Apples, Apples, (and more) Apples.

When we planted our fruit orchard a few years ago (2010), we planted two apple trees, a Golden Delicious and Fuju.

This year we had a bumper crop, and even though we thinned out buckets and buckets of apples earlier in the season, we still had plenty. However, it was a hard job for our still smallish trees. We had to brace several tree branches up, so the weight of the apples wouldn't break the limbs off. 

Poor things. 

For the past week around here it has been all about apples.

Why I never invested in an apple peeler before this year, I will never know! 

This apple peeler, corer, slicer, thing-a-ma-jig is amazing! 

Who knew? Obviously NOT me. 

Last Wednesday I went to my friend, Paula's, and participated in her applesauce class she was teaching. 

Paula has a beautiful home and farm over in Gridley, 

Windmill Farms- you really should go and have a visit with her. 

Paula is a kindred spirit, and I always enjoy a good visit with her. 

It was fun to spend an evening in her kitchen, with the other gals as well, making applesauce together. 

It reminded me of what it might have been like back in the days when women folk would get together and help each other in the kitchen during the harvest season chores. 

I now have my pantry stocked with 

Apple sauce & Apple pie filling

Dried apples...

some dried with skin on...

skin off...

and sugar candied...

I cooked down a batch of apples to get the juice out, so I can make Apple Jelly tomorrow. 

Just about now I am sitting with a piece of pie, (because it is not at all possible to have this many apples and no pie) and a hot cup of tea. 

That, my dear, is all I have to say about Apples.

The Girasole Lady

Finished Quilt

Back in January of this year I decided to sew a quilt for each of my girls for their birthdays, beginning with a quilt for Kristina. 

Now I have to say that it was suppose to be done for her birthday- - in FEBRUARY! 

It is now September and I can safely say that, as of this morning, the quilt is complete.

I found the most perfect flannel, plaid yellow and gray, for the quilt backing.

I did my version of machine quilting around the edges

and down along the solid strips of gray.

The quilt is lap size, and I know Kristina will have many chilly nights to snuggle underneath the coziness of it. 

I'm excited about starting the next quilt/project.
(Tonya's birthday was in August, so I'm still behind)

I'm equally excited, well maybe a bit more, about the new sewing machine I purchased last week. 

After a good deal of research I decided on the 

Janome DC2013

I absolutely LOVE it! 

You can read about it here at Janome. 

I bought my machine at Cathy's Sew and Vac.

Nice people and excellent customer service.
It just so happens that one of my favorite quilt stores, Honey Run Quilters, is inside the store as well. 

The last sewing machine I bought was a JC Penny model in 1977 (it was my 1 year wedding anniversary present), we paid $99.00 for it back then. 

By golly- that machine sewed lots and lots of little girls clothes, and quilts. 

Boy, did I ever get my moneys worth out of that old machine. 

 I retired the JCP machine after my mom had picked up an older Singer machine for me at a garage sale for $20.00, a very long, long, time ago. 

Most recently, I had been borrowing a Singer Simple from Beth. 

I feel like I have my first 'grown-up' sewing machine.

My gardens are frazzled by the end of Summer Blues, just yucky and weathered.
It is going to be hot again this weekend, so I'll be putting off serious gardening until a bit cooler weather.

Tomorrow there is wedding dress shopping planned!
Beth, my littlest girl, is getting married next June.

I'm happy.

The Girasole Lady