Another Week Flies By

 Monday morning J&J went to Echo's as usual and Sarah did school as usual and Ben and Dad worked as usual and I did laundry as usual.

And enjoyed this beauty.

Josh took this @ Echo's💓

Tuesday we had a sweet crowd for awhile. Mother Bruce is a storybook character that Sarah introduced us to. He is a grumpy old bear who is adopted by four loving geese. Mother Bruce books have been a hit lately.

Always appreciate this cute help💗

Rained most of the day but J&J took the kids out for some fresh air at chore time anyways.

That night I was glad to help celebrate another Christian couple brought together in God's amazing way.

Congratulations, Michael & Abigail💗

Wednesday. Sarah had a sweet Tritt here all day.

Lucy&2 came for lunch.

Sunsets are getting earlier every day. And are so very pretty. 

Thursday afternoon we said GOOD-bye to 20 old hens. Glad for Schmidgall's who get to mess with them now 😄

Later, a walk.

Lake is low. See Brandi?

Apple sorting and wrapping is done.

Apple drying is almost done.

Another walk with Dad after supper.

Hummingbird nest.

J&J.

Last Weekend Concluded

Back to last Saturday 10-22. Dad & Josh made more cider while I sorted and wrapped apples.

Christian carrying his heavy burden. 

Tiny snake (which has since escaped😒)(from its prison in the garage. NOT in the house as Josh wanted "because it's so tiny."). A tiny snake is still a snake, son.

I think there's a 4w racing around the field somewhere. Idr who it was.

Brandi thinks she's still a puppy sometimes😅

So then this on Sunday💗

So excited and thankful to welcome Coreena into our crowd.

And who'da ever thunk that Coreena and Julia would marry these two guys who are best buddies? God's ways are sometimes mysterious but always oh so good.

Again, Idk who took these, but thank you.

Nice day for a horse ride.

💕

Ben&Coreena came by for awhile but left again then before supper. Skye came for her first visit!

😍

 

Rejoicing

We are rejoicing with Ben & Coreena as their engagement was announced today! 

This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 

Psalm 118:23

My Favorite Season

 This week has been a blur. Busy + blessed = blur.

Monday mess.

Out to pick remaining apples as freeze was anticipated. Find the bald eagle!

Find two in this picture. Hint: they are black dots on the horizon.

All that's left 😐. I'm glad they're all picked bc now they're safe from freezing and insects. It's been a good run and I'm so thankful for the amazing harvest God gave us but I can't say I'm glad it's over. Which I guess really it's not. We've kept the garage door shut so apples don't freeze yet (😅wouldn't that be something?!) and so insects stay (somewhat) away; the garage smells absolutely delightful.

Monday evening: first snow flurries!

After having pizza with Sarah, we stopped to see a few Restmor favorites. I don't have many px of Grandma S there (Why? I don't go often and I'm a really good forgetter 😒)(getting better all the time😒😒); but this is one of her pasttimes that greatly blesses her fellow residents. 

Tuesday. Typical morning for Josh.

My job. The dehydrator has been going almost constantly for a couple weeks as the freezer fills up with dried apples. They are delicious.

Then a walk.

Then this😋

Wednesday. Sarah's attempt to impress her nephews was...well...impressive😆.

Lucy & Natalie & I did a brisk walk around the lake while Josh watched Jason & Travis in the backyard; after some romping in the leaves, hot chocolate hit the spot.

😍

Thursday. Morning work and school; then Josh & I ran to Pekin where I donated blood and we hit a few garage sales. Home for chores and supper prep and supper and a horse ride (Jewel) and a tractor ride (Josh),

and a walk,

and a fire burner. Brandi was so funny staring at Dad's apple. She doesn't touch the bushels in the garage, but anytime someone is eating one she's all about it. Idk why she's like that.

Yesterday Josh & I spent the morning at Echo's. Baby snuggles💗

💕

💝

and niece/nephew fun. The sun was out and it was about75d. Beautiful.

We headed to Pekin then to grab some PM pizza and then home for a horse ride with Jewel while Josh did chores.

Then pizza and evening with a few favorites.

Katie also brought a few Aberles over for awhile after supper.

Jason really enjoyed Grandpa's iced apple juice.

And now it's Saturday again and I have a few apples to sort. Might be a cider afternoon, might not. At any rate, I'm ready to put some of the perfect apples away into longer-term storage. Wish I could say I'm tired of dealing with them but I'm really not. I love the smells in the garage and in the laundry room (from the dehydrator), and I love having oodles of apples laying around (they're so pretty), and I love eating them non-stop and will be sad when they're gone. Store apples just don't compare to home-grown apples. Absolutely no comparison.

And I'm grateful!