Laura Lohr

Not Just an Alliteration

Happy Halloween with Bate’s Nut Farm

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We got a rare family photo in front of the Bate’s But Farm store

It’s that time of year again! Halloween is one of my very favorite times of the year. I love when the cool nights begin. I love when the decorations come out. I love when the leaves turn. What’s not to like? I love it all!

Allie and her friend had a great time wandering around the farm.

We were invited to Bate’s Nut Farm in Valley Center, California. Bate’s Nut Farm has been open for business for more than 90 years. It has been family owned for five generations. It is nestled in the picturesque area of Valley Center, east of the San Diego coastline. Bate’s Nut Farm started as a walnut farm, but now features a variety of nuts, candy, souvenirs, specialty teas, sweets, and treats. Whether it’s fudge, rock candy, candy corn, truffles, sugar-free chocolate, chocolates, or chocolate covered nuts—Bate’s Nut Farm has something for everyone.

Lots of treats. Mmmm.

We got a tour from Sherrie, who is the owner and has been involved with the farm since her grandparents were running the fam, when she was a little girl. She shared her memories of the old days, when Bate’s Nuts Farm still grew their own nuts. While Bate’s Nut Farm still sells, salts, and processes nuts the nuts they are famous for, they purchase nuts from around the world. This means that they are able to have a huge variety of goodies! They still make their own homemade goods, like a vast variety of fudge. Mmmmm. Fudge! We were able to sample birthday cake fudge, which is unique and fun!

The fudge case was my favorite selection.
So much goodness!

While at Bate’s Nut Farm, we enjoyed our favorites—fudge, cashews, candy, even lunch on the grass. There were so many gourds and we got to pick our favorite pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.

What kind of candy do you like? Salt water taffy is a favorite. There’s lots of variety!

The girls enjoyed the petting zoo and got to hold some baby chicks. Sheep, pigs, geese, ducks, an ostrich, and pony rides! There’s something for everyone to do!

Happy Pig!

We wandered through the corn maze. Mr. Bear and I walked leisurely through the corn maze, while Allie and her competitive friend rushed through the maze, assuring that they beat us. HA! They had a good time and the weather was nice. It is beautiful at Bate’s Nut Farm. It is surrounded by oak trees and it is nice to be out of the hustle and bustle of suburbia.

Gourds and Pumpkins Galore

 

Weekdays on the Farm

  • Pumpkins, squash, gourds—all shapes and sizes
  • Hayride: $2.50 each
  • Straw Maze: $2.50 each
  • Pony Rides: $8.00 each
  • Petting Corral: $3.00 each (9/29-10/31)
  • Farm Zoo
  • Picnicking
  • Farmer’s Daughter

All weekday activities are available on weekends too!

 

Weekend Activities on the Farm:

  • Face Painting
  • Live Music
  • Kids ‘n’ Paint
  • Bounce & Slides
  • Rock Climb
  • What’s Cookin’ BBQ
  • The Valley Center Optimist Tacos & Quesadillas
  • Ice Cream, Snow Cones
  • Kettle Corn
  • Cookies
  • Pizza
  • Funnel Cakes
  • Food Trucks

 

Family Fun Day Package: $80

2 Pumpkins ($15 value)

30 Tickets ($75 value)

Entertainment Package: $50

22 Tickets ($55 value)

Bates Pumpkin Package: $11

1 Pumpkin ($7.50 value)

2 Tickets ($5.00 value)

 

Upcoming Events:

East County Cruiser Car Show & Toy Drive

Saturday, November 10th

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Christmas in the Valley

Friday, December 7th

3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 8th

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

DIY Christmas Gifts : Photo Cubes and Photo Transfer to Wood

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PhotoCube5Last year, I made some cute photo cubes for Christmas, with all the grandkids on it. It made a great gift and it was an affordable DIY Christmas gifts project that required very little skill. PERFECT for me! This year, I wanted to spruce up my project from last year, where I used Mod Podge to affix the photos to a wood cube, to actually transferring the photo to the wood itself. It is a multi-step project that requires a bit of time to dry between steps, but it’s easy peasy and cute as can be! These are super cute gifts that can be created in an afternoon and for less than $20. This includes $5-$10 for the Mod Podge, the supplies (found at the Dollar Tree) and the wood. Easy, peasy!

First, I’ll start with last year’s project. These are the instructions for the photo cube, using regular Mod Podge:

Print
Affordable DIY Christmas Gift : Photo Cube
Make a beautiful homemade photo gift, grandparents are sure to love! These photocubes can be made for less than $20 for 4.
What You'll Need:
  • Wood Cube or an 8 foot 4x4 post, cut into 4 inch cubes. (You could opt for 6 inch, if you have portrait images, or if you want taller cubes.)
  • Mod Podge Gloss or Matte---Your choice! I chose Gloss, but it's a matter of preference
  • Paint brushes---I used 2 inch brushes. I bought them in a package for $1 at the Dollar Tree
  • 5 4x6 Photos that can be cut down to fit the cube
Instructions:
  1. Get a cube. I bought an 8 foot 4x4 post at Home Depot. I asked them to cut it into 4 inches cubes. I've seen the cubes at Hobby Lobby, but they are about $5 a piece and I bought one post that made several cubes for about $10.
  2. Sand the surface. Once I had my cubes cut, hubby sanded the rough sides and edges so they looked nice. Basically, I prepped it to paint.
  3. Paint the finished edges. I used a brown, rustic looking paint. I used Rust-oleum's all surfaces paint, but you could use any color or brand. I chose paint over stain, just because I'm lazy and didn't want to sand and re-stain for the right finish. Painting worked well-enough, but if you're feeling frisky, knock yourself out with stain.
  4. Apply a second coat of paint. Reapply a second or third coat of paint for an even finish.
  5. Cut the photos to the size you want for the cube. I used photos that would fit nicely on the cube and would fit across the width of the cube.
  6. Paint with Mod Podge. After the paint has dried completely, use Mod Podge and paint the entire back of the photo. Paint a nice layer of Mod Podge onto the side of the cube you're working with.
  7. Rinse, repeat. (Just kidding about the rinse.) Once the first photo has dried, repeat the steps in number 6 until all sides are done. Make sure to let each side dry completely before laying it face down.
  8. Rinse, repeat. When all sides are dried, apply another coat of Mod Podge to fully secure your images down.

For Mod Podge Photo Transfer to Wood project:
Print
Affordable DIY Christmas Gifts : Photo Transfer to Wood
Transfer photo to wood. In this tutorial, I walk you through the steps to transfer your favorite photos to a wood surface, making a beautiful gift for Christmas.
What You'll Need:
  • Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
  • Wood cube or Wood Surface to transfer photo
  • Sponge brush to spread Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
  • Photocopy of a photo from a dry toner type copier/laser printer
Instructions:
  1. Find whatever piece of wood you want to transfer your image to: cube, plague, or whatever. You won't need to sand the surface to prepare it.
  2. Photo copy a photo with a laser printer. Most home office printers are ink jet printers, NOT laser printers. I went down to our local Staples and had them print a color copy of my image. As long as it is a laser photocopy, it will work. You will need this photocopy, as actual photos will not turn out. (If you need your image to turn out exactly like the photo, ask them to do a mirrored copy. Otherwise, if there is any print on the image, it'll come out reversed in the photocopy.)
  3. Paint a layer of Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium on the FRONT of your photocopied image. You can use a squeegee, but you want a medium thick layer, spread evenly.
  4. Paint a layer of Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium on the surface you want to transfer the image to.
  5. Lay the image FACE Down on surface you want to transfer the image to.
  6. Using a credit card or something similar, gently smooth out the image onto the surface. Make sure to get out any bubbles or globs underneath. Wipe the excess from the edges.
  7. Wait at least 4 hours, until it is completely dry.
  8. Using a damp cloth, rub the paper off of the wood surface. The paper should begin to peel off and your image should begin to emerge.
  9. Let the surface dry and repeat step 8, until all the paper is removed from the surface.
  10. Add a layer of Polyurethane, clear coat, or layer of Mod Podge to set the image.

 

Tada! You’re done!

A New Year 2014. A Different Perspective.

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Sunset
This beautiful view makes me happy. It’s from our bedroom window.

It was a busy year.  It was an eventful year.  I welcome the new year 2014, with open arms.   2013 was a year where what we knew was flipped upside-down.  We have loved.  We have lived.  We have learned.  We have lost.  We starred evil right in its scary face.  Some of 2013 was wonderful and I am grateful for that.  Some of it has been painful and I guess some of that I am grateful for too.  I truly believe that although I never welcome the painful moments, there is something we learn when we walk through those dark times.  I have to admit that I still don’t know what those lessons are and what I need to learn.  We have gained some wisdom through some of it—that I know.   I contend that there is a purpose and I have to accept that there really is a purpose for everything—-even when I don’t understand or see that purpose fully.  There have been lots of prayers and that will continue.  2013 wasn’t an easy year for us and we have to have faith that things will work themselves out.  God willing, they will.

One of my very favorite photos of Mr. Bear and I in 2013.
One of my very favorite photos of Mr. Bear and I in 2013.

Today was my first workout of the year.  I am training for my first half marathon in a long time.  I have my sights set on the La Jolla Half Marathon.  It is one of the prettiest courses here in San Diego.  I am also doing a sit-up and push-up challenge with my good friends.  Tonight I did my first thirty minutes on the treadmill, while watching my guilty pleasure, “Orange is the New Black” on Netflix.  Then, I followed it up with 10 girly push-ups and 30 full sit-ups.  My goal is to be able to do 100 sit-ups and 50 push-ups a night, without any trouble by the half marathon.  I am so out of shape, however, what I don’t have in strength and endurance, I have in passion to get my girlish figure back.

I also re-started eating vegan/vegetarian.  I feel so much better when I cut out processed foods and eat my fruits and vegetables.  I am terrible about eating breakfast and lunch.  That is one of my goals—to do a better job with having meals and snacks—not skipping meals.  My eating habits have gotten so bad over the past year and my waistline has really showed it. Bleh.  I want to make that change and I want to make it a lifestyle change, not just a diet.  My two best friends and I did 6 weeks of vegan/vegetarian lifestyle before we all went to Las Vegas (Which was a fantastic adventure that I wish I had blogged about!  It was so much fun!).  We all lost weight.  We all got in better shape.  Then, the holidays came and we all dropped the ball.  It’s awesome to have good friends with the same goal.  We’ve been supporting each other and that accountability has been so incredibly helpful.

Allie is so grown up these days! She turned 8 in November.  She has been on the local swim team since July and she’s becoming such a good little swimmer.  She had her first swim meet in November.  She did pretty well, considering it was her first meet.  She is THRIVING in school.  I don’t think it hurts that she is such a likeable little girl.  Every time I volunteer in her classroom, the teachers rave about what a good little girl she is.  It makes my heart melt.  SHE makes my heart melt.

My little fish at her first swim meet!
My little fish at her first swim meet!

I am ready for 2014.  I am ready for good things to come our way.  I chose a word for the year.  My word is PREVAIL.  It seems like there were many times in 2013 when we were hit with difficult times.  This year, however, is going to be drama-free.  I have to believe that we will prevail in 2014.

May 2014 bring beautiful things to you, too, Dear Readers.

What is your word or resolution for 2014?

Nice List Santa Letter

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I really want to share my friend Marissa’s awesome Etsy shop called Merry Mailbox.  She generously extended the opportunity for me to order one of her most popular items—the personalized Nice List Santa Letter.  I knew that Allie would be over the moon to receive a letter from Santa.  After answering a few questions, the letter from Santa was on its way!

Santa Letter from Merry Mailbox 72px

It was such a sweet letter.  We were able to personalize Allie’s letter by mentioning her accomplishments, including her swimming and being a finalist in the local fire department’s art contest.  She was so excited that Santa was noticing her good behavior, which was perfect, because a few weeks before that, she had told me she hadn’t been very good this year.  Which isn’t true at all!  She is such a sweet little girl!  At the same time, it didn’t hurt to remind her that Santa likes when she cleans her room, takes care of the cat and listens to Mommy and Daddy.

As soon as Allie received her letter from Santa Claus, she began drafting her own letter to Santa.  It was so very cute!  She was really happy with her Nice List Certificate, which is attached to the bottom of the Santa letter.  She put it up on our mantle.

The entire presentation of the letter was so beautiful and professionally done.  First of all, the letter comes in an unmarked outer envelope, so as to keep the kiddos from discovering the source.  The envelope from Santa was adorable!  I love that there are so many details on it, including the postmark and the Santa stamp.

Santa Envelope
Example of the envelope from Santa

The Merry Mailbox has four letters to choose from: the Personalized Santa letter, Baby’s First Christmas letter, the Personalized Religious letter and of course, the Nice List Santa letter.

The Merry Mailbox has extended their deadline for ordering to December 10th.  Make sure to go to Merry Mailbox’s Etsy shop and place your order right away.  Your little ones will definitely love it!

 

 

Life is Good: 40th Birthday

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Last week was my 40th birthday. I turned the big 4-0. I feel like a rebellious teenager, full of dreams and ideas, yet not quite old enough to be responsible for making all these grown-up decisions. How did I get to be 40 so quickly? I had the best time in my 30’s and I don’t mind being 40. The fine lines and wrinkles. All of it, I wear proudly. It’s been an awesome ride and I look forward to another 60 or so years of awesome, no matter how wrinkly I become.

Eric and Laura
I was in tears most of the day, as so much love, birthday wishes and heartfelt words came pouring in by phone, e-mail and Facebook. I felt so loved! I have so much gratitude for the amazing family and friends that I have that embrace me and love me for who I am. I am so incredibly blessed! No matter what, I know where I stand with these incredible people that surround us. What did I do to deserve all the love and friendship? My heart smiles. [Read more…]

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