The End of Summer

I can't seem to get enough of these gorgeous late-summer/early-autumn days. They are so beautiful! We've enjoyed a very hot, dry summer, and now, finally the weather is cooling a bit.
But here's the rub! I'm having to spend so much time indoors bottling and preserving summer's bounty, I haven't been able to enjoy it much yet! Tomatoes, plums and apples have been provided by our lush back yard garden for preserving. The apple part has been a bit slow going however, simply because our tree is still a wee thing and learning how to make good fruit. The apples however, are anything but wee! (see below)

Yesterday before church I made an apple pie to die for!! All from our heavenly Jonagold apples! I also used one of my Pie Birds, an old-fashioned pie-making device said to be the secret to perfect apple pie. I must say I believe it is!! My sweet dad, knowing my love of all baking, sent me a set of the birds a while ago, and I am sorry to say, I hadn't tried them until now! Forgot about them actually, up in my kitchen cupboard. They are a ceramic hollow bird-shape, baked into the pie in the center, allowing the steam to escape and preserving the juices inside! "Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie..." Below are some photos.

Heavenly tasting too, and so light and high! And now, back to the kitchen. The bounty awaits!

Letters from Maka

I miss my girlies. Steph sent me a photo from her mobile of them reading the letters I sent and sticking them all up with the stickers. It's almost as if they are no where now that they live so far away, and I can't hold them. I know that sounds weird, but it is true. Almost as if I have only created them in my mind and they aren't even real. And yet my arms ache to hold them! Such a strange feeling.

Documenting my life

54 years yesterday. Seems I just entered a similar posting, but I guess that was my 53rd. How time does hurry by.

New Cover Photo

Lovely new cover photo, isn't it! I thought I'd better introduce it, so you know it's more than a lovely old photo. My great grandfather James Niven from Aberdeen, Scotland holding his son, my grandfather, Glen Niven. No idea where or when, (need to do a bit of research I see) but Grandpa looks to be less than 1. Love the whiskers!! Anyway, here's to them! And all the blethering that went on in that home, I'm certain!

Two Darling Parents

I know that everyone thinks their grand children are adorable, but may I brag a bit about the parents of my grand children, namely William and Stephanie, my oldest son and his beautiful wife. They married about 5 years ago and immediately began their marriage separated, as Will deployed with the USMC to Iraq. Steph was expecting during that time and Will arrived home just weeks before Liberty was born. One year later they would be separated again, this time to Afghanistan, while Steph would give birth to their second daughter by herself. And now, the Marine Corp behind them, and undergraduate work finished, they are setting off to The University of Iowa Law School, with two little girlies and a baby boy on the way. Today as we celebrated Libby's 4th birthday, I watched once again in awe at the wonderful young couple they are, the darling way they love and teach their girls, my precious grand daughters, and I cannot help but feel a gratitude to bursting with love of them all.