Oodles of Apples

Making memories at Grandma's house. The kids look forward to this every June!!!

Apple picking...




Apple washing...

Apple juicing...

Apple drinking...

Apple peeling and coring...

Apple dehydrating...

Apple trail mix making...

Good times! Oh, and the taste of freshly juiced apples is delicious! Fresh dehydrated apples are a tasty treat as well. Mom, thanks for the many bags of apples and all of the apple fun!

My Very First Harvest

I can't even begin to express how delighted I was to pick my very first yellow squash! I know it sounds silly, but there is just something so amazing about watching food grow. This is my very first garden, and I am absolutely loving it! Thanks to hubs for building it for me. :)
These are my squash and zucchini plants. I have a few carrots and 2 pumpkin plants, too. My cilantro and onion seeds just wouldn't sprout even after planting them twice. Oh well, not too bad for a beginner.


I have been so tickled over the excitement the kids have shown. They helped plant the seeds--even Shiloh helped. Everyday they would watch for sprouts and boy, you can imaging the shouting when the first one emerged!!



Here they are, my first two squash. (Should that be squashes?) Lincoln was so excited about them, and he doesn't even like squash. That is until Sunday when we cooked them.



He helped me saute` them in butter, onion, spices, and cheese. And......he like it!!! But, he says he will only eat squash from the garden not the store. Silly boy.

Relief!

It's been overcast and rainy for the past 2 days. Even got some hail yesterday. Nothing serious or anything. Oh, but how it has lowered the temps! It is actually chilly outside right now. The weather will be perfect for this holiday weekend!

Last weekend we hit triple digits!! It is supposed to be hot here, but not that hot...yet We desperately needed the rain, but I am ready for sunny skies again. How, I wonder, did I ever live in TN?! I remember sinking into the depths of despair when we would be stuck inside our TN home just waiting for the rain to end. Then our yard would just be a big, muddy swampland. By the time it would dry out, it would rain again.




So here's what we did during the major, heatwave: Dad and kids washed our VERY dirty SUV! They were so thrilled over putting their suits on and getting soaked.

Grandparents, this is the best I could do at capturing Mullin on film. He refused to look at the camera!! Honestly, I love him as much as the other 2, but he hates being center stage. You all will just have to come see him in person!

Lincoln is doing a fine job washing all the splattered bugs off the car!!!

Oh goodness, Sweet Sue just thought she was the biggest helper ever.



This was taken on Sunday morning last week around 8:3o or so, and we were only out for about 5 minutes. Sweat was pouring down my face by the time we went in. That was a triple digit day!!! Mirages really are common in the desert, you know. I kept thinking that I saw a nice, refreshing, salt water pool in my backyard as I was snapping shots of my cutie pie!

Maybe, hopefully someday it will no longer be a mirage!!!

Anna and Dorsett

These are the names of our new trees. Apple trees!!! I am so excited about having fruit bearing trees right in our own backyard. Anna and Dorsett are both yellow apples--the red varieties don't do so well here. Too bad I can't plant a Gala apple tree, but it needs 600-700 hours of freeze time in winter. Hopefully next June we will be enjoying our very own apples!



Lincoln offered to "help" Daddy plant the trees. Great memories!

Oh, and I am tickled pink about all the baby oranges on our orange tree! I hope they all survive the desert winds this spring. If so, we will pick our very first orange from our very own tree in December.

We are contemplating planting a lime or lemon tree out front--the kind that produces all year round. And as soon as I get some compost to mix in with my dirt, my garden box, built by my hubby, will be ready for me to plant seeds. So far I have cucumber, onion and pumpkin (the pie making kind, not the carving kind). Still deciding what else to plant. Need to hurry before it is too late!!!!

Sweet Scent of Spring

Apart from the inclement weather and miserable allergies, spring is just wonderful!! I have to force myself to keep my gaze on the road instead of on the amazing Azaleas, dazzling Dogwoods, twirling tulips, dancing daffodils, and all of the other beautiful, colorful trees and flowers while driving. This is the season that makes me believe Memphis isn't so bad after all. Watching the earth come alive again lifts my spirits, and that is a very good thing for someone who is prone to sinking into the depths of despair!