Apple Time

I'm actually a day late in reporting our applesauce making night.  Got home from work yesterday and Bike man had started working on all the apples we picked from our tree.  The apples that I feature in my photo are the really nice ones, but 2/3 of the apples had black spots, and worm damage.  The bad spots on the apples made for a slow going slicing process. 

 

By late night the cooking process began and I think we finally filled all the canning jars by 8:30 pm.  I was glad we could process our apples, but after working all day and getting up by 6 am, I was beat.  Went to bed after the canning jars were in the canner, and Bike man handled the rest.  It's been a long work week.

Familiar Roads

These roads are so familiar to me.  Been running and walking these back-roads for thirty years....OMG, am I really that old?  Yup, started running this route when I was 23 years old and newly married.  

I continued walking this route with a baby stroller when our children were born.  Wow, how time flies by.  I never thought I'd live in one area for thirty years, but October marks that anniversary.  Happy Birthday Tainterturtles!  The kids are grown up and gone, but I'm still trudging along running slow these days.  Just like cycling, I find peace and happiness running my familiar roads.  

Buddies

Look at these two fur balls.  Are they kissing or what?  I think I detect a little smile on Annabell's face! 

Tin Can Punching

I'm pooped tonight.  I worked on these tin cans all afternoon until my hands hurt.  My project involved taking a clean tin can and using a nail to punch holes to create a pattern. 

 

So here are the templates I used on my tin cans.  I had different size cans, so I had to pick the appropriate can to fit the pattern.

 

Bike man helped me set up my work space....standing was much more comfortable for me. 

 

I used different size nails, but it certainly wasn't easy.  I worked steady and slow, but my hands were getting sore from holding the nail in place and then pounding with the hammer.  Because these cans will be displayed on tables for a wedding reception, I used the pattern on each side of the can so you'd see the lights from any side of the table.

 

 

 The bigger cans were easier to work with and the smaller cans were a bitch!  I also had some problems with the tin denting in from the pressure of the nail punching.  I tried to be careful, but it happened regardless.  I know they won't be perfect.

 

I tested one out in my bathroom where it was nice and dark.  I placed a tealight candle in the can, and look.....it's really pretty!  I did seven cans this afternoon and that meant punching 14 designs.  I'm not sure how many more cans will be needed, but I have at least three weeks to work on this project.  I'll tell you more about the bride and her wedding preparations later in October.

PS.  And what was Bike man doing this afternoon?  He was building a bat house.  Sorry, can't show you a picture because I was busy punching.  I'll take a photo later when the bat house is ready to be put into place.

She's a Trooper

Blackie?  After about five weeks, she's doing just fine....feisty as ever.



 

Our friend Caryn came back to her house for a quick visit this weekend and it was so nice to see her.  After a month of physical therapy for hip replacement surgery, she will be coming back home very soon.  I can't wait for Caryn to go back to enjoying hikes in her woods, stream monitoring with Carol and maybe even riding her bike on the Red Cedar trail.  I'm thinking we need to have a little "return home" party when she's back for good.  A little wine, a little food and lots of cheers for this pretty lady! 

Shakespeare, Now & Then

We have an overnight guest staying with us, so I whipped up my favorite pecan pie this morning.  You can find my pie recipe in my Turtle Recipes.   Then, Bike man made a nice quinoa.  We always feed our guests! 

 

I invited our library performer to stay overnight at our house.  Ron, who is from Milwaukee, performed  a one-man Shakespeare presentation tonight.  Ron combined a history lesson on Renaissance life in England to the famous works of William Shakespeare.....it was great!  After arriving home, we've enjoyed a great night of conversation, wine and food. 

Happy Birthday Bike Man

I just couldn't get him to look up.  Bike man doesn't like pictures of himself, so I opted to snap a photo while he was eating dinner.  We are celebrating Bike man's birthday today by building a nice warm fire outside and enjoying our late dinner.  I decided to treat him to a new dinner entrée.  The recipe I used still needs a little modification, but I found a recipe where you combine brown rice, shredded zucchini, carrots, onion, mushrooms, walnuts, feta cheese and seasonings.  The recipe called for baking the rice mixture in a loaf pan with in a water bath, but it didn't come out crispy, just soft.  So, I'll have to work on the recipe before I blog about it.  The rice loaf did come out yummy, plus I decided to add some pesto to jazz it up.

Just when I thought it was too cool for mosquitoes....think again.  Guess we still need some colder nights to get rid of the blood sucking creatures.  While sitting around the fire tonight, I was happy to see the bats are still out at dusk feeding on the persistent mosquitoes.......GO BATS!