There has been so much going on here lately, so much that I’m going to keep close to my own heart for a while longer before I explain. But I do want to do a little catching up some photos and good times that I have thought about sharing.
It is nice to focus on the fun in this space, the bright days, the days where things go the way we want them to go. Does it always work that way? Absolutely not. But some days it’s nice to focus on the precious life around us, the peace we find in our days, and the things we do that ground us and help us find balance.
Last month on fall break we went apple picking for the first time. I have to admit, no one was too thrilled about the idea at first. Driving two and half hours to visit a farm, pick apples, eat apples (of course) and then drive home is a hard sell for kids. The drive, through the mountians to Hendersonville, NC (just outside Asheville) is always beautiful. But still…. the girls went along with it because they realized it was important to me. They loaded up in good spirits and off we drove. And a new family tradition was born.
The one who was the most reluctant, was the last to leave the orchards with me. She insisted we trek it back (again) by ourselves to the last row of Granny Smith apples to find just the perfect apples to can apple butter for holiday teacher gifts. Then together we shared the weight of the 20 pound basket as we hauled it up the hill, through the drizzling rain, to find her sisters happily playing together in a large chicken play house thing – waiting patiently to head for fresh doughnuts next. And apple pie of course, caramel apples….were all part of the deal.
Then came the canning – all 41 jars. We did applesauce using crockpots and this yummy cranberry apple butter recipe, that is a copy cat version from Flying Biscuit restaurant in Atlanta. We used to walk there almost daily, in our stomping grounds before life with kids and our little town we live in now. So Saturday morning biscuits made by husband just got better! And it’s just in time, as we get down to our last few jars of strawberry jam from spring.
These little (and big) helpers around here, so independent and willing to help – are the very thing I’m so thankful for on these fall days. They make a mom’s heart smile.
