Pumpkins, a Hayride and Downtown Dahlonega, GA

Okay, we promised we'd get the update on our trip last week to the pumpkin patch at Kinsey Farm (near Cumming, GA), where we picked out our pumpkins, enjoyed a hayride and fed catfish in the pond. Down below is the hayride video. Wish you were there!

UPCOMING POSTS: Ann Ferris and Kristy at the downtown Fox theater for the ballet of Peter Pan (with Lizzy and Jennifer Johnson), and our Oct. 31, evening at First Redeemer's Fall Festival (ie, city of inflatables).

On the hayride.

Posing with pumpkins.

Feeding some really well fed catfish.

From here down we are in Dahlonega, GA, a mountain town with a realy cool downtown square (and is also the home to North Georgia State Univ.- about 6,000 students).

Sarah Wynn enjoys a big bowl of ice cream. Yum, yum!

Some locals hangning out on the square playing mountain tunes.

In front of a local downtown restaurant.

Replaying the Revolution

In these pictures from last week, Schaeffer was "re-enacting" the Revolution in our backyard. By the way, in case you can't see them, the Red Coats are charging up the hill. :0)

BONUS: This morning just before sunrise there were four big deer feeding in our backyard. I've got to find my bow. ;0)

Quote by John Owen

Concerning sanctification:
"The duties God requires of us are not in proportion to the strength we possess in ourselves. Rather, they are proportional to the resources available to us in Christ. We do not have the ability in ourselves to accomplish the least of God’s tasks. This is the law of grace. When we recognize it is impossible for us to perform a duty in our own strength, we will discover the secret of its accomplishment."
-John Owen, a really smart Puritan

Ann Ferris at Work and Play

Here are two pictures of Ann Ferris. The first is AFC doing schoolwork and in the second she is on her way to pick up some friends to go to a "Game Night" to play pictionary, scategories, Conga, etc. (And with book in hand as always!)

Teaser: FYI- Today we went to a pumpkin and tree farm in the foothills and then on to Dahlonega in the mountains (unreal square downtown where we browsed a fun toystore and had some really high calorie ice cream). Those pics and a video of the hayride are coming soon, so stay tuned. :0)

A Caston Classic- Schaeffer Loses First Tooth

Occasionally, we will be posting "Caston Classics," old, but fun pictures that we didn't get to post in our pre-blogging days. Here Schaeffer loses his first tooth, c. 2004. We apologize if the sight of blood makes you squeemish.

Jumping for Joy

Today was the perfect fall day in drought plagued Georgia (please pray for rain!). So the kids went outside and enjoyed jumping on the trampoline.

Sarah Wynn's Room

Sarah Wynn is back in action. Take a look at her room. She is in the center of the photo playing under her table with stuffed animals that are not in view.

Sarah Wynn's Stitches Finally Out

As some of you know, Sarah Wynn's stitches did not dissolve as they were supposed to (If you aren't in the loop, SW accidentally got hit in the face by a PVC bat 4 weeks ago at a church picnic). Back to the story: since the stitches were embedded in the scab on her face, the physicians didn't want to remove them until the scab was ready to fall off (yeah, kind of gross). Anyway, I took her to a pediatrician (who didn't want to take them out), then back to the ER (who referred us to a specialist) and finally a plastic surgeon, who told us just to use a washrag on her face and eventually the stiches would come out (we paid too much for THAT advice). Well, the washrad did loosen the scab, which actually was ready to fall off, but would not because of the stitches. Anyway, we went to CVS and bought some tiny scissors and tweezers and Kristy did the suture removal herself as Sarah Wynn slept (God's natural anesthesia!). Way to go Kristy. Those hospital rotations in pharmacy school finally paid off! :0) So here is Sarah Wynn's first non-stitches and non-bandaid photo.

Monteagle, TN, Oct. 18-21

Okay, we're back, and simply put, Monteagle is our favorite place on earth. We enjoyed three nights at the Burris Ministerial Cottage, which was fantastic– has an UNREAL screened in porch! Here are some pics from our weekend.

Schaeffer on the horse swing.

Schaeffer and Sarah Wynn looking down toward the creek.
Schaeffer pushing Sarah Wynn on the swing horse.

Enjoying dinner at Crust in Sewanee, TN.

Having lunch on the screened in cottage porch.

Ann Ferris with Sarah Wynn in the swing on the porch.

Supper at Papa Ron's Pizza. Yum! :0)

A video of hanging out around the cottage.

Monteagle for the Weekend

We'll be in Monteagle, TN, this weekend to hang out on the mountain and for me to preach on Sunday. For the first time, we will be staying in the Minister's Cottage rather than The McKay Cottage, which is under construction (adding a sun porch and renovating the kitchen). The Minister's Cottage has three BR and two porches- should be nice.

Pottery Day

Last Friday we took the kids to Out of the Box Art Studio to paint pottery mugs and Christmas ornaments. A good time was had by all.

Music Wednesday

On Wednesdays at Perimeter, Ann Ferris takes piano and Schaeffer takes guitar. We plan to have Sarah Wynn learn the drums so that we can have a full worship team in place when we church plant. :0) I (McKay) have been inspired to get my own guitar back out, as Perimeter has many outstanding musicians who contribute in worship each week. So in light of their inspiration trying to learn some new songs and brush up on the old ones. But don't expect to see "McKay Caston on Tour" any time soon!

Here is Schaeffer playing "Blessed be Your Name"

Hiking in the Woods Behind the House

Today Schaeffer and I explored the woods and hills behind our house, a forest which extends about 3 miles back (deer, racoons, coyottes, etc). We discovered a creek fed by an underground natural spring and a deer bedding ground. Pretty cool. This morning in our backyard we saw an big 8-point buck and a nice sized 4-point, too. Once you pass through our front yard to the back, you would never believe that you were in metro-Atlanta! :0)

This pic is hazy due to low lighting, but you get the idea.

The Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA

Saturday, Oct. 13, was the annual Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA (about an hour or so north of Atlanta in the mountains- a beautiful drive!). We even got to pick our our own apples. :0)

Colemans visit from Greenwood

In early October, the Colemans (dear friends from Greenwood) came to visit us and spend the night on their way to Athens, GA. Wow! What a GREAT time!

Schaeffer and Walker duel on PS2 down in the basement playroom.

"The girls" enjoy the American Girl store in North Point Mall. Here they are ordering milkshakes at the diner. Yum!!!

Ariving at American Girl.

Ont the Merry Go Round at the mall.

New House in Atlanta

In September, we moved to Suwanee, GA, just northish of Atlanta. We are renting a great home on a cul-de-sac with rolling woods with streams and lots of deer (which eat in our backyard in the evenings).