It is finished, almost...

Apples, apples and more apples...

I have just one more batch of apples to put into the food drier which I'm saving for Monday. The last three days almost all of my waking hours have been spent on preserving apples. Monday I racked off 54 gallons of cider and pasteurized them so in the end I got 49 finished gallons. Tuesday I made several batches of apple pie filling to put into the freezer and made 7 pints of apple butter. Wednesday I made 28 quarts of applesauce. Also on Tuesday and Wednesday I put a load of sliced apples into my food drier. Besides the apples left for the food drier I only have a crisper full of apples to eat and make into deserts or whatever. Which by the way I made a killer "Apple cake" from Krista's Blog Taste of Blue Sky while I was making applesauce.

I am thankful for the produce we were able to grow this year and enjoy through the summer and will be able to through the winter. Well garden, wild blackberry bushes and fruit trees sleep well this winter till we meet again in the spring. I know I sure will enjoy the rest.

Apple Cider Pressing Day

We have about 25 fruit trees. 18 I think are apple trees, several different varieties. This last week Larry, Michael and a Young Adult from the branch, Jake picked the apples. Today we pressed most of them into apple cider. I kept out about
4 boxes for applesauce, apple butter and apple pie filling and then another box to eat. Misty wanted a box so we gave her a box too. We had a good season this year and the trees had some nice apples on them.
Here is what we started with. Grandpa and Grandma Johnson gleaned some apples from a farm so they could also make apple cider. The apples from our home are in the black thing. The other apples are what they brought.

Michael hard at work turning the crank, Grandpa is putting the apples in the hopper, Larry is twisting the press down into the pressed apples.

My job was to pour the cider into the gallon jugs. I think I had the hardest job. JK.

Had to get Grandpa's smile in here. He loves the cider. It's hard work though and everyone was working hard and in a good system and we got in done in about 4 1/2 hours. Thanks for all the help!!! April and Matt thanks for bringing the pizza home for us to eat when we were done:)

Joseph is now turning the press. He is also from the YA branch and Michael called him to see if he wanted to come up and help. He was a big help.

My job on Monday is to siphon the cider out so I don't get the sediment on the bottom and then pasteurize it and put it back into the rinsed out jug to cool and bit and then freeze. Grandma does her own though. She took 36 jugs and we have 54 so that is 90 jugs of cider we made today. It feels good to accomplish something like that even though it takes time and work. Now to make the applesauce... Next week.

This is an add to to a previous blog and the girl's bears I made them. I decided to make me one too so I would have one here if I ever wanted to make one again I would have something to look at. When I put them all together it reminded me of Neapolitan ice-cream. Strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. I had to take a picture and add it to the blog since this is like a journal to me. Aren't they cute?

What a weekend!

I don't think we could have fit anything else into this last weekend. We went to Spokane this last weekend because Michael was going to go to the temple for the first time before his mission. Since we were going several other things got added to the pot...
First off we got there right after 8:00 pm to pick up Michael's suits at Men's warehouse before they closed. He looks pretty handsome in them if I do say so myself.
Saturday morning we went to the Church distribution center to get what he needed there. We were by Costco so of course we had to go get some supplies for our business and found a really nice watch for Michael that was a great price.
We then attended Aria's soccer game at noon.

Gabe has been sooooo excited for his 3rd birthday and he told his momma who he wanted to invite. We were on the list but were already making several trips to Spokane for other things so Gabe got to have a "family" birthday party and then a friend one on his real birthday. Everyone from the family was there except for Uncle Matt,he was missed. He was so excited and had the biggest smile on his face the whole time.

I gave him the sweater I made for him and he loved it! I was so happy it fit him. Doesn't he look handsome!

I loved this picture April took of Clara and me and then her self portrait with Jovie and Papa J.

We were able to enjoy and be a part of a very special day for Michael. He was able to go to the Spokane temple. His grandparent's living and I believe from the other side of the veil were there, Misty, David, Maryanne and Jon were also able to be there with him.

After the temple alot more family joined us and we went to The Onion to celebrate. While there we were able to celebrate Michael's birthday and he had to do a runway walk and blow kisses to everyone. The table beside us was filled with about 20 girl's from a volleyball team. It was funny.

The next morning Rachel, Joshua and Shannon ran in a 1/2 marathon race. They all did great! Rachel ran it in 2 hours 3 minutes and Josh and Shannon came in at 2 hours 25 minutes. Rachel ran to fast and finished before we got there to watch but we saw Josh and Shannon come across the finish line, holding hands.

Like I said... "What a weekend"! Very busy but filled with all things worthwhile and family centered. I love how our family is there for one another! FAMILY I LOVE YOU!!!

Gabe's sweater

I learned how to knit a sweater. I've always wanted to learn and this was a simple pattern but I did it:). April and I once again took a knitting class to learn how to do this. We got a call right before the 2nd class was suppose to meet and the owner of the store canceled the class and said she was closing her store. Thankfully she met with us the following couple of weeks so we could learn how to finish our sweaters. This Saturday Gabe is having a family Birthday party and I will give it to him then. BTW... Sweaters take a long time to knit.