Count Your Blessings

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.

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving. After feasting the kids enjoyed playing on my computer and on the Wii. Forest was right in there enjoying himself.

We also put together a puzzle. This on was put together in record time. We finished it just after midnight. We really enjoy the time spent gathered around the table, hunting for the missing pieces. Everyone helped out, even for just a few minutes.

I wanted to show my fall mantle. The plaque hanging above the fire place says: Count Your Blessings. We made the leaf garland a couple weeks ago. During Family Home Evening we were each given a leaf where we wrote what we were thankful for. Those leaves were then tied on to the garland. Rick's mom, Hana, even wrote on one.

I want to send out a huge thank you to everyone who helped out with our meal. The turkey, cooked by Rick was perfect, so good that we decided to cook another one the next day. Marianne, Dean and Erin were huge helps in the kitchen. Hana was even coerced into making chow mein and tempura shrimp. Someday, really, I will figure out the 3 day process of making chow mein. Actually it may become a lost tradition. But I'm still thinking about those shrimp, yum! I may be able to make the tempura, but someone else is going to have to fry them, that popping oil scares me. What a fun holiday, my heart is full of gratitude.

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.

Michelle is in 1st grade.

Peter is in 3rd grade.

Abby is now in 5th grade.

Here are all the excited happy kids, waiting to meet their new teachers.

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...

The sticky part.

The setup.

The end result. What do you think? Blue ribbon at the fair? I think the water was boiling a bit too hard, they seem to be floating more than my second batch.

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.

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.

Rick's siblings all pitched in to help with the event, decorating tables, cleaning up the yard, prepping food, etc. Thank you for your help!

We had fun chatting and getting reacquainted with family members.

Happy Birthday Grammy K.

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?

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.