Tender Mercies

It's apple picking time! Autumn is truly a magical time of year--the trees and fields brimming with the succulent crops that had been growing and maturing all summer long, finally ready to pick. For the past two years while living in Alaska, we had ordered fresh apples from Washington because, well there aren't any U-pick apple orchards in the Last Frontier State--or at least none that I knew of.  Now that I'm living in the Midwest, I've got to embrace the abundance of agriculture that is in my backyard. Tonight I went to the Cider Hill Family Orchard in Kansas City with an awesome and adorable family who I am privileged to call friend. Their two kids, ages 8 and 2, are so fun to be around, which is saying something :).   Look at her: she's got character! Our Haul: While I wasn't quite ready for the picture, the kids were spot-on (finally) ...but it didn't last long! But hey, now I am ready :) Oh well. At least they were will...

For some unknown reason, Fall has decided to stay for a long time here in Interior Alaska, and I am not complaining about it. Instead, I am falling in love with some fall activities like pumpkin carving and applesauce making!   Pumpkin Carving I've never been a huge fan of Halloween, but carving pumpkins brings the little kid out in me, and I enjoy reaching my hand into the squishy, slimy pumpkin and pulling out all of its guts. I like carving funny faces and enjoying the company of good friends while doing so.  Usually I take forever  to decide what to carve, but this year, I settled on a simple Frankenstein design in about 5 minutes! Go me!! Usually I use the pumpkins for puree later, but this year it has been so warm, that the squirrels got to them before I could. Oh well! I guess I am just going to have to go get some pie pumpkins instead.   Cute, right?!  The best "instant" candle for jack-o-lanterns is a cell phone! Genius. This one won fo...