We flew into Boston, planning to walk part of the 'Freedom Trail'. Our flights were delayed and by the time we were in our car, rain was falling, the wind was blowing and it was getting dark. So we postponed the walk until another time and headed toward Connecticut. The next morning was sunny, crisp and cool. We stopped to visit Old Sturbridge Village , a 200-acre living-history museum with more than 40 restored buildings from various parts of New England. 
We arrived too early to be admitted, but were able to see enough of the village that we will make this stop another time. 
The fall leaves were at their peak color as we drove through Massachusetts and Connecticut.
It was a beautiful day for sitting on the deck, eating lunch or reading the paper. 
Some of us were lucky enough to be 'honored' with a visit from Shadow - the 'escape' kitty. 
We strolled and shopped in New Canaan then stopped at Rowayton Beach to soak up some sun and walk along the sandy beach before an excellent dinner at Quattro Pazzi Restaurant . 
The brothers, Floyd and Lloyd, are new additions to the household. This is Lloyd. Floyd, who is especially shy, would not come out for a visit. He reminded us of another 'shy' kitty that we knew.
Kaitlyn is in pre-school this year. There are eight girls and four boys in her class. 
The letter for the day is 'P'. Kaitlyn is wearing her pink dress, has her hair in ponytails and is holding a pumpkin. She took a small pitchfork to school. 
Noah is happy just 'hanging out'. Well, so long as he has his Scooby friends and his matchbox cars with which to play...
The farm tour is advertised as a 'drive-it-yourself' tour of six farms. Eight hardy bicyclists had a treat of Barb's peanut butter cookies and cider at the bike shop before heading out to the first farm. The temperatures were in the low 50's with a strong, cold wind out of the north. Our first stop was north of Oxford, right into the wind... 
At the first stop, Green Prairie Turf, Inc., we saw a $180,000 harvester that cuts, rolls, and places the sod on a pallet. We had the opportunity to watch it in action! 
The ride to the second stop was a little less windy. This is the Study Dairy Farm. There were horses for the youngsters to ride and pens with goats, pigs and sheep. And a multitude of cats... 
This is the outside of a large stable with room for up to 75 horses at Tincher's Quarter Horses. We stood in the warm sun, relishing being out of the wind for a short time. 
Indian Creek Simmentals 
The Simmental breed of cattle produces a lot of milk for their young. The cows are known for being good mothers, so the calves grow very rapidly. 
The sun was warm and, finally, we had a tail wind that blew us back to Oxford. Never mind the steep hill we climbed to get out of the Indian Creek Valley! 
We drove to the Saurber Family Sheep Farm as the road to this farm had too much traffic for safe bicycling. 
There were sheep shearing and spinning demonstrations. In spite of the strong head wind at the beginning of the ride, we all enjoyed our visit to the farms.
Music, Arts and Heritage FestivalTall Stacks began as a celebration of Cincinnati's 1988 Bicentennial. The first year, there were fourteen riverboats; this year sixteen riverboats were in Cincinnati for the festivities. The riverboats came from far and near. 
The Colonel has the distinction of traveling the farthest - 1700 miles from its home port, Galveston, Texas. 
The Majestic, twenty-three feet shorter than a football field, is actually a tug and a barge seamlessly joined to give the illusion of a large riverboat. The Majestic's port is Pittsburg.
The Natchez is one of only six true steam-powered paddlewheelers on the inland waterways today. It has a 32-note, steam-powered calliope and a famous house band, the Dukes of Dixieland. We enjoyed listening to the songs played on the calliope. The Natchez is from New Orleans. 
The Belle of Louisville originally operated as a ferry and day packet carrying passengers, freight and livestock. Jefferson County, Kentucky, bought it in 1963 and turned it into a popular excursion boat. The Belle was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
The Celebration Belle is the largest luxury excursion boat operating on the upper Mississippi River. Its home port is Moline, Illinois. 
The General Jackson, based at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, is a true showboat, offering 40 minute Opryland-type shows in its huge Victorian theater. 
The Serpentine Wall along the Ohio River. It's still early in the morning. 
The Harriet Bishop is a gingerbread-laced excursion boat named after Minnesota's first schoolteacher. The Harriet Bishop was built in 1987 in Utica, Indiana. It's home port is St. Paul, Minnesota. 
The Spirit of Peoria is decorated in the elaborate "wedding cake" style popular in Mark Twain's day. It's particularly noticeable on the river because of its huge 21-foot diameter paddle wheel, the boat's only source of propulsion. The Peoria was built in 1988 in Paducah, Kentucky.
People took the opportunity to walk across the 'Purple People Bridge' to view the activities on the river. Some adventurous souls even climbed to the top of the bridge for a better view!
Along with the steamboats, there were four stages with musical entertainment, a large area called Sawyertown with activities for the children, folks dressed in 'period costumes' and food booths galore!
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus greeted visitors to Sawyertown.
