Fall

I love fall! I know, I know...I have already mentioned that. One of the things I love about fall is apples. I love apples, and have raised a clan of apple lovers. I went and picked up some gorgeous drops...for next to nothing, and my children ate through 1/2 a bushel in a week. I helped, of course.

We have eaten through more since then! (does that count as gluttony?)

Last week, my dear mother brought me two bags, each a 1/2 bushel, that I promised myself would become applesauce to go to the cupboards. So, Saturday, in spite of my sore throat and fatigue(Oh my...the drama!) I went to work.

This is several batches...warming while waiting to go into jars.

We had to buy a new canner, as the one that I have had forever, as a hand-me-down, sprung a leak last year. The one that we got is a beast! I was almost afraid it was too big, but it did not take too long to come to a boil, and it held 9 jars at once!

Yummy. I have a goal to get four more bags and do the same. That means, that at an average of 5 dollars a 1/2 bushel, and a 9 jar yeild from a bushel, I will spend 10 dollars to get nine jars of applesauce and have apples to spare. So, if I succeed in getting some more apples, for 30 dollars spent, I will have 27 jars of applesauce set aside for those cold winter days. We could have two jars a month...and it will last a whole year! (Thanks Mom and Dad for your contribution!!!)

Fall fun

Well...with some help and encouragement from a friend, I have learned a new hobby! I was very skeptical and resistant, cause I really want to be a quilter, but free yarn, free lessons, and a fun visit were too much to resist.

You can see that I have seamed one side, and made a pom-pom (cause I could not wait!)

Here the victim shows off her much anticipated hat...(still undone)

And at last...a finished project!

I am basically pleased, but anxious to try a new pattern...without seams. Guess that means I will have to learn to "knit in the round." (Look how I have already picked up some terminology!)

Still alive

Well...I am not saying a word of defense....

OK...just a few...

Do you know what has taken me so long to blog? The camera was in the basement....and I could never remember it when I was down there, and I just could not motivate myself to actually make a special trip! Ridiculous, no?

So...forgive the repitition, but I am irritated at the lack of a decent camera. (I am hoping that Santa will bring one...or do I want a dishwasher...aarrgghh....) At any rate, I have found the best succes with the Video Camera when I use the multi-shot function, and out of 10 pictures, I can sometimes get 1 that is worth posting. So, from Family Reunion and the surrounding days, I took 269 photos. I have been culling them, and am down to 177. See...It REALLY is hard to find the time to devote to this!

Here is a really cute chipmunk we saw on our walk to the milking barn, at an August family Reunion. And a really cool fungus, that I think Twitch caught on film! (Nicely done, actually) Can I just tell you how much I love brown cows? I ADORE them. So very sweet.I have more pictures from that August Weekend, and the camera is fully charged, and upstairs, so I will try to be more diligent, for those who care to keep up with my dreary life.

(that was a joke...my life is not dreary...though I don't often share the more exciting adventures)

Hey, just for kicks, perhaps I should.

The other day, I was tired, irritable and took out my frustrations on the fruit flies infesting my house. As I ranted and raged, dear Twitch came up behind me, and before I could register what he was doing, told me to step aside. Within seconds..there was a roaring flame, a good foot long, delightfully scented of bergamont..and manliness..consuming in little flashes of flame those hated fruit flies. Twitch decided that his aerosol deoderant and a match would solve my problem. I wanted to yell at him, cause it wasn't a safe choice. But honestly, I was mesmerized by the roaring flame. And I was secretly gleeful as those tiny bursts of flame testified of the death of a fruit fly.