Apples & Carrots

Canning and freezing our food is an annual tradition in our house.  We have certain foods we HAVE to can or freeze each year.  We have other foods that we don't have to preserve, but it's a bonus if we get to preserve them.  

Applesauce is one of those foods that we simply must have in the freezer.  I grew up having applesauce with nearly every meal and my children like the same.  The apple tree where we get our apples was hit hard by the early spring and then a late frost which equaled little to no harvest.  Bummer.  Guess that means we'll have to buy our apples.  The cheapest ones around, and the best ones, are in Drakesville.  Twelve dollars a bushel.  Much better than $25/bushel in Pella and a rumored $40 in Des Moines.  

On Thursday, the 23rd, the van needed its warranty check up and we were pretty close to Drakesville, so we drove on down and picked up two bushels of apples (among other groceries also at the Amish General Store).  

We came home and started right after lunch.  It would just be me and the kiddos doing applesauce, so I only got 2 bushels.  Last year we did 5 bushels, so I'm sure that this is just the first installment of applesauce for our freezer.

I was so proud of the boys.  They stuck with me the entire time.  (And no, they didn't get paid for doing this).  I like to think that they enjoyed helping and spending time with me.  They were diligent in cutting the apples and filling the stock pots.  

Some of our finished applesauce.  We did add some red hots to achieve the reddish color and the cinnamon taste.  Everyone liked to help stir in the sugar and red hots.  Many thanks to Sherry from church for the wonderful bowl!  It has come in handy with beans, carrots, applesauce, everything actually!

This is how much we packaged--12 half gallons.  Yep, I think we've moved beyond packaging them in quart containers.  My family could devour a quart in one or two meals.  I may have to ration our applesauce intake.

Now, let's switch to carrots.  I had a pretty nice carrot crop this year.  A couple bowls worth of carrots.  The children and I took a couple of mornings to dig them up.  I made sure that we were digging some up when the Amish were here working on our gutters, etc.  Just gotta make sure that I looked productive, you know.  Don't want them thinking that we all sit at home watching tv, because we don't.  In fact, we never do.

Anyway, on to the carrots.  My carrots coupled with my parents' carrots equaled A LOT of carrots.  We went to mom's on Saturday, the 25th, and met my sister there.  It would be a morning of cleaning, slicing, blanching and packaging carrots.  The final count:  50+ pints of carrots.    

I prefer mine frozen in pint containers and I'll use them in casseroles and soups.  

Look!  A picture of my mom and sister and for once, I don't have the children in the picture.  The cousins had a great time playing while we processed the carrots.

Having both carrots and applesauce in the freezer is a huge blessing to our food needs.  I think it is also great for memory-making.  Children can learn valuable lessons by watching parents and grandparents preserve food.  

Build that Fence

Last Saturday, the 25th, Seth had a family project for us.  There was some fence that needed built on his parents' place.  And we would be the labor to build that fence.  Later on this winter and next spring, the cows will be moved to our newly fenced-in pasture.  So, on Saturday around 1:30, we set to work.  It did sprinkle on us a bit, but we got most of the fence built in an hour, just in time before the blessed rain came.  Two inches in all.  But I digress.  Here are the fencing pictures.

The children were carrying the rebar from where Seth was cutting it to the pick up and golf cart.  

This was the first team of workers:  Seth pounding posts, Emmet driving the golf cart and me handing Seth his posts and insulators.

This is the second team:  Grandpa pounding posts, Eliza handing him the posts and insulators, Eden is providing moral support in the cab, Grandma and Ephraim driving the truck.  Yep, you read that right.  Ephraim is driving the truck.

Carrying more rebar to the vehicles.

Oh, and then here comes fun Uncle Paul to take the children for four-wheeler rides.  A bit more fun than building fence.  We were winding down with our jobs and they could be spared from their duties for a joy ride.

Ephraim tired of driving and wanted to hand Grandpa the posts and insulators.  

Taking a moment to feed the {non-existent} fish.  Don't ask.  Pretty sure the pond needs to be restocked with catfish.

All in all, it was a productive day.  We got done for Seth in one hour what would have taken him all day to do.  It was perfect weather to be outside and we did enjoy the work.  

Homemade Ice Cream & Heifer International

A good ol' ice cream social.  Some churches still have them.  Some have discontinued them.  I can see why.  They are a lot of work.  They take a lot of planning.  Everyone has different ideas of how they should be done.  

With our church celebrating 100 years this year, it was time to bring back the ice cream social.  Our couple's Bible study agreed to head it up.  Not really knowing what all it would entail.  We were up for the challenge.  Our planning started in February and continued up until the week of the social.  

The gist of the ice cream social would be this:  sandwiches, chips, homemade ice cream with a table of toppings.  

All money raised would go toward Heifer International.  They have an option to buy a Milk Menagerie.  It includes 4 dairy animals:  a water buffalo, dairy cow and two dairy goats.  We thought the connection between ice cream and dairy animals was a good one.  

Here is our insert in the bulletin:  

Come one, come all to the 100th Anniversary Ice Cream Social on
Wednesday, August 22 from 5-7pm in the fellowship hall.  Come and
enjoy a light supper and homemade ice cream with all the toppings.  A
freewill donation will be accepted for Heifer International to bring
success to impoverished families around the globe.

The average American family spends hundreds of dollars a year in ice
cream alone!  How much do you spend on DAIRY products a year?
Probably a lot.    Will you please consider giving so that a child, a
family, even a village will receive a milk-producing animal forever
changing lives?

Your generosity will help several families in a Third World countryreceive a dairy animal.  We hope to be able to provide at least
one water buffalo, two goats and a dairy cow.  That's four animals for
$1000.  But we could double that.  Or more.  It's up to you.  The
effects of milk-producing gifts last a lifetime!  The lives of
families will forever be changed.   A water buffalo is considered to
be like a tractor in some countries.  Imagine the joy of a father when
he receives one!   Our gifts will provide gallon after gallon of
life-sustaining milk.

Invite your friends and family.  Help us celebrate 100 years of
 by giving the gift of dairy livestock.  Please come
for an evening of good food & fellowship!

Wednesday, August 22 was the much-anticipated date.  Our group made most of the homemade ice cream.  We needed 25 gallons to feed the masses.  I had to make 3 gallons with our 2 quart ice cream maker.  That would be 6 batches.   Thankfully we were able to borrow our neighbor's maker, too.  It made 6 quarts at time!  Sweet!

Our display.  Thanks to Theresa for making the cow cylinders for the "moo--la."

Several of the happy servers.

And our servant-hearted dishwashers.  We opted to use the dishwasher instead of using paper products, thus saving more money and passing on more money to buy a water buffalo.

The basement was full.  We may not have done this ice cream social just they way it used to be done.  But we did the best we could with our time and resources.

We served around 250 people.  (I was the spoon counter.  Oh yes.  The spoons were carefully counted.  I do know that a few people got more than one spoon, but that's okay).

A glance in the kitchen.  Too many cooks in the kitchen. . .  but since we were just serving and not cooking, we all got along just fine.

The totals aren't final yet, but we do know that God showed up in the hearts of people and influenced their giving.  We needed $1000 for one Milk Menagerie.  We're pretty close to being able to fund THREE MILK MENAGERIES.  That'll be 12 ANIMALS that will benefit families and villages AROUND THE WORLD.  Their lives will be FOREVER IMPACTED.  Perhaps in heaven one day, we'll be able to meet those who received an animal from us.

Happy 60th Birthday!

You only turn 60 once.  So when you do, it is a reason to celebrate!  And that's exactly what we did on Monday, August 20.  Seth's mother turned 60 on the 20th so we had her party on the same day. We had an excellent turn out of family and friends!  Michelle and I provided the evening meal for everyone.    It consisted of sandwiches, chips, baked beans, four salads and drinks.  Oh, and ice cream and cake.

A look at the gathering.

Michelle packed along Boomwhackers.  A musical instrument--one for everyone.  With just a couple practices of "Happy Birthday" and they were ready for their one and only performance.  It really was quite cute!

One of the cakes.  I did this one.  Haha.  No, really.  I did do this cake, or at least the white frosting.  Michelle brought the flowers and stuck them on before the party.

Grandma with her grandkids.

Everyone giving a hug.

Seth's mom and dad.

The cakes that Michelle made.

Then I thought it would be neat to have a picture with all the guests.

Donna with Phil & Linda.

Opening her gift from the family.  It is a custom-made necklace from The Boutique in Pella.  We put together a necklace with all of our birthstones.

Arlin, Donna and Duane.

Donna, Janet & Paul.

Beth, Donna & Michelle.

Wayne, Donna & Marla.

Donna with her dad and Beverly.

Donna with Loren & Rhonda.

Donna with Lois & Terry.

Arlin & Donna with Maurice & Melissa.

Eden & Eliza with some flowers from Grandma's garden.

Uncle Paul and Eden.

Seth, Mom & Dad, Michelle & Paul.

And one last picture with Grandma and her two granddaughters.

It was a great evening of family, friends and fellowship.  I think everyone had a great time!

Raking hay

Seth mowed hay last week and then it was time to rake it.  This was what the boys had been waiting all summer for.  They knew that when the third cutting of hay came around, it would be their turn to help.  Usually, the first and second cutting of hay involves a lot of hay--too much for a boy's first time.  So, the third cutting was just perfect, in fact it was kind of meager due to the drought.  Ephraim was the first to drive the Cub while Emmet watched.  Seth walked right beside the boys or rode on the back of the tractor.  

Then it was Ephraim's turn to wait while Emmet drove the Cub.

Both boys did an outstanding job.  They were very careful and really paid attention to their rows.

While the boys were doing that . . .

 . . . the girls were sitting at the picnic table snapping green beans.   Eliza thought it was hilarious that this green bean looked like a smile.  And then Eden had to copy Eliza.

When you're bored with green beans, the cats get some {unwanted} attention.  Our cats are great.  They put up with a lot from the children and they don't get angry.

Getting some loves.

It was the perfect evening to be outside, enjoying the cats, preparing food, and raking hay.

Iowa State "Fair-licious" 2012

Friday, the 10th was our day set aside to go to the Iowa State Fair.  We bought our tickets in advance so they would be a bit cheaper.  The girls were still free this year so that was a bonus.  We left early in the morning--by 7:30 we were on the road.

Our first stop is the area on the top of the hill:  the Cultural Center, Grandfather's barn, Pioneer Hall, etc.  Some of these areas we don't visit every year so it is nice to get up there every so often.  There was a wide variety of old-time equipment to look out.  Some of it isn't so unique because either we own one or our parents do!

We went to the Ag Building to see the Butter Cow but the line was LONG!  We were able to see it by walking past it behind the line.  We ventured upstairs so the children could see the bees.  Here is Ephraim . . . and Eden. . .

The children were able to make a beeswax candle for a small donation.

We stopped at the booth for Heifer International.  They provide animals to families in Third World Countries.  Our Bible Study is preparing for a church ice cream social and the proceeds will go toward buying dairy animals through Heifer International.  We picked up some literature.  Made a donation so the children could get pins and then they lady says (out of the blue) "Do you homeschool?  You just look like a homeschool family."  Her comment was just confirmation that we're doing the right thing for our family at this time.  But, I digress.  Back to the fair.

For lunch, they were treated with a corndog.  Emmet and Eliza ate a footlong corndog!  We packed along the rest of our food and drinks to save a little money.

Our lunch-mates:  Molly & Ephraim; John, Mason & Emmet; Emma, Eden & Eliza
(Molly & Ephraim are only 3 days apart and the boys in the middle were all born within a nine week span.  The younger girls are 6 months apart).  

A goofy picture of the children!

We walked around the DNR fish tanks together.

This year there were concrete ice cream cones all over the fair.  Individuals, groups and businesses did the decorating.  We have friends who decorated a cone in memory of their 10-year old son passed away from brain cancer this spring.   This is TJ's cone.

There can be 100,000 people at the Fair and I'm amazed that we run into people we know!  Family, high school friends, college friends and church friends.  We ran into my sister and her family in the Animal Learning Center!  

Checking out the fire truck at the Hall of Flame.

And when your little legs are tired, anything makes a good chair.  Even an animal waterer.  There's just something about this picture that makes me smile.

Ahh.  Chocolate.  The Largest Chocolate Moose in Captivity.  It did smell delicious!

Julie and I did not plan for the girls to all wear pink & purple with denim skirts.  And their hair braided. Must be the latest in 4-year old fashion.

At 4pm, we were entertained with Scott's barbershop quartet.  They sang a variety of music that was very enjoyable.

The BIG boar.

Emmet and Eliza in the cut-outs.

The fair was a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect.  It was an enjoyable day with precious memories.

On the way home, we stopped in Martensdale to buy something I'd seen on Craig's List.  It was a push tiller.  Something I could use on my own in the garden.  We picked it up and then went to A&W in Indianola for supper.  It was good but incredibly slow.  (I'm not normally one to complain about service and I didn't mention it to the staff.  It took 15 minutes for Seth to get a chocolate shake for the way home!)

The children were tired and more than ready to get home.  It had been a big day.  The State Fair is an annual tradition for us.  There are certain venues we have to see (the DNR, the Ugly Cakes, equipment, the Cultural Building), some that we might see every once in a while (4-H Building, Fabric & Threads) and some we can skip (the Varied Industries Building, all the rides).  Either way, we all had fun!