Catch-Up

The last couple of weeks have been somewhat busy, what with apples, birthdays, and bluegrass.

Actually, we celebrated three birthdays a week or so back: 17yo daughter is now 18yo daughter; 5yo son is now 6yo son; and mother-in-law, who shares 6yo's birthday is a year older (won't divulge age on that one). We are very blessed by these three, and celebrate and give thanksgiving for them.

6yo's new favorite: Magnetix, given to him by Keith's mother. Loves them so much that they had to be confiscated a few days after he received them so that I could get a proper response/attitude from him about doing chores and academics. (He has re-earned them.)

As I said in the post below, we have been busy with apples since picking them last week: we've put up sliced apples (wedged, really), applesauce, apple butter, cider, and cider vinegar, and aren't done, yet. Hopefully in the next day or so, we'll get the rest of them made into cider. We may try canning some cider, although that sounds disappointing, the fresh cider is so good.

13yo setting up the cider press.

18yo has been at the peeler/corer/slicer a great deal over the past week, but she takes advantage of sitting in one place for awhile by watching multiple episodes of "Jeeves and Wooster."

This past Saturday, the Lingos of Beaverdam Creek Farm had a booth at Belle Meade Plantation's Fall Fest, and asked if our kids could play there, so we took advantage of the opportunity and enjoyed the day at Belle Meade with the Lingos. The Lovetts also were there for awhile; some of the Stouffers dropped by; and it was great to see the Clarks again.

On the way to Belle Meade

6yo, playing with a Tennessee spinner gourd at Belle Meade. He's gotten quite good at spinning it.

Coming up this weekend: the Williams/Logan wedding. We're headed up Thursday (or earlier??) to provide some help; rehearsal/dinner is Friday evening (15yo is helping with the music for the wedding); wedding Saturday afternoon, followed by reception/dinner/dancing/visiting into the night, I'm sure; and church the following day in the reception tent (because it's big enough for the crowd that's coming in for the wedding, some of whom will be attending church). Sounds like it will be a busy weekend, but we're looking forward to it--especially to seeing some of you folks we haven't seen in awhile.

Mary Susan