Applesauce, and nerf battles

Fresh picked apples, in neon rubber tubs; hand-crank food mills and Tilly and the Wall on iPod; 

home canned goodness and full gear Nerf battles.  

 

 

Balance is key, don't you think?

Apples

We went apple picking a few weekends ago, and got busy that night with the Squeezo, making sauce to can the next morning.  Since then the last bushel of apples has been taking up most of the floor space in our pantry waiting the next free afternoon with a chill in the air.  I'm sure it won't be long--maybe even today.

Sauce with the Squeezo is super easy, and way fun (except for cleaning the screen afterward).
Here's how we do it:

      * Wash, then chop apples in half

     * Boil/steam apples in a large pot until soft enough to poke with a fork

* Dump them into the Squeezo funnel, and crank away! (watch out for the splatters)

Kale may be the only child I've ever met who doesn't like applesauce.  I'm hoping to win him over with this next batch with a bit of cinnamon and other spices.  If not, then more for the rest of us.

Honey!

I harvested a very small amount of honey from our ladies last week.  The first year of a new colony the bees use so much energy and resources drawing out (creating) the comb that most of the honey they make is needed as food for the winter.  Taking just two frames I left plenty for them to overwinter with, and they are still busily working to fill up every last inch of their hive with the sweet nectar of goldenrod and asters. With so few frames to extract we opted for the slow drip method.  Fortunately we have quite a few lidded beer  buckets that turned out to be just the right size for holding frames of honey as they sat in the sun for days, dripping.

Last night we hung up the straining bag, and allowed it to drip through all night.  This morning we had enough to fill one small jar of our own Frogwater Honey. Not to mention a handful of buckets, pots, and frames for the bees to lick clean (just as soon as the children are done with them).

     Label courtesy or taproot 

 Yum!

Monday Morsels: Colors of the Season

The leaves are just starting to change around here, mostly in the low, wet areas.  As we drive into town we see the shift from green to yellow in the distant hills.  I love watching these hills as the seasons change, from green to gold, to bare, and then that first hopeful new green in April.
The pumpkins are coming in (only three bitty ones from our own garden), mums, purple and yellow asters, apples, cranberries, and "bird berries".  And that sky!  Summer is so crushingly green-- its amazing in June, but by August it can feel almost suffocating.  The colors of Autumn have a distinctly different, feel.  Crisp, deep, and warming.

                    Red

                   

                     Purple

                   Orange

                

                    Gold

Morsels:

* The cranberries are just beginning to ripen.  Apparently a ripe cranberry will bounce like a rubber ball.  The ones I picked bounced a bit.  We'll try again in a week.  For my birthday Rob got me this cranberry rake.  It was made in Maine by a company that makes blueberry rakes primarily--but I guess they custom order.  I just saw an amazing looking recipe for cranberry relish--can't wait to try it.  

    almost ripe!

* The kids and I went apple picking last week at Mainly Apples in Dixmont.  They had a ton of apples.  Some of the trees were so burdened it would have looked painful if it hadn't been so spectacular.  The Galas were amazing, all pink and yellow.  We came home with Galas and and Macouns, and will likely go back soon for Ida reds and Goldens.  

Wylie was so not excited for picking that I contemplated not going.  When I mentioned there'd be no applesauce if we didn't pick he relented.  But, once we were there the kids all had a good time, pulling the wagon, sorting the apples (drops vs. picks) and tasting all the different varieties.  And despite all his initial fuss, and the 25 minutes it took to drive there, we had filled our 3 1/2 bushels in about 15 minutes.  The farm stand also had honey, in bitty little honey bears--how could we resist? and cider, yum.  

                    

                   Applesauce

    photo by Wylie, or Juniper?
* One of the kids took this picture, and even though I'd rather not display the disposable mini yogurts that I hate to buy (but occasionally get suckered into by my cuties) I love the light and the angle here.  When the sun is like this in the morning it can stop me in my tracks and I think, Man I love this place.  I feel so fortunate to have a bright, warm, efficient home.

* My zero waste ecochallenge started this weekend.  In preparation I moved out a pile of hard to recycle items (ie those damn mini yogurts) I'd been storing up (a friend recycles them for me) and made this handkerchief bag.  The front pocket holds rags for blowing your nose--cut from some soft scrap jersey, and the bigger part of the bag is for the used rags. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.  I also stocked up on more glass jars from Goodwill for food storage.  I am slowly replacing all the plastic bags that I have washed and re-washed for months, but which eventually bite it in the end.  By switching to glass it'll last longer, and I think it will be easier to organize our food.

* Kale has been talking in three word sentences, and now refers to himself as "Na-na".  We're all getting such a kick out of this kid and all his talking.  "Mama, Na-na sipawata?"  Mama, can I have a sip of water?  "Where Juju? Na-na go Juju?"  Where is Juni, I want to go with Juni.   "Upa drivay?"  Up the driveway, "Bobo ruck!"  Big truck!   "Mama Tum!"  Mama come!   At which point he will take my hand and lead me to see whatever feat he is wanting to show off --the trains he has linked together, his latest drawing (hopefully on paper), his mad ball skills, anything really.  He is so proud--and so are we.

    photo by Rob
* How's this for a Jack O'Lantern smile! Yikes!  I think Kale has more teeth than him now, truly.

                        photo by Rob

* Rob took the big kids down to the Deerfield fair and Kale and I stayed at home for a quiet weekend.  Really quiet.  The near silence was amazing.  A few times throughout the day Kale would suddenly shriek, I think just to fill up the space a bit.  It was such a nice change, and I reveled in the calm and peacefulness of it--until the second night at dinner when it suddenly seemed much too quiet.  It brought me back to evenings alone with two little ones, when Rob was working late, and that sinking, alone feeling--a need to speak to someone who can speak back (in full sentences).  Fortunately it doesn't happen often anymore, so I was able to push through it, enjoy a nice quiet snuggle with my youngest then put him to bed. Followed of course by ice cream (homemade from a friend in town, YUM!), knitting, and a bit of Hulu on the couch.  Just right.  

Happy Monday to you.

Monday Morsels: The virtue of pants

Pretty much since Kale was born we've been practicing part-time elimination communication

(more on that here ) which is way simpler if he is bare-bum.  Our house is usually pretty warm and we have concrete floors (read: easy to clean) so it hasn't been much of an issue.  Until recently.  There are somethings you just shouldn't blog about, so I'll simply say a few good things regarding pants, particularly as they relate to toddlers:  

1. Pants prevent your toddler from touching his bum.  Particularly if said toddler has recently developed an itchy bum, seemingly out of nowhere.  

2. Pants prevent said itchy bum from coming into contact with surfaces shared with others (ie. everything in your home--including, the kitchen table, your newly built couch, your lap, and your bed!).

3. If you forget to put pants on your toddler and you suddenly come to realize (through some unmentionable event) that he does in-fact have a very common (though none-the-less completely nasty) childhood malady,   then get some pants on him pronto!  But first wash his hands.  And yours.  And everything in the house.  With disinfectant.  Then call your doctor.  In cases like these its best to treat everyone in the house. And remember to wear pants, at least for the next 2 weeks.
Just saying.  

Morsels:  

* We've been super busy, cleaning and medicating (all clear now!)--but also living up the end of summer.  My sister and niece from WA State were visiting in NH so we stayed down there for the week, and had a chaotic blast.  It was good fun almost all the time, visiting with all the cousins, running in the mornings with my sisters, and having late girls' nights watching cheesy ABC dramas.  I already miss it.

fun with cousins

* A few weeks ago Rob and his pal participated in the Belfast Bay Festival's Boat Building Competition, and they Won!  

Unfortunately my camera battery died early in the day, so I don't have any film of the race, but here's the boat, at home weathering the hurricane (that's some sassy sailor!)

* Irene didn't do much damage here.  A few sunflowers down, and no power for 24 hours.  Mostly a ton of wind.

* Even though the boat won first place, Rob didn't deem it sea worthy.  So, we've adopted it as a sandbox.
I think it will see a lot more use this way.

* We've been canning and freezing:  peaches, tomatoes, zucchini, and green beans.  We had a whole assembly line going on for the peach canning, and the kids are old enough to truly be helpful.  I love that! This week we'll break out the Squeezo and do some sauce.

*  Last week we headed up one of our favorite hikes, Bald Rock in Lincolnville.  The way up was toddler slow, but worth the view.  On the way down I made Kale ride on my back. 

* September is my favorite month.  Its still warm enough for swimming, but cool enough in the mornings to make me start searching for a knitting project.  On my needles now is the  "Wonderful Wallaby" hoodie pattern (it is the cutest direction book I've ever seen, way worth the $7 dollars I paid for it).  

I've made a couple of these in the past few years.  This one is for me, in Peace Fleece.  

Happy Monday to you!

Monday Morsels: Party Hardy

We made it through the week of two birthdays, two summer camps, and a business trip for Rob.
Somewhere it is written that if Rob is away, one or more of the children will vomit.  Last week was no exception.  Fortunately, as stomach bugs go this one was easy, and didn't really knock anyone out, as much as it became an inconvenience:
"Mama, lets go swimming!"  "Ok-- oh wait, Kale might throw up again."  
"Jump in the car, its time to go to camp."  "But what if I throw up?"  "Oh, right".  


No fevers, very little nausea or fatigue, just out of the blue vomiting on and off for about  6 hours.
I can handle that.  Especially since we had Super Mimi (aka The Meem) here for the week.
Super Mimi brings sugar cereal, art supplies, pinwheels and birthday presents.  Who could ask for more?

Morsels:

*  The kids though it would be funny to get a picture of Kale throwing up (there seems to be a strong interest in all things gross around here).  Fortunately they didn't, but these before and after pictures are pretty much how the afternoon went around here.

Kale immediately before vomiting

Just after vomiting

It didn't really slow him down much.


*  Its become tradition that I make Juniper a new dress for her birthday.  This year I made a skirt and top with matching headband.  The skirt was a free pattern a friend told be about on the oliver+s  blog, the "Lazy Day Skirt", and was super easy to make.  The top was a made up pattern, and my first try at shirring/smocking.   The material is from a great new store in Belfast, Fiddlehead Artisan Supply.
If you live nearby check it out!

I think she likes it.

* We have a few other birthday traditions we try to adhere to.  The kids always wear a handmade crown (I'm thinking now that Rob and I should have one as well) we hang the birthday banner, and add a handful of photos from the previous year to their photo album. Presents too of course.  Parties are typically low key affairs with a couple of close friends, and are of the beer, watermelon, and BBQ variety.  (Of course when you add friends' siblings and parents to the mix it becomes quite a crowd).   I'm not much for the big organized theme party deal, and even wondered if it would be over the top to have bubbles, until Juniper made it pretty clear:  "Mama, I don't want bubbles!" That settled that.  Of course if the kids wanted to do more we'd be all for it (or at least we'd muddle through for their sake) but this year Wylie opted for a sleepover with one friend.  Added to this is of course a small party with grandparents, another for the other set, and a cake on their "actual" day if the party could not happen on said day.  It turns into about a week of birthday--x2.  Party Hardy.

*  Somehow I forgot that all art projects are best undertaken at the picnic table.  Mimi set up this paint project and even Kale painted long enough for me to sneak out for a run without him missing me.  

* We've been making and freezing all kinds of pesto around here.  I typically use almonds rather than pine nuts, and leave out the parmesan to add when defrosted (or often not at all).  My sister shared some pesto with spicy pumpkin seeds that was dee-lish, so we made a bit of that as well.  My favorite so far has been the cilantro pesto with pumpkin seeds.  I froze one jar, and ate two.  Its great on rice wraps, toasted until crisp like chips, or dolloped on salad.

*  I just checked out "Your Eight Year Old" by Ames and Haber from our library.  I always like to read this series as the kids near their birthdays.  The descriptions of children and their behavior/thoughts etc. for each age are remarkably detailed and accurate (in my opinion), and the books were written in the early eighties so that are a hoot to read, and the photos are great.  The first chapter describes Eight as cheerful, outgoing, and quick to be helpful.  Taking on new tasks that may previously have seemed (often rightfully so) daunting.  Shortly after reading the first few chapters Wylie surprised me by washing and putting away all the dishes.  The next morning he and Juniper made me breakfast in bed!  I'm liking 8 so far.

* Sadly, both of our cats have disappeared in the past 3 weeks.  When the first one went missing we were certain that he would soon come home, but when the second disappeared we began to suspect a predator.  We have all been quietly hopeful until just this evening both kids had a spell of crying, and missing the kitties.  This prompted all sorts of printing of pictures of the cats, plans for art projects, and the setting up of a small shrine in the tree house. Unfortunately, the past two nights I've heard a great horned owl nearby.  I'm thinking the prospects are not good.

I typically love to hear the owls, and have always been intrigued by the mystery that surrounds them.  I've had a few poignant experiences with owls (dead and alive), and I would say they are one of my favorite animals.  I'm liking this particular owl just a little less however.  I have this part fear, part wonder, about possibly finding an owl pellet with our cat fur in it.  Terrible I know, but I'd like to know for sure just what happened to them.
 I've been having dreams almost every night of the cats coming home.


* So, the game at our house these days is "hit the big kids in the head" with anything hard if possible.  Obviously I try to discourage this game, as it so often ends in tears, but its a hard game to interrupt when the victims-to-be are running, laughing, and screeching "get to high ground!" (ie. anything too tall for Kale to reach them).

The weapon of choice on this occasion?  Those sweet, wooden stacking blocks from the Nova Catalog.  Hmm.

(I have to admit I feel a bit guilty taking a picture of these shenanigans before putting an end to them.  I may be as much of a culprit as the kiddos for egging him on.)

* We've been making the most of our last month of swimming.  We certainly dip here and there in September, but August is really the time to live it up at the lake.  Bittle loves his swim time.  If he had it his way (and he often does) he would leap off the dock without the gear.

Big Bro prefers to stay dry.
This photo is at a friends' camp.  Rob helped build the dock and tower.  I'm not much for a high dive, but I do a mean cannon ball every once in a while to impress the kiddos.

* From the garden this week:  garlic, rainbow carrots, onions, patty pans, and our first potatoes!

* Wylie requested a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for his birthday.  Check.  (Not as easy as the root beer floats Juni had--but I'll take it).  The day before his birthday he added that it should be in the shape of a StarWars ship.  Right.  I was game for a while, even went so far as to print out a picture of one of the ships (don't ask me which one) and contemplate how to best recreate it in cake form.  Instead I opted for a quick trip to Reny's where I found a relatively inexpensive StarWars Lego set.  I spray-frosted the STARWARS logo across the cake and added a few gun toting Storm Troopers.
Ta-da, instant StarWars cake.

According to Wylie, "It was perfect.  Just what I wanted."  And that, is really just what I wanted.