little bits of fall

• we put up our autumn decorations. i love how excited the children get when i bring that big box down from the attic. i remember feeling the same excitement when my mom brought ours out when i was little. i avoid strictly halloween or thanksgiving decorations and just focus on the season... a couple scarecrows, pumpkins and winter squash, and lots of fall leaves. i just love having those colorful leaves in the house, especially since where we are we don't see a whole lot of them outside. we have mostly evergreens and apple trees. i buy my leave garlands at joanns. every couple years i add a few to my collection (they hold up wonderfully threw storage).
• finally finished one of the blankets for little jude. so simple. took one afternoon. my problem is finding an open afternoon.
• beginning to burn fires and it's so wonderful. there is nothing like a warm fire on a cold night.
• making the switch from tomato saucing and canning to apple picking. i actually love apple picking.... a little at a time..... too much makes my neck ache. but it's so peaceful out in the orchard in early autumn with the best little apple eaters. we have one box for the apples i pick and one box for the apples that fall because apparently you shouldn't use the apples from the ground for your fermented cider because they pick up bacteria that creates vinegar. so we use those ones for pie, sauce, and eating fresh.