The Annual Apple Orchard Trip

Jodi and the kids came up this weekend. We took all the kids for our annual visit to the orchard. We started off in the gift shop where we played...Guess The Candle Scent. We weren't very good at it.
As we waited for the tractor, the girls had to pose on the parade float. Especially Madison, right above her name.
Logan slept as Jodi and I walked up to the top. We all had a good time while the kids took their time finding only the perfect apples. After he woke up a bit, Logan enjoyed playing with the bubbles.
It was another memorable day at the orchard.

Ah! The life of a substitute teacher...

It's early in the year so I haven't gotten many calls yet. I look forward to some busy weeks but for now, I will enjoy these quiet days and the gorgeous weather.

I got my chores done this morning and scraped and patched part of the living room ceiling, cleaned up and put on my hiking boots. Tucker was very excited, and tried to urge me to move a bit faster.

Living in this wonderful state, we were only in the car for two minutes before we were there. We could have walked there, but I was just to lazy to put the leash on Tucker. Heading up the railroad tracks, I noticed it was a little chilly so I picked up the pace and in no time I was nice and warm.
Up the tracks just a short way, there is a trail off into the woods. We followed the trail until it came out to the pole line.

At the top of one hill, I found some very tasty blackberries. I thought they were all gone now. It was the only bush I saw that still had berries.

Tucker was so happy to just be able to run free.

Back in the woods, the light was shining on this
old dashboard. Why is it that sometimes old junk
in the woods can be so attractive? Maybe, it just
makes me curious about the story behind it.

North Star Orchard

Sunday was sort of dreary around here.
I still couldn't wait to visit the apple orchard.
It might possibly be my favorite place to visit.
I thought it was a bit early for them to let the
public pick but, the trees were loaded and the
wagon was running to bring people up.

I would much rather take the walk myself. It
is such a beautiful spot. It was about an hour
before they closed for the day. We were the
last customers. We had already bought our
apples and they are always happy to let people
take a walk through the orchards at anytime.

So, the kids and I took our time meandering up
the dirt roads through the multicolored apple
trees, thinking of all the apples we will pick

...and enjoy this year.

Woodstove time?

Okay, so it's not fall yet, but we
were a bit chilly with it raining
all day.


And we just couldn't wait to see it work.
Everything went fine and we were nice and cozy.

Summer project complete!

Our summer project was to install a woodstove. Hoping to save a little money on heating this winter, like everyone else up here in the cold.

We have the floor part of the hearth done. Eventually we will do the wall behind the stove.



The stove pipes were a tricky little puzzle. Good thing I like puzzles.


















Then we have the other side of the porch. I need to make a cushion for the day bed. Sean will make a coffee table and I'll get some big pillows for sitting on. Should be a nice cozy spot for those chilly, winter, snow days that we love so much.