Saturday doings...

We're all ready for the little munchkins to come bumping on the door tomorrow evening. Their numbers have dwindled over the years, but have stayed pretty steady at about 75 or so for the past couple. Hopefully we'll have enough.

This year they'll be getting chocolates and pretzels.

The temps are continuing to fall so before we get hit with our first frost, we got a little fall planting done.

Planted more daffodils to fill in some

sparse spots in the mailbox bed.

We have a split rail fence around our property and have always had a problem with the gates. First, because we have a two-rail fence instead of a three-rail fence, they're hard to find. Seems to me, if you're going to sell all kinds of fencing material, it would make sense to have all kinds of gates to go with said materials, but, hey, whadda I know! The last gates we got we had to order on-line.

Secondly, they wear out/decay faster than the fence posts and rails. I can't remember how many times we've replaced them. So, this time, to preclude all the aggravation we usually go through with the stupid things, Lew decided to make the gates himself.

Now for the pièce de résistance of the day:

This pile of wood...

turned into this beautiful gate!
Isn't it just lovely?

Ahh, the man is so talented!

Apple-y Recipe

Get yourself some apples. Preferably sweet, cooking type apples. Or, like me, get a variety of sweet, cooking type apples...Gala, Golden Delicious, and Empire.

Get yourself one of these handy little gadgets:

or spend a little more and get one of these

cuz the cheapy one will break from overuse, right in the middle of what you're doing, and you'll have to get another one anyway! You also won't knock your knuckles or fingers as much (ask me how I know all this.)

Then, fill up a crockpot of your choice -- in the 3-1/2 - 4 qt range -- with lots (about 10 -14, depending on size) of chunked apples.

Add a couple, three tablespoons lemon juice, a bit of apple cider (about a 1/4 cup,) and a teaspoon each of cinnamon and vanilla; stir. Put the lid on, turn it to high, and let 'er rip! Three hours or so later, give it all a whiz with a handy-dandy stick/immersion blender or a regular ol' potato masher (careful, it's hotter than that place down yonder) and you'll have yourself the most delicious, sugar-free applesauce ever!

Let it cool and have with dinner, or if you're squirrely like me, repeat 4 times and put your 16 pint jars in the freezer... right beside your 14 bags of sliced apples, 4 bags of sauteed apples, 5 jars of apple jam, and two loaves of pumpkin-apple bread. Then you'll be set for winter. Oh, and don't forget to finish that apple crisp you baked. Then decide what you're going to make with the 20 or so apples you still have (note to self: next year a bushel will be more than enough!)

I do believe I'm appled out.

This, that, and the other

It being apple season and all, we've been peeling, coring, and slicing a bunch. We're eating and drinking (got some fresh pressed cider too) more than an apple a day and so far, have four bags of sliced apples and six pints of applesauce in the freezer. Since we have an abundance (like the song goes -- a bushel and a peck!) this weekend will find us fixing more of the same, along with several loaves of another favorite, pumpkin-apple bread.

Dogwood Update:

Our ailing tree has received its three treatments but being that it's losing leaves naturally because of the season, it not obvious to me that there's been any improvement. The tree doc seems to think it will recover, but it's pretty much a wait-and-see thing until it starts budding and leafing in the spring. That's also when the dead wood (hopefully not the whole tree!) will be removed. *sigh*

Baby B is 4 months old already! How can that be? I hate that I'm in MD and he's in SC and I'm missing soooo much of his growing. He's in good hands though - his SC grandparents dote on and spoil him rotten -- just as it should be! ;-)

sweet, sweet baby boy!

Got my mammogram done (it was normal,) had our six month check-ups, and got stuck for our flu shots. I have one more doctor's appointment next month and then we're good to go for another six months. Yay! Well, not counting one unpleasant appointment we haven't made yet... we're both due for colonoscopies this year. Ughh!!

Okay, I lied. I just remembered... I also have to make an appointment to get my eyes checked. I'm a bit overdue and my glasses are starting to deteriorate. ♫A chipped lens here, a scratched lens there, here a lens, there a lens, everywhere a lens, lens!♫ lol Anyway, that's another one I'm not looking forward too -- I hate picking out new frames.

Oh yum! Lew came home with a half dozen beets this afternoon, so I'll be roasting and freezing them this weekend too. Loooove roasted beets! We have a devil of a time finding them with any regularity at the grocer's around here, though and the orchards we frequent carry mostly fruits, not veggies. Definitely have to find a better source cuz I know we can't be the only beet-lovers in the area! We may just have to start growing our own (wink, wink, Claudia!)

So, that's what I've been up to. If I don't answer the phone, come looking for me under the apple/beet peels!

Fun with fall...

I am having entirely too much fun with fall decorating this year! Thankfully, we got it done earlier in the week before the rains decided to come live with us for awhile, so the front porch and back patio are sporting their fall finery and looking right purty, even if I do say so myself. ;-)

one of two funky gourds we
bought at the Catoctin Colorfest

along with this unique little guy
that I couldn't resist;

so, we got a skull

and another ghostie friend to go with,

and 3 of these for the other side
(aren't they just adorable?!)

see the little metal scarecrow by the bench?
got a pair of them at Colorfest too

getting into the Halloween spirit

but scarecrows, pumpkins, mums and
gourds are the stars of this show

mixing the seasons

letting this dude sit a spell this year

front door welcoming view

patio door view for me to enjoy
while downstairs on my computer

October tradition

After my date with a couple of very nice X-ray tech types yesterday, we were off to the 47th Annual Catoctin Colorfest in Thurmont, MD. The day was absolutely perfect for the event with beautiful blue skies and temperatures ranging from cool in the morning to warmer and sunnier as the day wore on.

This two-day thing -- one of the largest Arts & Crafts Shows on the east coast -- is huuuuge, with hundreds of artists and vendors and so much to see. We were there about 5 hours and I know we missed a lot even though we walked all over what seemed like the whole town of Thurmont! We bought some seasonal decorative things, some Christmas gifts, and snacked on warm apple dumplings and crispy kettle-cooked chips, fresh and still warm right from the kettle, Delicious!

Local home decorated for the festive season

Entrance to one of the craft areas

Lots of people

One of many wood art stops

more wood art

I mean, lottts of people!

We saw (but didn't buy) more chainsaw art

This little giggly guy almost made it
home with me... but I refrained

It was a full day, and we were a good tired when we got home, but it was fun and we're looking forward to next year's gala.

Think Pink...

Guess what I did today?? Have you? If you haven't, please do soon!

Picturesque Pumpkins

At last year's Oktoberfest, we discovered a most talented and unique wood carver, Jake Albright of Hanover, PA. He carves his sculptures with a chainsaw! It's really quite amazing to watch as he (or one of his assistants) transforms a big ol' hunk of wood into a scary, funny, or goofy pumpkin or a multitude of other creations... birds, bears, birdhouses, etc. He finesses and accents his creations with some very well-placed butane torch charring, a bit of sanding, and a bit of spray paint. He also creates more delicate, traditional wood carvings.

Some of last year's pieces

bear head bird feeders and a happy pumpkin
in this year's collection

and a proud eagle

applying some finishing touches

this year's acquisition

and a buddy from last year

No, last year's pumpkin hasn't faded, they've just changed the paint they use. This year it's a very bright, almost neon orange. Clearly, we have a penchant for snaggle-toothed pumpkins - they just crack me up! These dudes will be joining the rest of our fall/Halloween decorations on the front porch and patio. With proper maintenance, we hope to enjoy these goofy works of art for many years.