The apples are ready….

I don't want to say it but I think we are apple farmers.  I mean we have a lot of apple trees.  63 to be exact.  Okay, actually that number is down this year.  We lost a couple to a bad storm and then we lost a couple more simply due to the actual weight of the apples on the trees.  So I'm thinking we are in the 50's somewhere, but I've not counted lately.  What difference does it make when you look out to sea of red apples.

Our harvest is phenomenal this year.  It's crazy.  When I mow in the orchard and just barely bump a branch all you hear is thump, thump, thump, thump with the tons of apples hitting the ground.  Of course they end up all over the mower and me and everything else.  Funny….but not.

We never sprayed the apples this year and I have to admit, we have been lucky.  The only thing that they have are some black soot spots which scrubs off with a cloth under the water.  Not too bad for two people who have no idea how to raise apple trees.  This year I just let God take over and I'm thinkin' he did a pretty good job.

Today, I have peeled apples almost all day long.  Applesauce had my name written all over it.  Yep.  It did.  Lots and lots of applesauce was canned.  But not nearly enough to even make a tiny dent in the amount of apples left on the trees.

So I got to thinkin'….

And finally, I took the plunge.

I put a sign out at the end of our driveway, and I thought I'd sell me some apples.  Scary, I know.  But guess what???  Our farm is now officially open for business.

….I probably ought to let my husband know.

Yesterday, I got all excited….

The grater guy was here smoothing out our yard.  Now, I cannot tell you how long we have been waiting for our "yard" to be put in.  Yard meaning the area just around our house, not the entire farm.

Nope.  Been mowing that for like forever now.

Anyhow, been waiting a long time for this guy to finally show up.  And he did.  Worked all day moving and spreading and smoothing everything out so pretty.  And wouldn't ya know it.

Today it rained.

Now, I'm not talking a tiny bit of it.  Nope.  It poured and poured and poured.  And I watched that pretty, smooth yard go slipping and sliding all the way down our driveway.  Grrrrrrr…..

Seriously?!?….

Now, I've got myself a mud patch you would not believe.  It's like a mud moat around my house.  No way in.  And no way out.  Wanna come in?  Ya gotta come through the mud people.  Wanna take the dog out.  Ya gotta go out through the mud moat.  Ugh….

All I wanted was some grass in the yard.  Is that too much to ask?

God showed up at our farm today….

In a mighty big way.

One pumpkin down….only 7 more to go.

I've been canning pumpkin lately.  A lot of pumpkin.  A serious amount of pumpkin.  This is what happens when you plant your pumpkin seeds a tad bit too early in the garden.  Lesson learned.

We are not going to be hard pressed for pumpkin this winter at all.  Nope, no way.  

Now I just have to find recipes that my family will enjoy all winter.  Any suggestions?

Pretty cool, huh?

To go from this….

To this…

All from a patch of grapes that we found on our farm.  Never give up on a neglected farm, people.

Pretty cool, huh?

The flood gates have opened….

This week we brought on the first of many animals to our farm.  Meet our newest additions.

Fred and George.

Yes, I know.  The kids named them.  Not my fault.  But I have to admit, they are hilarious to watch.  They are suppose to be there to do a "job".  You know, the whole catch mice kind of thing.  But lately the only thing they are doing is adding a kind of comic relief to the farm.

They scurry around, fall in a hole, pounce on a leaf only to have it frighten the fire out of them and then run halfway up a tree.  Then that repeats about ninety million times in a day.  Hilarious.

One thing is for certain.  They are the most loved on farm cats around.