Apple Cider

Wow I can't believe it's been this long since my last post. I guess a lot has been happening around here lately...but not much of it was blog worthy:) Blare's been really busy in the field, and hopefully will be done within the next few days. Praise the Lord we've had a such safe and blessed harvest.

Last Saturday it was a rainy day, so we were finally able to make our apple cider. It worked out so well since Brent was home from Purdue for the weekend. Well...we started out with about 14 bushels of apples and after grinding, pressing, straining and squeezing ended up with approx. 22 gallons of cider. I know...you're probably thinking why do you go to that much work when you can buy a gallon at the store? Well, first of all, it tastes 100 times better, second, the time you spend with family makes it 100% worth it and third, we now have apple cider in the freezer to enjoy all winter long!! Here are a few pictures to enjoy...notice Madison isn't in any of the pictures? It was so nice, she slept the whole time we working out in the shop working on it! I really didn't want her to have to be around that sticky mess!!

Washing the apples

Grinding and pressing the apples

Straining, and bottling the cider!

Tag....I'm it

Well... in all of my blog snooping days I've seen many people who've been "tagged" and I always thought...I really, really, REALLY hope that I NEVER get tagged. But what did I find in my comments this morning but Sarah saying..."you've been tagged" UGHHHHH. So I guess I'll be a good sport and name my 7 random or interesting facts about myself. Most of you already know these things but I guess it will be a fun reminder. Here goes...

1. I'm not shy. I LOVE to meet new people and get to know them better.

2. When I was 15 I swallowed a veil pin. I had it in my mouth and laughed and oops, down it went. I went to the ER and they tried to get it out, but couldn't, so...it had to come out naturally, which I won't go into details describing:)

3. I very much dislike cleaning out the dishwasher. I know I'm weird, but I would rather fill it. I guess I should just be thankful that I have one.

4. I really like to play Frisbee football! This one is really random, but I guess that's the point.

5. I love to host people in our house. Whether overnight, for a campfire, dinner, brunch, ect... you name it I love it!

6. I went snow skiing in Wyoming when I was 7.5 months pregnant with Madison. I know, probably not the smartest thing, but hey how often do you get to go snow skiing in Wyoming?!

7. Every year around Christmas, I make and sell homemade caramels. It all started when a neighbor had a bazaar approx. 5 years ago, and has grown every year since. So, if you need any this Christmas, give me a call...I can deliver:)

There you have it folks...7 random and interesting facts about myself! Now I'm supposed to tag 7 more people, but I don't have any that Sarah and Jenna haven't already tagged, so...sorry I can't do this part:( Have a Fabulous Day!!

Fall

I love living in Indiana. The weather is never boring, we get to experience cold and warm all in the same day, and we also get the best season of all...Fall. I think you can tell that I love fall!! This is a list of some of my favorite fall things...

~Outdoor Decorations

~Riding in the combine and eating grandpa's apples (my grandpa Fiechter almost always has a bag of apples in the combine with him)
~Soup

~Sweatshirts
~Tractor rides with Blare
~Hot Apple Cider
~Bonfires
~Cold nights with the windows open and hearing the bin fans (when I was growing up, my bedroom window was close to the dryer and bins, so a lot of times I would fall asleep to the sound of the dryer running. But when we moved to town, I missed it so much, and now I finally get to hear it again!!)
~Apple Dumplings
~Making apple cider (my family does this every year)
~I think I could go on and on...but I won't bore you to death. Instead, I'll just share a few pictures of these fun Fall activities:

Outdoor decorationsMaking Cider

Riding with Daddy in the tractorTaco Soup

CombinesApples

And just a random picture of Madison to make you smile. I think I might need to buy her smaller pants.

Zoo

This past week Tara and I took the girls to the zoo. They had a great time and were very good the whole time!!

Madalynn and Haliegh wanted to go on the carousel...but Madison doesn't know any better yet, so we just watched!

This is pretty typical of Madison...trying to get into the animal's cages!!

I know this is kinda random...but I thought it was so good of Madalynn!!