A Summer Day Trip

This summer Trilby and I took her boys on a day trip to Des Moines. We started at the State Historical Museum.



They were impressed with the big cannon and the war artifacts.



Nate especially liked the buffalo and hoped Grandpa would shot one someday!


The boys being "goofy"!


Next stop......Iowa Hall of Pride.
Nate tried to b eat his mom in Let's Dance.


Payton really isn't quarterback material!



Cael makes his big play on the screen


And Nate was thrilled to drive the Jon Deere simulator.


Next stop....Bass Pro.
The boys try their hand at shooting.


Final stop.....Jethro's BBQ in Altoona for some scrumptious food.


And I think a good time was had by all! Next year we may add three more to our little outing as I think the next group will be old enough by then. Yippee!



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Another Sleeping Bag for a Grandson

Chance turned four in August, and it was his turn for a sleeping bag. Grayson got his last February....



Clara got hers in June.....


Chance used his when he spent the night with us when we were camping.






His has a hunting theme.


And it rolls up nice and tight...


You can find the pattern at Moda Bakeshop.

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We had a great crop of apples this year. Unfortunately our best tree was also our oldest, and it blew down in a windstorm. It produced this year, but it will not be with us next year. It made the best applesauce,

We put up about 40 pints of applesauce. The cinnamon made with red hots is the grandkids favorite.


We also made some with regular cinnamon.


And of course, unsweetened for baking.


We made a ton of apple pie filling too! It is great for apple pie, apple crisp, apple bars, and apple cake.


And just for my niece, Chansee, here is the apple pie filling recipe:

7 lbs. apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

Mix the following:
4 1/2 cups sugar
1c cornstarch
2 t cinnamon
10c water
Cook until thick stirring frequently.

Pack apples into clean hot jars, cover with sugar mixture to within 1/2" of top, get air bubbles out, seal with hot lids and rings.

Process in a water bath for 20 min.

Lots of apples headed south to Texas for you in the morning, Chansee!!


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Life!

Long time, no blog! With the start of school came a new job in a new building. It was a change I applied for and happily received, but it also came with:
1. a once a week college class
2. homework
3. learning a new routine
4. learning the names of MANY new kids
5. teaching students in K-4 (We have 5th grade, but none of them are on my roster.). That means all new lessons!
Also, the apple trees have been full, and the tomatoes keep coming despite no rain! So far I've put up 32 pints of applesauce, 15 jars of pepper jelly, 54 quarts of apple pie filling, 22 quarts of salsa and 8 quarts of tomatoes. I'll be doing more apple pie filling, spiced apples, and pasta sauce this week.

So there's my list of excuses for not blogging lately!

I did do a little sewing over the summer, but contrary to the way I usually am I have some unfinished projects. Here's what was on my design board a couple of weeks ago.









I hope to get some sewing in again one of these days.

Stay tuned for finished photos within the next couple of months!

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Around My Yard

Not so long ago I took a little photo tour around some of my yard.






We have two of these rose bushes by the porch and they are gorgeous!





Love my sweet potato vine.
























You may notice the water hose in several photos which is because we need rain soooooo badly that things have to be watered every night! Our grass is turning brown and this week's heat hasn't helped.

Love my plants!

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Nana Camp Part 2

Nana Camp continued....(scroll down to read about part 1)...We left the pool tired, but everyone made it home awake! Next up was a bonfire and supper.









Nate loved the bing cherries and S'mores!


Hot dogs, cheese balls, bing cherries and S'mores were on the menu.

Then it was time to get cleaned up and into our jammies so we could go to the drive in movie in our yard.

Everyone had his/her personalized car.








Of course we had pop and popcorn!


Toward the end Nana's lap was the place to be. (They're exhausted!)


Much to my surprise everyone made it through the movie. The next morning they chilled with PBS before breakfast.



The little ones put puzzles together while the older ones slept.


Then it was time for snow cones!


There was some silliness that went on....









And the boys made Grandpa's favorite cookies!


Everyone went home just in time for supper. I'm sure they were all tired, but no one was as tired as Nana!



My hope is that my grandchildren are always best friends!

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