On My Own

 Today is the day. Today I brave it one my own. Today I am making homemade applesauce all on my own. Sooooo, (deep breath), I peeled all of my apples, and got them cut up and ready. This is the easy part and doesn't take any real knowledge. I did this no problem!

 I got my water bath going, and I was just waitin for the steam to build. So, I put the apples on the stove to cook with a little bit of cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup (yep ~ that would be a Sarah Secret). Now I just need to wait for it to cook down.

 

After I got em all cooked down, I got to try out my new emersion blender. This is the coolest thing ever! You just stick it in the goop, and turn it on. It just blends up everything in whatever container you have. Makes it so much easier (don't have to transfer it to a blender). Awesome sauce!

 

 So far so good. Then I loaded up my jars and got em ready for their little hot tub!

When I got a good stream comin out of the water bath, then I popped em in there. I got a couple of batches done, but I didn't have enough for e entire water bath this time, so I put a couple of empty jars to take up space so that the smaller jars didn't fall over.

 

 Aren't they cute! I know, I know - I really need to get a life, Well, this is my Life Right Now! Now, I will admit that I'm not a real fan of applesauce just by itself, but I do like to dehydrate it and make fruit leather or you can se it in baking!

All of my jars sealed, so I will sum it up and say that this session was a success. It's wonderful to hear the lids pop with that little pop (sealing). It's music to my ears. I look forward to doing some more projects real soon.

HALLOWEEN, Finally!

 My very most favorite time of the year is upon us. It's Halloween. So, we decided to have dutch oven chicken tonight for dinner. It has been rainin all day, so we decided to just do it in the garage. I love my garage. I don't have one at home, and I am really lovin mine here. I did the prepping, Bryce is the assistant, and Bart is cookin. Brandon & Sky are here for the entertainment!

 Seriously guys?!

 Like I said - he is here ONLY for the entertainment. And, boy were these guys wired tonight!

 I love this picture of Bryce! It's just him.

 All the trees are changing colors, it's really Fall here. I am in love! In Tennessee we have been fortunate to see and feel all of the 4 seasons. So far we have experienced, Spring, Summer and Fall!

 Brandon grabbed my bike, and rode around waitin for the children to come trick or treatin. They decided to park both of the trucks in the driveway, and while Bart was cookin dinner, the kiddos would come between the trucks to get the candy. And, while they were drawn in by the smell of our dinner....

 What they didn't know was that Brandon was waitin in the truck to scare the older kids! He about wet his pants scaring them and them laughing so hard.

 Bryce was in the other truck doin his fair share of scarin too. Between the 2 of them, the kids didn't have a chance. One girl even froze, and was yelling at her friends to come and get her. It was hilarious! (The kids they were scaring were way too old to be trick-o-treatin.)

 Here are our pumpkins - they turned out so good.

 Mine did too.

 My simple Halloween decorations this year.

Then after we had dinner, we all hung out on the front porch and continued handin out candy. They really get into it here. They even had a hay ride goin down the street with kids on it.

 

 Would you take candy from a little girl?

 Now would ya?
 

 Bryce goes home today. It has been a great time. It's all about Makin Memories!

THE HOLE

"Yes, it was very dark. Yes, it was very late. Yes, that is a large hole. Yes, that's my Sister...and yes, there was a body".

 

Here is the hole. THE HOLE. All I can say, is that the evidence is gone! Nothing left.

In the Leafy Treetops

 Brandon and Bryce have been inseparable since he got here. They have been hangin out and huntin in their every spare moment. Brandon purchased a tree stand today, and decided to set it up in the back part of Melody's place.

 So, they put it together, and then climbed up there together to test it out. I have to say, it was pretty cool lookin. I was about 16' up there.

It has wiggle room for them up there, too.

 

 You can't see it in the picture but it has a ladder that you can climb up to get up there.

Then Bart got up there to help cut some of the branches so that you could see more. They didn't want any branches to interfere with shootin.

 Bart and Bryce have no fear of heights.

 Brandon givin directions as to which branches to cut from down below.

 Bart workin and Bryce tryin to be cool.

 It's a long ways up there!

And, can you believe it ~ they even got me up there!

 

 It was really high. Higher when you are up there! I was grateful for the safety bar that was there to keep me in. You can't see my knees a shakin' in this picture. I was tryin to be all cool like - I can do this! That sucky part is comin down.... but I had help from above and below, and got down safe and sound. I lived to tell about it!

Creepy Little Girl

I was at the grocery store of all places, and I found this Halloween mask. It was only $4. I purchased it, and brought it home. Bart found it, and was playing with it. Isn't it creepy!!! I love it!!!!!!!

Training Skip

 Skip has never been ridden. He was only used for breeding. When I asked Bart if this was okay with him. He said, "I know I can break him." So, today is the first day to give it a try. Skip was pretty easy to saddle. After a few circles (because blankets are soooo scary), he was saddled, and didn't buck or anything.

 

 Bart walked him around for awhile so that he could get used to it, and he didn't even seem to mind it at all.

 And, after running him around in the round pen for awhile, Bart finally started working with him. He would just put his foot in the stirrup, and step up so that Skip could feel the weight change. He was aware, but didn't try to do anything.

 Bart would give him a really good petting and would talk to him, when he was up there, and he liked that.

He wasn't too fond of the bit, and we weren't able to get it in his mouth today. But, that is okay. We will take one day at a time. They seem to be bonding well, and that is a good thing.

Bryce's 21st Birthday

Everyone had to work today, so Bryce and I hung out a bit. We went to Pei Wei for lunch. I can't believe that my "baby" is 21! Happy, Happy Birthday Bryce!