Thursday, October 22, 2009

Applesauce Adventure!

I gave applesauce-making a try this fall. It was quite the adventure, but turned out fun and delicious! Here's how my journey went:

Beginning - the whole Golden Delicious apples:

Peeling, slicing and coring (with the Pampered Chef apple peeler/slicer/corer):

Putting the fun apple squiggles into the pot with a little water:

Cooking them down:
Adding a touch out cinnamon:

The finished product:


Distribution stage:

Ready for the freezer! This much applesauce from 1/2 bushel of apples:
(not too bad!)

The End!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I love when friends come to visit.

We had the privilege of hanging out with my high school friends, Tasha and Steve Houlihan, and their son Isaac for a few days! The Houlihans are moving from Memphis, TN to Billings, MT, so they made a mini vacation out of the move. They came to stay with us last Saturday night, and then Sunday morning Steve left to drive the rest of the way to Billings. Tasha and Isaac stayed until Wednesday so that their things would be all moved in by the time they flew there on Wednesday. I can imagine it's MUCH easier moving and unpacking without an energetic two-year-old around!

Tasha, Isaac, Grant and I had lots of fun hanging out on the farm! Isaac LOVES cars, trucks and tractors, so he sat in lots of the machinery and got truck and tractor rides. We also watched the cattle, pet the cats, and played football (since he loves football too). Too bad it feels like winter already here! It was cold and drizzly most of the time, but we managed. I pulled out Grant and his brother's old toys...the Fisher Price barn and animals, toy tractors, etc. It was so fun to see them and have more time to talk and play together. Hopefully we can go visit them in Montana sometime soon! I've never been to Montana....

I didn't take any pictures during the visit, so hopefully I'll get some from Tasha and post them soon!

Oh....and super glad Steve is ok...he was driving in snow/ice conditions in Wyoming on the way to Billings and hit an icy patch. One bent up vehicle, one night stay in a hotel, many calls to Tasha, and lots of thankful prayers that he is ok... we'll keep praying for you guys!