I have stuff to say, Metals and Festivals and Pies, oh my

Metals and Festivals and Pies, oh my

This weekend was pretty great, all around.

Last week, we scrambled to get the studio looking awesome and totally functional. The only thing left to do, really is to move Junior out to her new home, as soon as we make her space clear. She weighs 104 pounds, and the thing she’s sitting on weighs another 50, so this is not a small feat.

We hosted an open studio day on Saturday and really enjoyed the company and the opportunity to educate. I was also celebrating Karwa Chauth, but didn’t experience anything negative until about an hour before the moon rose. I was soldering and my right hand was shaking a bit while trying to move the solder pallion to the piece. Scarlett and Alec stayed late to enjoy the bonfire (s’mores, geekery, brats, beer, stars, chicharrones, margaritas, laughter) and then we moved it inside to play Rock Band. Alec is the first person I’ve ever seen who can play the drums on expert. And the bass… but seriously, the drums are way more impressive.

When the ice ran out, we switched to shots.

Sunday, we packed the kids up and headed out to Blue Ridge. It’s a gorgeous drive and an even prettier place. We stopped at the Pink Pig on the way for some awesome BBQ - the girls chowed down on everything and were getting to be experts at gnawing the meat off the ribs. Makes me so proud.

We made our way to Mercier Apple Orchard and then did our yearly glut on the pies, apples, and fun. The kids loved the bluegrass/traditional/roots band (I did, too, honestly). We picked up apples (granny smith, since they were out (!) of braeburns), 8 gallons of pressed cider, several jars of varied stuff (sweet potato honey butter with honey, cherry preserves, pineapple/apricot preserves, corn cob jelly, and sweet potato syrup) 15 fried pies of all different kinds, and a pumpkin.

We took a tractor ride up into the 200 acres of the orchard and sat on a hill while the kids picked apples. This was probably my favorite part of the trip. :)

We took a different, equally gorgeous route home, and then immediately settled the kids in for sleep. Toby and I chilled out and watched Twin Peaks while Tyme made a road trip into Atlanta to pick up a friend from the airport.

I win.

Moar pictures from the trip:

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