This past weekend, I enjoyed a girl's weekend away (with our babies) in Ohio. I can't even call it a weekend as we left before the sun was up on Thursday and arrived home very late on Friday. It was a bit of a whirlwind trip, actually, but it was so fun. And to be honest, it was very needed.
Arriving just before lunch time on Thursday, we spent the afternoon touring about the Holmes County area. This is an area of Ohio that we've been to a few times, so we knew all the places we wanted to stop. We stocked up on homemade chocolates and our favourite preserves, drove the prettiest back roads, stopped for once-a-year pumpkin pie, and hurried through all our favourite shops before they closed at five.
I couldn't get over how much it felt like fall! The leaves had just started turning and all the farm stands had piles and piles of every kind of pumpkin, in every size. And speaking of pumpkin! I found the most delicious mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Buttercream filling that we nibbled on the entire trip. And fall candy! I never knew there were so many varieties of fall-inspired candy corn! I couldn't resist picking out some for their class parties.
After enjoying a home-style buffet for dinner (broasted chicken, real mashed potatoes and the fluffiest dinner rolls!), we made our way to our hotel in Millersburg. It was full of charm, running along the top floors of about four shops on the main street of town. This meant that every time you left one building, and the hall took you into the next, the floor level changed and the doors and windows were different. Inexpensive antique artwork hung on all the walls and the main areas boasted tin ceilings and creaky floors. The town of Millersburg is a classic, small American town, but as we left early to head to Columbus for the fair, we didn't have time to enjoy any of it.
After breakfast, we made our way to Columbus, winding up and down hills, the countryside under a thick blanket of fog.
One of the reasons I was looking forward to the show in Columbus was because I really love that it's set in Historic Columbus Village. It's a great show, but the beautiful old town makes it even more enjoyable to browse around.
The pile of Pumpkins, in every size and variety, right in town square.
I loved the simple bales of hay and corn stalks.
This little home is my favourite in the village.
And then there were all the booths. I just love the creativity that some vendors put into their spaces. Farmhouse Frocks was a beautiful shop in Millersburg that we weren't able to see, but their booth didn't disappoint.
I'm always drawn to displays of ironstone.
Findings is another favourite booth I look forward to visiting.
I only purchased a couple things for myself on the whole trip. I brought home a couple packages of these little birch leaves. I figured they would look pretty for place settings on a Thanksgiving table, but also double as Christmas ornaments.
Some great architectural salvage throughout the show.
And then there's that one thing you decide not to purchase, and then regret immediately after. You know what I'm talking about. There's always something.
For me it was a pair of these beautiful tables. It was near the end of the show, Jude was ready to eat and I couldn't fit the stroller in the booth, so I was half looking from near him. I didn't realize until later that they were a pair, and I wish I would have got them! They would have looked perfect as night tables in our master. I did contact the seller, and she was graciously going to let me know if they didn't sell at her remaining two shows. So fingers crossed!
While I loved the show, I loved driving about the countryside, stopping whenever we saw something we wanted to take a photo of (which happened quite often!). I loved having hours to get to know a new friend better - crying babies, frequent nursing stops and all!
And I especially love that I left not quite ready for summer to end, and came home ready for Fall.
