Last year 3 out of our 4 kids had field trips to the pumpkin patch. This year Cristine was the only one to go. We had a fun time running through the corn maze, seeing the crazy pumpkin art and drinking apple cider. Somehow we never found the time to take the older kids. Much of October and November were spent making apple cider. My stomach hurts a bit from all that I have consumed.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Count Your Blessings
Posted by orchard_girl at 9:25 PM 5 comments
Sunday, September 13, 2009
1st day of School
School finally started here in Oregon. The kids were very excited for the school year to begin. Cristine is now in her second year of preschool.
Posted by orchard_girl at 2:38 PM 6 comments
Monday, August 17, 2009
Just Peachy
Our first box of peaches didn't make it into jars, we ate them instead. Last Monday we picked several boxes. By Friday most were ready to can. Due to the mess the cherry juice made, I decided to try canning outside. I think this made the process easier in some ways, but harder in others. I kept forgetting things and had to run back inside for them. Hopefully next time I'll be better prepared. Next on the canning list: tomatoes, green beans, zucchini relish, Bartlett pears...
Posted by orchard_girl at 12:44 PM 5 comments
Sunday, July 26, 2009
My Attempt to Become Self Reliant
Every summer I tell Rick that "this" year I am actually going to start canning. With all the pears, peaches, cherries, tomatoes and other veggies we grow around here some may think I should already be elbow deep in fruit peels and sugar syrup. Instead, I find reasons and excuses as to why I avoid it. This year I am determined to bottle up some fruit, boy that sounds familiar doesn't it?
Growing up I watched my mom can a number of different things. It seemed that as the temperature in the kitchen went up, so did my mom's temperament, sorry mom! Maybe that is why I avoid it...
My mother-in-law, until the last few years, was a one woman canning machine. She would put up quarts of green beans, pickled garlic, tomatoes, the best canned peaches-ever and the most beautiful canned pears. Every year she would win stacks of ribbons from the county fair. She also won a few trophies for her amazing pears. Several times I asked if I could help her, hoping to pick up her secrets in the process, only to arrive at her house at the 6am we agreed upon to find that she had already finished up. She was unable to sleep and started to can in the wee house of the morning.
Friday, I decided to throw caution to the wind and make some cherry juice. I picked a couple bowls of cherries, washed them and then threw them into my juicer thing. A little while later I was rewarded with 4 beautiful bottles of deep red juice. Since it was still fairly early in the day and the house wasn't too hot, I decided to make a couple more bottles. Lets just say I shouldn't have tempted fate. While in the other room I started to hear a sizzling noise so I quickly dashed back into the kitchen and found the hose leading out of my juicer had detached. Cherry juice had sprayed all over the floor, rivers had run down the face of the oven and huge puddles were burning on the stove top. I quickly wiped it all up making a sticker mess and continued with my juicing. I ended up with 9 bottles of juice and a somewhat sticky-free floor. Will I attempt to actually can something? Maybe. A friend just dropped off a huge box of fresh peaches.
Posted by orchard_girl at 8:49 PM 5 comments
Sunday, July 19, 2009
88 Birthday Wishes
Hana turned 88 this week. This is a big birthday according to Japanese custom. The person turning 88 is supposed to wear RED. (if anyone can explain the purpose and meaning behind this, please leave a comment) The money lei was a gift from her brother and sister in law. Tied to it is $88. Our kids thought that was really cool.
Posted by orchard_girl at 7:36 PM 2 comments
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
4th of July
Hope everyone had a good 4th of July weekend. We watched a parade, baked in the sun, waded in the river, ate yummy food and too much candy, then watched a fun firework show. How was your weekend?
Posted by orchard_girl at 8:37 AM 4 comments
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Peter's Baptism
Peter's baptism actually happened a couple months ago. It was a small, sweet event. Sadly my Erin and Bridger and my parents were unable to make it.
Posted by orchard_girl at 8:20 AM 2 comments