Hazel's Last Ride...of this season

This was a beautiful Fall day. The air was crisp, but the sun was bright and the sky was clear and blue.

Since it was beautiful, I hurried to strip the bed and get things washed to hang outside, all the while praying that the wind was still coming from the east and keep the neighbor's chimney smoke away...thankfully, it was.

One day last winter, the bedclothes smelled so bad of smoke, that I could hardly sleep!! Today, however, we were spared.

After taking Keith to work, I set out to finish cutting the grass, no doubt for the season. The last two years, I was still cutting parts of the yard in November! We've had several heavy frosts, so I think I'm safe. Hazel, my John Deere, can take off her mower deck and mount up her blade for the front to be ready for snow removal.

Cutting grass has become so relaxing for me. Didn't used to be, but now that I'm used to how this yard lays, I can let my mind wander and do my praying.

Betty's yard is difficult to mow and I grumble about it each time I do it. But, I love her to death and after I'm done, I'm always glad that I've done it. She's the best neighbor!

The applesauce is put away. Every inch of space on my canning shelves is full--a happy thought. My OCD kicks in when each fruit or veggie does not have it's own space or lined up in nice rows...I have applesauce squeezed in any empty place...oh well. The shelves are full and I am sure I'll find what I need when I need to find it.


The dead or almost dead flowers were taken to the compost today, too. How sad to see the colors go. I picked more rose hips today, too.

It was a good day for getting ready for Fall.


"Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion, instruction, discipline, example, that my house may be a nursery for heaven, my church the garden of the Lord, enriched with trees of righteousness of they planting, for thy glory." The Valley of Visions, The Family

Drying Rose Hips

I thought I would share how I dried my rose hips.

First, sort them and pick out ones that are not nice and red or are withered. then pick them off of their stems and lay them out on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Dry in your oven at 150-170 degrees until they are hard and brittle. Then I ran mine through my blender until they were just coursely ground. Then I poured them into an empty jelly jar and put a lid on.
Add one tablespoonful for for each cup of tea. The longer you steep your tea, the stronger in will be. Strain or use in a tea ball. Sweeten if desired.

My first cup, I mixed the rose hips with a cup of another kind of tea. It was great! And so much vitamin C.

I love Wednesdays and Saturdays because it's Farmer's Market Day! During the growing season there are a delightful group of people who bring their fresh fruits and veggies and baked goods and flowers. It is a step back into a simpler time for me just to mill around and feel connected to a community. There were not many folks there today. The 'Apple Guy' is the main attraction now. I bought pears and some apples and CIDER. He makes great, real cider. Not the pasturized stuff. The apples are neatly displayed in graduated sized red baskets with the names of the apple variety in the front. It is a colorful display of a still life piece of art of country living.

Things are a bit slower today...thank goodness. I was able to gather rose hips and they are in the oven drying now. When they are dry, I'll crunch them up and use them in tea (thank you, Carla Emery and your Old Fashioned Recipe Book). The are chalk full of Vitamin C. I did leave some for the animals. It looks like there is a bumper crop this year. I may get a few more to decorate. They are a beautiful red.

Keith has a long weekend and is busy putting the finishing touches on the furnace (we hope). The rest of the week looks busy. I hope to get the shopping done tomorrow and cook Friday for the weekend!!!

Friday is the church's Fall Harvest Party. Since we are Presbyterians, there will be more food than people. :-) There will be square dancing and good friends and fellowship. It's always a grand time.

I finished an apron!! I haven't made one since 7th grade! It's a 40s-50s type fabric with little cherries on it. The idea came from reading Kris Ante's blog. She sells cute aprons. Hopefully, I won't be afraid to get it dirty, but I really like it...It has pockets!!!

If you are reading Respectable Sins, and have read Chapter 7, ...what can I say...I'm a horrible sinner and there appears to be no end to it. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

"O God of the Highest Heaven, occupy the throne of my heart, take full possession and reign supreme, lay low every rebel lust, let no vile passion resist thy holy war; manifest thy mighty power, and make me thine for ever." Valley of Vision, Regeneration

Pray for our country to repent and be wise in what you choose to do.

Blessings,