September

For Labor Day we went to Boise, ID to participate in the blessing of Cory's nephew, Deker (see posting on The Picanco's). It was a really quick trip for us, spending almost as much time in the van, but we all enjoyed ourselves and the kids did amazingly well for such a long trip. We had fun visiting with the family and playing games. All of Cory's brothers and sisters were there as well as the "out-laws". It was a great time. Unfortunately I don't have photos to share on this.

Also in September I prepared and froze corn, about 60 pints, thank you Mom and Dad Smith for the corn! And then I went to Monroe for several days and picked peaches. I couldn't pass up the low price of $15 a bushell. I began thinking I would pick 4, but by the time I finished it turned out to be 7 and extra. My kids ate so many apples I was surprised they weren't up all night with belly aches. I bottled over 110quarts of peaches with the help of my sister-in-law Mitzi, and a bit from my mom and Aunt Jeana and Grandma Leavitt.

We also did some home improvement work in our living room. Cory and I and my brother-in-law Neal tore down, well tore the plaster and lath down on an inside wall in our living room and then sheet rocked it, mudded and taped it and painted it. We also put in some tile on the floor (and still need to tile the wall and finish painting a bit). We did this in preparation for the new stove, which my brother Seth installed. Cory's grandpa decided he needed a new stove, so told us we could have his if we wanted it. Of course we can't pass up a free stove, since we were looking for one at the time. Yeah! Thanks Grandpa and Seth.

When Seth and his family came we all waited for him to place the stove and then we went down to the Bradshaw Orchards. We have gone every year since we have moved here...3 years now (Yeah, I know, it seems like a lifetime and yet it has flown by). We all had a great time picking apples and looking at the lake. We picked 7 buckets full of apples between the two families. With Ann's help I bottled around 30 quarts of applesauce and 7 quarts of apple rings and did several pints of apple butter.

Amongst all this, I also put up several pints of grape jelly and grape juice supplied by my very own grapevine in my very own back yard!

I must say, I feel like I have actually contributed to our food supply this year! Too bad since I don't have much storage space all the applesauce is at Ann's and all the peaches are at my moms!!!

Needless to say, our month has been a busy one, but I am actually starting to feel somewhat domestic. Yippee! I think!