Just twenty minutes away is Evergreen Farms where we found gorgeous blue-green pine trees and tons of pine cones.  We all lost ourselves gathering up pine cones off the ground. Every now and then someone would take a photo or announce a creative plan for their arm load of pine cones and then silence. It was so relaxing and satisfying to be out in the country with each other while at the same time achieving some sort of Zen.

If pine cones were some huge fortune, I'd be set.  My plans are to make an army of pine cone elves.