Saucy wench

And I would not be offended.  In fact, I would wear the moniker with pride.

Fall foraging

We've done a bit of foraging recently.  I like foraging--you get the rewards of good food without all the hard work that goes into a garden.  If I had more time and more skill, I would learn more about wild mushrooms, another fall (and spring!) foraging treat.  But for now I will stick with walnuts and apples.

Most of the black walnuts have fallen now.  So it is a race to see who can get them first -- the squirrels or I.

I only picked about a third of what had fallen from one tree, about half a grocery bag's worth.  Plenty left for the squirrels.

We also went apple picking.  A friend of mine has a large yard with several trees, and graciously allows us to gather as much as we want.  The apples were big and ripe, dripping from the branches.  The older boys took turns using the elongated picker.  Graham got to use it until he accidentally bonked Owen on the head.  Then Owen got to use it.

We quickly harvested a good supply of apples, of unknown varieties.  We can always go back for more if we like.  Hubby is washing them today and will put some in our stock pot to begin simmering for sauce.  I can't wait to come home and smell the autumn appley goodness filling the house.

Missing month, part five

Fall colors have arrived in a blaze of glory.  Lovely yellow cottonwood, orange maple and red sumac.  We've had warm dry weather over the last two weeks, drawing out the color changes and ensuring a beautiful autumn.

The farmers are in the fields, bringing in the soybeans.  From all accounts it will be a good harvest.

The corn harvest has a few more weeks to go.  The dry stalks are standing tall and brittle, losing leaves with every gust of wind.

On a breezy day the corn leaves can travel for miles.  They are carried across fields and roads, swirling in eddies of wind and pelting unsuspecting travelers.  A drive down a gravel road becomes a scene from Hitchcock.  Fitting, given that Halloween is right around the corner.

And that is the last of it, the last of the missing month.  I hope to be more diligent with my updates.  There should be lots to share, with potato digging, chicken butchering, costume creating, craft showing, apple picking and garlic planting coming up.  Not to mention the visiting starlings, migrating geese and the first flakes of falling snow.  So much to look forward to before Thanksgiving.

Missing month, part four

Toward the end of September we packed our suitcases and took a trip to the Cities to visit family and celebrate birthdays.  My middlest boy is now eight years old.  Sigh.  Time seems to be speeding up as my kids get older.  Or rather, as I get older.  My Dad warned me this would happen.

We invited most of the family along on a trip to Valleyfair.  It was a beautiful day.  At this time of year only half the rides are open, but because of school only half the crowds are there. 

Also, at this time of year Valleyfair (or ValleyScare as it is called) is decorated for Halloween.

While the little kiddies rode the little kiddie rides, my brother entertained the older folk with his mesmerizing dance technique.

We packed lunches to cut down on the cost.  My sister was able to get tickets through her credit union for 2/3 price.  We all had a great time.

My sister brought along her first born babe, my niece Camryn, now five months old.  She is a big big sweetie pie.  And never fussed for a moment that whole afternoon.  Should I warn my sister about them growing too fast?  And time speeding up?  In no time at all Camryn will be eight years old herself, and my boys will be in their teens.  Aaah!  I'm not ready for teenagers!