Taking in Fall

Breaking news!

We had our first frost last night!

It was a light one--grass and windshields frosted, but nothing blackened that I can tell.

Better get out there and bring in the rest of the veggies today.

Okay, back to our regular programming...

:)

Fall is just so beautiful.

The richness of the color stirs my soul.

I went on a walk last week to a little park close to our house and brought the camera with me.

Even weeds and grass look pretty in the fall!

Staghorn sumac, you are so gorgeous!

Once I took the first picture of grass (below), I began to realize how many different kinds of grass there were along the trail, all beautiful in their own right.

(Are cattails considered a type of grass?)

I love this time of year!

It's like everything pulls out all the stops for one last show before frost.

Now if I can get just get my kids to wear long pants and sweatshirts.....

(For the love! It's 45 degrees outside!)

There is beauty all around.

Indeed.

The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame

We just finished reading this one together last week. It took awhile!

I had actually never read it, myself, so I didn't really know what to expect. The most I knew about it was that a toad and some friends went on some kind of adventure down the river. (I know! And I call myself a children's librarian!) I was partly right. There is a toad...and a river.  They never really go all together on the river, though, and while Toad does venture from home, the other 3 do not. It's much more about their life in the English countryside through the course of about a year, than it is about any grand adventure they set forth on. Toad would be the exception to that, as he creates adventure wherever he goes. So--in case I am not the very last soul to have read it, and you were wondering--there you go.

The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame
Illustrated by Michael Hague

3.5 stars: Some parts we loved and some that really dragged, but overall a positive experience.

Mr. Rat and Mole live together in a home in the riverbank, Mr. Badger lives in the Wild Wood, and Toad lives in Toad Hall. So these animals are English gentlemen. Mr. Toad is the impulsive troublemaker, with the silver tongue, charm, and money to talk his way out of his escapades (usually.) The others do their best to squash him regularly, so that he doesn't get too conceited and make a nuisance of himself. Mr. Rat is a very practical and straightforward chap, friendly to everybody and eager to solve problems. Mole is a bit timid at first, but eventually comes into his own. Badger does not suffer fools gladly (Toad!) and is known to be quite fierce, though underneath he has a loyal and soft heart.

It's a meandering sort of story. Their adventures are of the more genteel sort--getting lost in the Wild Wood, searching for a lost otter pup, trying to keep Toady out of trouble (which proves to be impossible), finding Mole's old home and staying in it for awhile. We find out how Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole meet and decide to become friends and flatmates. We go along on the fateful picnic when Toad's obsession with driving fast in a motorcar first besets him. Toad has some high times by himself, because of his own rash decisions and muddled thinking whenever he comes near a motorcar, and eventually the friends are all reunited to restore Toad Hall to its rightful owner.

Toady is so naughty, but somehow loveable, too. Like this:

"Toad sat up slowly and dried his eyes. Secrets had an immense attraction for him, because he never could keep one, and he enjoyed the sort of unhallowed thrill he experienced when he went and told another animal, after having faithfully promised not to." (p. 182)

You just feel that he does need a good squashing--regularly! Good thing his friends provide it for him.

* * * * *
To be completely honest, I wish we had found an abridged version--which are abundant, by the way. Goodreads has pages and pages of them. Many of the events in the story were fun or thrilling or exciting, but then there's also long paragraphs talking about the beauty of the light falling across the grass, or the habits of migrating animals. I found myself summarizing quite a bit after yet another long soliloquy on some topic or another. The chapters with Toad in them moved along the most smartly. One of the very slowest was when the Sea Rat came through and told stories to Mr. Rat, almost convincing him to give up hearth and home for a life of adventure.

Perhaps now that we have all heard the original and know the story, the kids will be able to pick up an abridged version on their own, and jump right in with delight. At least, that's my hope. I would love to hear it on audio, read with a proper British accent.

I can't finish without mentioning the illustrations by Michael Hague. They were utterly charming. There were around 5 per chapter, including a mix of smaller ones, full page, and full 2-page spread. They really brought the story to life for us. In fact, they were the reason I picked up this version over the other 3 right next to it on the library shelf.

* * * * *
Do you have a favorite version or illustrator of this book? What classics have you never gotten around to reading?

Flowerpots: Saved by the Autumn Rain!

This was going to be a post about how the flowerpots are done for the year.

The 3 in front were moved to the back deck to accommodate the house getting painted, and admittedly, I have only watered them once or twice since then.

They were looking pretty sad.

As I was trying to remove some of the dead leaves and such, a couple of entire branches broke off at the base. Yep, it was time for the Great Yanking.

Then it started raining.

Saved at the last minute by the autumn rains!

They've perked up a little--enough to grant them a few more weeks, anyway.

The 2 that were already on the back deck, though, may be beyond saving:

This blue boat already looks like the flowerpot that time Mom forgot.

And...I don't know that rain is going to be able to do much for this poor thing, either.

At the next break in the clouds I will probably empty these 2 pots into the garden & compost bin, and get them into the shed for the winter.

Meanwhile, the asparagus fern over on the shed porch is looking as vibrant as ever.

These lovely plants store water in their roots and can take more drought than most--which I can attest to, since it hasn't been watered since sometime in August.

They do well as house plants, too.

In fact, this is one I had in a pot last summer, then overwintered in the house.

(If and when the individual fronds die off, they do leave those tiny leaves all over whatever furniture you've got them on--just FYI.)

I need to decide if this one's coming in for a second year or not.

If not, I may give it away, so it at least has a chance of living on.

This geranium just keeps plugging away.

As you can see, the petunias and other filler flowers that were in this pot with it are long gone--they didn't make past July. Somehow, though, this keep on surviving.

Now that's my kind of plant!

It adds a cheery spot of color over here by there shed.

Hey, 5 out of 7 isn't too bad, right?

Frost will come in the next couple of weeks, I'm sure.

Just knowing that they've only got a few weeks left makes it seems pointless to spend too much time and effort keeping them alive right now. Sad but true.

Our neighbors have pots that still look full and gorgeous right now.

(Apparently, they don't have the same aversion to watering in September that I do.)

Are you one of those amazing and consistent waterers that can keep a pot thriving all the way until frost?

Or are you like me and at some point just let them peter out?

2 Middle Grade Novels: One Crazy Summer + Loser

I'm slowly getting caught up on reviews here! These middle grade novels are quick reads, but it takes me the same amount of time to write a review for them as for longer books, so it's easy to get behind. Anyway...

Just to be clear, these two were definitely NOT read-alikes! Very different in tone, setting, characters--pretty much in every way, actually. 

One Crazy Summer, by Rita Garcia-Williams
2011 Newberry Honor, 2011 Scott O'Dell Award

3 stars: Three sisters survive a month at their estranged mother's house.

Delphine and her two little sisters are on their across the country to stay with their mother for a month. She left the family when the littlest, Fern, was just a baby. Delphine's the only one with very clear memories of her. Not one of them is sure what to expect--though Delphine's not getting her hopes up too high.

When they arrive, they certainly don't expect their mom to be so cold and distant. She absolutely warns them away from the kitchen, expects them to use the money they brought on food, and pushes them out the door in the morning to take care of themselves until bedtime. Good thing they have each other. Or to be more accurate, good thing Vonetta and Fern have Delphine to look after them--even though sometimes they don't want any part of her looking-after.

Cecile/Nzila (their mother) also "suggests" they attend a local Black Panther summer camp being held not far from her house--they serve free breakfast, after all, and she's sure not making any. The girls navigate the camp, the tricky relationship with their mother, and even the city itself (on one memorable day when they decide to do some sightseeing.)

* * * * *

I couldn't help but like these 3 sweet and sassy sisters. Their relationships with each other were so true to life! (Coming from one who never had sisters, granted, but I did have a lot of siblings!) They defended each other fiercely, but sometimes squabbled just as fiercely amongst themselves. They were best friends and best enemies all at the same time.

I also appreciated the perspective on the Black Panther movement in the 60's. That's something I don't know very much about, and this was a great introduction.

I have to say that I agreed with Big Ma's assessment of Cecile/Nzila, though. She was no kind of mother. I would not have sent those girls off to stay with her for one week, let alone a month! We got her story, eventually, and it granted me a bit of understanding of why she acted the way she did. That's great and all, but understanding her dysfunction doesn't mean her children needed to experience it! 

I've had some experience with foster care. While I agree that children need to know both their parents, you do what you can to minimize the potential damage of the visits beforehand--i.e., keep them as short as possible--at least until the kids are old enough to take care of themselves. Now, these children did it, thanks to Delphine. Thanks to Delphine, they even got to eat some food for dinner other than Chinese food from the restaurant on the corner. Thanks to Delphine they were stood up for, encouraged, and kept out of harm's way. I wanted to give her a hug for being such a great big sister!

Several reviewers mentioned the humor--I don't remember it being funny, though Delphine as narrator was pitch-perfect. Maybe I was too bothered by Cecile/Nzila to notice.

Content: As mentioned, parenting styles (or complete lack thereof), along with the racial issues and history make this one you'll probably want to read with your elementary-aged child and discuss together.  Ages 10+.

(Finished reading August 22)

Loser, by Jerry Spinelli

3 stars: A boy who is a little different runs up against--well--everyone else.

Donald Zinkoff is one-of-a-kind. He's kind-hearted and joyful. He is trusting and naive. He wants to be a mailman when he grows up, just like his dad. He's not good at sports. He usually has the wrong answer to the teacher's question. Most of the time, though, the negative things don't matter to him or affect his life. As time passes, however, the other kids at school label him a Loser. Labels start to matter more.

Zinkoff doesn't have a best friend for a long time, though he's observed many best friends in action. Then for awhile, he does have a best friend. Until the day he goes too far--earwax is involved--and then he doesn't anymore. Again.

Then one snowy night, a little girl he knows goes missing from her house. Zinkoff makes it his personal mission to find her, even though it's dark and cold and still snowing. Can one heroic act redeem him in the eyes of his classmates?

* * * * * *

As he did in Stargirl, Spinelli gave us a birds-eye view of one irrepressible kid who just couldn't manage to fit in. Not that Zinkoff tried to fit in--very often--but even if he had tried his hardest, it wouldn't be possible. Zinkoff was his own person through and through, and no label would change that completely.

The story follows Zinkoff through elementary school, showing the gradual change from other kids not noticing Zinkoff's idiosyncrasies, to those same traits becoming all that they noticed. The ending was not neatly tied up in a bow, which I appreciated, because that would not be realistic. It left us a glimmer of hope that things may get better for Zinkoff at school. Possibly.

Mostly though, it made Zinkoff a real, loveable, flawed person--which was probably the point. There's always a person behind the label, someone we may very well like and even admire, if we really knew them.

I enjoyed it, but I don't know if kids would. It's long on character and short on plot, so I don't know if they would stick with it unless assigned to read it. Also, the cover should probably be re-done; it's a bit dated.

For ages 8 and up.

(Finished reading September 9)

* * * * *

Have you read either of these? What did you think?

The Boundless, Airborne, and Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science

Do you read steampunk?

There is something about this genre that is just so fascinating to me. If you are unfamiliar with it, the stories are usually set back in Victorian times, but with technology from the 19th century, then mixed with a few fantastical elements. If that sounds very vague and ill-defined, the genre itself is hard to describe--but so awesome! Don't worry--usually the world within each book is well defined and specific. Think gears and velvet; steel corsets, clockwork and dirigibles and wait--sasquatches?! What? Ha! I think part of why I like it is because it's so unexpected.

It's sort of like industrial-chic fantasy. I haven't encountered dragons in one yet, but if there was one, there's a good chance it would have metal scales and a steam engine in its belly--yet be sentient and run on its own power.

But enough chit-chat--let's get to the books!

The Boundless, by Kenneth Oppel

4 stars: The action doesn't let up and the setting is just so cool!

Will is a boy longing for his own story to begin. His father is off building a railroad up in the mountains, and he and his mother have recently moved to be closer to him. Will loves to draw and always has a sketchbook and pencil with him. His first day off the train, he meets a girl--a tightrope walker--who works at the circus that's in town. Her name is Maren, and even though they only talk together for a moment, that moment sparks a connection. He shows her the sasquatch tooth he got from his father and she takes it, with the intent to return when he comes to the circus that night.

However, he doesn't go, because a chance meeting with his dad's boss, Mr. Van Horne, results in an invitation to ride the train up to his Dad's work camp. (He does leave a message for his mother.) It's a risky sort of adventure, for his first. There are sasquatches that live in the mountains and they are vicious. A Mr. Dorian from a travelling circus is along to capture one for his show, but all the men carry guns in case of unexpected attack.

Once at the camp, Will gets to help pound in the last spike of the railroad (made of solid gold.) Unfortunately, the revelry of the men at the completion ceremony sets off an avalanche...and things literally go downhill from there.

The story resumes several years later, when Will's father has promoted to manager of the entire company, and Van Horne is dead. His dream of the longest, largest train ever built has become a reality. The train is called The Boundless; it is 7 miles along, with cars containing everything from a movie theater to an entire circus. Will is delighted to find that his friend from so long ago, Maren, is on board and will be performing. Yes, Will and his father are both going along on the maiden voyage.

Van Horne is going along, too, in a sense. The car right behind the engine is a tomb, which holds his remains and many of his earthly treasures. The diamond-encrusted golden spike is rumored to be among the treasures. Only 2 people have a key to the funeral car: Will's father, and the guard.

When The Boundless makes a stop, Will gets off searching for Maren. He doesn't find her. He does, however, witness a murder in the woods. Not only that, he recognizes the killer--and the killer recognizes him, too. It's a man from Will's past, and he happens to also be a brakeman on The Boundless.  In order to survive, Will's got to get back on the train and somehow stay out of the clutches of the murderer and his co-conspirators. If he can manage to stay alive, he's got to warn his father, who no doubt will be the next target. It's a long train, and not many places to hide, but Maren and Mr. Dorian will help...for a price.


* * * * *

Welcome to a steampunk world where trains are still the best and fastest way to get around. The Boundless itself is an enormous over-the-top, opulent train--sort of like the Titanic, but the train version. Also, no icebergs. In this world, sasquatches are real, and the muskeg in northern Canada has been known to devour entire settlements. There's a girl with an astonishingly real vanishing act and a painting that may be worth whatever it takes to get it. 

I read some reviews that said it was super boring. I'm not sure we read the same book. Trying to escape a murderer and his henchmen, jumping between cars on a moving train, plus crazy killer sasquatches!! Not to mention very lifelike mechanical puppets, a man's booby-trapped crypt of a train car, and did I mention sasquatches? Bloodthirsty ones? Maybe I just don't get out much, but I'm not seeing where the boring part comes in with all of that.

I would hand this to teenagers who well, like this sort of thing. Steampunk is a thing. Look it up on Pinterest--you can do a steampunk costume for Halloween, or decorate your house in steampunk style. Start by buying some giant gears to hang on the wall, and you'll be off to a great start.

Steampunk is kind of too cool for me in some ways--I'm basically the nerdy fangirl giggling on the sidelines. But you know, I'm okay with that.

Content: A murder, a few violent run-ins with sasquatches, intense situations. For ages 12 and up.

(Finished reading September 29.)


Speaking of sasquatches, I read a very interesting book a few years back about them:

Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, by D. Jeffrey Meldrum

4 stars: A scientist's approach to the question of whether or not sasquatches really exist.

First off--that cover is creepy and awesome all at once!

I did not realize when I moved to Washington state that I was moving into prime sasquatch country! Meldrum, who happens to live very close to my little town offers compelling evidence for the existence of a large primate native to the Pacific Northwest area. He strives to keep it impartial, readily admitting the long-standing questions encircling such a claim (especially--where is one we can study up close?), but it is obvious that he is convinced they are real. Made for some good dinner table debates!

(Originally reviewed November 2010.)

I had to add this one in here, because if you read it, I want to discuss it with you! Level with me: do YOU think sasquatches are real or not? I have heard a first-hand account of a series of Big Foot encounters in the Uintas (sightings,) then there's this book that is pretty darn convincing. My husband thinks I'm crazy to even consider the possibility!


But anyway, back to steampunk... if you like this genre, Kenneth Oppel's Airborn was a lot of fun as well. Cloud cats. Awesome. (I have not heard any reports of real cloud cats, just FYI.)

Oh hey! I actually reviewed that one 10 years ago last month! Whoa, that must be one of my oldest reviews on Goodreads.  Okay, okay, we'll do this up properly.

 Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel

4 stars

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on a huge cruise airliner who dreams of one day piloting his own airship. He is on duty when an air balloon is spotted in need of rescue, and is chosen for the difficult task of bringing in the unconscious pilot. The pilot turns out to be an elderly man who leaves behind a journal with some fantastic drawings of animals that look like cats, but are flying through the air. Matt meets the late pilot's granddaughter, and together they set out to prove the "cloud cats" really exist. Then the airship is attacked by pirates. What's going to happen next??

* * * * *

Packed with exciting action, interesting details that make it seem real, and just a little bit of romance, this one is worth a try.

Content: Can't help you much there--it's been a decade. If I re-read it I'll let you know more. Right here. For ages 10 and up.

(Originally reviewed Sept. 2006.)




There you go! A 3-for-1 review special.  Have you read any of these? Do you have a favorite steampunk or sasquatch-related book I should read? I'm all ears!

Mini Theme: Love Story by Letter, Plus Meeting a Friend!

By the way, we went down to Utah a few weeks ago, and guess who I got to see?!

It's Amy, from Sunlit Pages!

It totally made my day to meet Amy and chat in person! We only had about an hour, but I think we could have talked for several more. :) (It's a good thing she thought to get a picture.)

So fun!

It's funny, too, because she recently posted about the joys of e-readers, which is something I was thinking about lately, too. I never thought I would like my digital books as much as I do; mostly for their convenience on trips or at night.

I tend to get a lot of reading done on our trips, because nearly everyone else goes to bed early. :) Also, our time zone is an hour earlier than Utah, so that gives me an extra hour to read, right?!  Then there's the whole ordeal of putting kids to bed on the floor, if you know what I mean. Usually when we stay at my in-laws we sleep downstairs.

The dear children, who are already in bed later than their usual bedtimes (even with the extra hour), require a parental presence nearby to actually 1--stay in bed and 2--stop chatting. This is where the kindle app on my phone (or just the kindle itself) is worth its weight in gold. When it's my turn to stay downstairs while kiddos get to sleep, I can just read and read and read--in the dark.

This last trip, there was one night when it was just my youngest downstairs going to sleep, as his 2 older siblings were sleeping over at their cousin's house. He was on the floor in our bedroom and I was up on the bed. It was very dark in the basement. He kept saying, "Mama, I need some light!" Finally, I just had him scoot over and lay down next to him--still with phone in hand. Though I had it set on the black background and the lowest brightness, it was just enough light for him. I'm sure having me there helped a little, too. :) It still took him about 30 minutes to fall asleep, but I was happily occupied reading, so it was all good. By then though,  I was cold, so I got back into the big bed and snuggled under the covers. Still reading. Ahh, perfect!


Anyway, so this first book, Letters from Skye, is one of the ones I read on my trip a few weeks ago. It reminded me of a couple others I've read with a similar theme and format--hence the Mini Theme!

Letters from Skye, by Jessica Brockmole

2 stars: Can you choose who you love?

Elspeth Dunn and David Graham first begin their friendship by letter (as the title suggests!) She is a poet, living on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and he is an American student. She is married, but that doesn't come up very much until later.  As they correspond, they find a shared a sense of humor, and each finds a listening ear for whatever troubles they may be facing at the moment. He is a devil-may-care charmer and she a wistful dreamer who has never set foot off her island.

Then WWI comes along, and David immediately volunteers as an ambulance driver. He ships out to France. Well, things in Elspeth's marriage have been a bit on a downward spiral, and the upshot is that they agree to meet--if she can muster the courage to set foot on the ferry. You see, she is deathly afraid of crossing that water.

Now, in 1940, Elspeth's daughter Margaret is searching for answers. After a bomb hits close by their house, a blizzard of letters comes out of the wall, and her mother disappears--with all but one of the letters.

* * * * *

There was some things I liked about this book. The World War I history was interesting. I liked the interaction of Elspeth and David, through the letters. The dual timeline kept things going, although it wasn't too hard to figure out where Elspeth went. Elspeth and David's story was a lot more interesting than the "mystery" Margaret was trying to solve, but what can you do?

It's hard to talk about what bugged me without giving out spoilers. Before the spoilerish talk, I will just bring up one phrase that encapsulates all that bothered me about this story. At one point Elspeth says, "You can't choose who you love." She uses that phrase as justification for all of what happens next.


Okay, STOP HERE and skip down to the next book if you don't want spoilers!!
















Remember how I mentioned that Elspeth was married? And also, how she and David planned to meet up? So do you see where this is heading?!

You may or may not be able to choose who you love, but you can sure choose what you do about it! Then once you're married, you do choose who you love, and guess what? It's the person you already chose to marry. In fact, you have to keep on choosing to love them, through every hard thing that life throws at the two of you.

Anyway, off my soap box.

Yes. They have an affair, while Elspeth's husband is MIA. You know, I get that not everybody believes the same way I do about being true to your spouse. So yes, the very fact that they had an affair bothered me, but it's not like I expect every person around me to live like I do. What bothered me even more, though, was how David was painted as a hero (or a self-sacrificing martyr, depending on how you looked at it) for a later decision to back away.

Well guess what? It's a little late for that, buddy! And also, no matter how guilty she felt about it, Elspeth was the one insisting on keeping the affair going. So essentially, it's a relationship based on selfishness. He may have been slightly less-selfish than her. Maybe.

Indulge me here. Compare that with a somewhat similar situation in Anne's House of Dreams, by L.M. Montgomery. Anne makes friends with a neighbor who has a tragic story. Instead of her husband missing in action, Leslie's husband was--as far as anyone knew--permanently mentally disabled from head trauma. Leslie meets and makes friends with a visiting writer--Owen. They fall in love. Guess what? Owen is so honorable that he won't even mention it to Leslie, because he would not put her in the position to have to make that kind of choice. He goes away, so he doesn't have to be near her when he can't be with her. Leslie also doesn't mention it to Owen, because--how can she? She is completely NOT available! (They both tell Anne about it, at different times.) They both pine and suffer for it, but in the end, it all works out so much better. No regrets on either side.

That is heroic! That is unselfishly caring more for the other person than for yourself! A bit better foundation for "true love," don't you think?

Content: Some talk about David and Elspeth's "honeymoon" time in the hotel.

(Finished reading September 17, 2016.)

84 Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff

3 stars: Charming, true story.

I finally just bought this! Helene Hanff and Frank Doel exchange letters for years--she an avid reader of the classics, and he the bookseller in England that she orders from.

Quick read. I'm off to watch the movie now and see how it compares. I'm a bit curious to see how they are going to make a 90 minute movie out of this 97 page book, all written in letter format.                 

(Originally reviewed in March 2015.)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

5 stars: A heartwarming and wonderful story.

Juliet Ashton, along with most of Europe, is still reeling from the effects of WWII, but her career seems to be taking off. A writer, she is searching for a book topic, when she happens to receive a letter from a man who lives on the island of Guernsey, which was occupied by the Germans during the war. A simple request for help finding a book begins a friendship with him and the other members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that will change Juliet's life.


* * * * *


The text consists of letters and telegrams sent among several of the characters, a technique used here with great skill. I loved this book!

(Originally reviewed way back in March 2009.)

* * * * * *

Do you have any favorites in this format? What titles are missing from this list?

Apple Harvest

Guess what?! We harvested our apples last week!

It took less than a minute.

There they both are.

Beautiful, aren't they? :)

So, all along I thought that tree was the Golden Delicious tree.

Um...apparently not!

In a way, I almost didn't want to pick them, since they had managed to withstand June drop, hard winds, bugs, and children.

They were good! We had them for dinner one night and everybody got to taste them.

In other apple news....

We went up to a u-pick orchard fairly close by (40 min. drive) to make cider and pick apples.

I thought we would just pick enough to eat fresh, since we still have some applesauce from last year.

(And since our own harvest was--ahem--not as bountiful as we might have hoped.)

Then--the orchard happened.

It is impossible to pick just a few when you're surrounded by trees loaded with fruit, the branches nearly touching the ground. We just couldn't do it.

So we picked Golden Delicious, MacIntosh, and Cortland apples by the armload.

We were able to restrain ourselves slightly more with the pears and plums.

The kids had to try every kind.

Looks like it's going to be an applesauce year after all!

We had to ask for extra boxes, since we had filled up the one I brought!

4 gallons of cider later, we were ready to go!

* * * * *

As you probably noticed, the pears were already very ripe, so they had to be done first.

So far I've made 1 more double batch each of Pear Pineapple and Pear Plum jam.

I'm still figuring out what to do with the rest of the plums.

There's a recipe for Freezer Plum jam that looks intriguing.

Meanwhile, I've got 2 boxes of apples in the garage!

I'm going to have to schedule in a day for applesauce sometime in the next few weeks.

Preferably on my husband's day off--large scale applesauce making goes MUCH better with at least 2 adults.

Have you been to any orchards lately?

There was one I used to go to in Illinois that always had apple cider donuts for sale.

They were pretty much the best thing ever!