life. It really is a beautiful state!
How beautiful! Such a lovely fall trip. The foliage is gorgeous! That’s something I miss most about living in Chicago. The foliage season is a blink of the eye! 🙂
Hi Linda. We had a blast and now I want a vacation home in southwest Michigan! 🙂
We are truly blessed to live in such a BEAUTIFUL country! Thanks so much, Jennifer, for these gorgeous pictures!
Thanks, Patricia. Michigan is such a pretty state. Rolling hills, lots of trees, and lakes everywhere!
Absolutely beautiful photos. I loved them all. Seeing the kids made me smile. They were obviously having fun enjoying the fall day. Lovely.
Thanks, Shayna! So glad we went because the following weekend it snowed here at home!
This was such a fun post for me since I know all those photos and landscape well I’ve even pet that kitty 🙂 I was in Hastings the same day you were there, you should have looked me up and stopped over that would have been fun. Maybe next time!
Aw, you were in Hastings? I thought about reaching out to you but we didn’t have a lot of time. I’d also like to check out Liz Marie Galvin’s store, The Found Cottage. Have you been there? I’ll be back in that area again so we’ll have to plan something. Isn’t that cat precious? She’s so fluffy!
That was so fun, to see so i can imagine what fun you had being together and seeing all the beautiful scenery that God provides. I think probably the sweetest apple was that bigger one in that cart, he is so cute. You have a nice family.
Thanks, Marlene! I love vacationing with my kids and their kids. So nice to have uninterrupted time together!
Glad you enjoyed our neck of the woods! 🙂
I loved it, Linda! We’ll be back in the summer!
I see you have a Hawks fan in the mix. Seattle’s leaves are changing now to those lovely fall colors to enjoy. I love reading your blog and wish you a warm holiday season.
Thank you, Tonya. Yes – he’s a huge Seahawks fan. So is my cousin who lives in Seattle and goes to most of the games! Hope your holidays are wonderful, too!
What a lovely place to spend time visiting family! The views look amazing, I just can’t get over all of the rich colours! So lovely Jennifer!
Thanks Kristi!
We were lucky to be there when the colors were so vivid. It was breathtaking.
Oh, wow, these photos are so lovely. They made me feel like I was on this trip in the mountains. How sweet are your grandchildren? LOVED seeing photos of them. Also loved seeing the longhorn cows and pink lady apples have never seen either of those in person but I always buy the pink lady apples at the grocery store. I love how sweet they are!