Apples

Apple season is just beginning.

The backyard tree.

The frontyard tree. This is the one I like to call "The Giving Tree" because some of its branches reach all the way down to the ground just like the drawings in the book.

  

 Last year we made lots of applesauce.  I wonder if we'll go that route this year? Any ideas?

Our Garden Throughout the Season

Here is a collection of photos from our garden taken all during the summer.

Early harvest: radishes.

A mix of salad greens.

Heather, Cole, and I made a toad abode to help keep down the pesky bugs that were eating up our veggies.

There's a toad in there, but he didn't stay long.

Bean pole teepee before it became overrun with bean vines.

Beets - sweet as candy.

I think this is a pumpkin blossom. I can't remember. All those squash type blossoms look the same to me.

Gotta throw in a few shots of the Golden Glows.

A later shot of the teepee.

I just like the color of this corn leaf.

Pea blossom.

It's really getting covered now.

Acorn squash. My first time growing it.

Jalapeno peppers.  Wayne's idea.

Can you tell, I'm just fascinated with the corn plants?

Can't pass up a photo op with the beanpole teepee.

Wayne, checking out the tomatoes and peppers.

Another photo op.

Woohoo! Carrots!

We've had a lot of pollinators doing their job, helping us out. Look at this little honey bee - his legs are just loaded with pollen.

 Peas, we hardly had any to cook because the kids just munch them up raw, right out in the garden.

 One of Heather's "Jack-be-Little" pumpkins. They only get large enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

 I just love my teepee.

 These potato pictures were taken this morning.

 Cole normally stays as far from the garden as he can get. He doesn't like vegetables, and he's afraid of being put to work, but he did enjoy digging for these buried treasures.

Peas, carrots, potatoes...I'm thinking stew.

Refridgerator Pickles

For the past couple of summers, Wayne has been really wanting to make pickles from our own cucumbers.  We had trouble with our garden in the past, and did not get many cukes.

This summer, things have been doing quite well, and since Wayne has been my right hand man in the garden, I figured he deserved to make some pickles. He did the job almost all himself, with me hovering around in the kitchen offering advice. I had bought a seasoning packet at Agway, so it was easy. Slicing the cucumbers.

 Stirring the spices.

 I poured the hot liquid into the jar and we waited 24 hours, as the instructions said to do. Then we all had some with lunch the next day. Better than store bought.

Blackberries

Wild blackberries are ripening up in the corner of the hayfield.

 It's turning out to be a good summer for them.

 Wane would have had this container full, if he hadn't eaten so many.

 I thought he would want to make a pie, but instead, he made blackberry milkshakes for the whole family.

You'll have to take my word for it - they were really good!

Scenes From the C+W

On the day after Glover Day, there were lots of aunts, uncles and cousins around to visit the C+W.

 I'm not sure what kind of shady deal is going on here, but no one is making eye contact.

 Estelle liked handling the money.

 Pies were a big hit!