Cider Making

Summer has exited and Autumn snuck in almost silently.

We are still in the grips of summer weather...

warmer than it actually was most of the time this summer.

Funny how that happens!

We held our first annual Apple Harvest Day this weekend.

Four generations gathered to pick apples...

chop apples...

scrunch apples....

and finally, to press the juice out of the apples...

resulting in fresh, homegrown apple cider!

It was the most delicious cider I have ever had!

(Perhaps because I was intimately involved in the process from start to finish.)

It was definitely a lot of work...

and I am pretty sure that it is a little heavy on the work side of the

work/cider ratio.

Although everyone agreed that it was hard work...

we all agreed that we want to do it again on a yearly basis.

This was the perfect year for apples.

The frequent rains made for big, juicy fruit.

Many thanks to my kids for going together and gifting us the cider press last Christmas!

And many thanks to my family for making the day a blast!

In addition to fresh cider, a picnic in the pavilion was our reward

for all of our physical labor.

I have to say, though, the best part of any family day is the grands!

Earlier in the day, we watched Tyler play soccer.

I am so proud of this little fellow.  He is kind and sweet... so very wonderful to be around.

Baby Easton is the happiest baby...

he happily joins in with whatever the activity might be.

And my little farm girl in the making...

 just makes my heart sing!

She loves the animals...

and is always ready for any farm adventure that happens to come along.

Learning the joy of gardening...

Learning to care for the animals...

Gathering eggs...

These three kiddos have given me so many precious memories...one that I will cherish

as they grow older.

I only hope that I have given them memories that they, too, will carry throughout their lives...

looking back on their time at the farm with fondness.