Nothing much planned so planning to do nothing much today.

When my neighbor was remarking about the beautiful summer we just enjoyed he seemed to think we hadn't had one like it here in a thousand years!! ... I wouldn't know :) - but that tells ya somethin' about how nice it was. Tall tell signs of fall are comin' on strong tho' ... shorter days, crows crowing, leaves turning, school busses out in full force - & this fella's been hangin' around ...

...all are signs pointing hubby & I to do what we needs to be done, now! When you throw a few big projects into the mix of daily life, it can really wreak havoc w/ your normal routine!

The past few weeks we've:

- Torn down & rebuilt a retaining wall
- Installed a new storm door in effort to batton down the hatches before the long winter.
- Painted the shed & fence
- Canned peaches
- Rearranged the downstairs & purchased (still need to hang) thermal curtains to section off of the living room portion and make it cozier /more efficient to heat
- Painted both entryway doors & sanded years worth (& layer upon layer!) of old paint off our front stair railings before giving them a fresh coat of black
- This weekend we opened our front windows for the first time ever since we've lived here. They were sealed shut by the previous owners. It took some work - but it was nice to be able to let some fresh air in that way.


Playmaker started dual enrollment at the local university. Big adjustment. She's doing fine - but it's no doubt challenging for her. She's learned her way around campus & made some new friends. Spends a lot less time in school - but a lot of time studying these days. ... & playing soccer. She made Varsity at the high school & has three hour practices most every school day!


Strike's adjusting to her new school too. So new/different - but now that she's getting used to the routine & is making new friends, she's doing well & enjoying it. She hasn't had much homework & I gather that as a rule, they don't assign too much.


And me? I'm adjusting too. I try to get most of my stuff done around the house before school is out bc when the girls are home, I really want to be all there -- for them. They always have so much to talk about now. The other day, Playmaker called me between classes just to talk. Her head was spinning after a heated debatein her opinion oriented Writing class. - Guess that's to be expected when the textbook title is "For Argument's Sake". Anyhow - she just wanted someone to talk about "the great debate" with & I can't tell you how pleased I was that of all people....she chose me! :)

Soon I should be able to find some time to work on the quilt I started last year...

Yesterday ... turned the kitchen upside down canning pears & apples & making vanilla extract & homemade pumpkin yeast bread. Spokes stopped in & ended up staying the night. So good to see him. He & his dad did some work on his car before we finally sat down to a potroast dinner complete w/ mashed potatos & green bean casserole (family favorites!), homemade bread & hot apple cider. By the the time we cleaned up the kitchen that last (umpteenth!) time my husband I were both about ready to pass out. It was fun tho' & as you can see, even Mak didn't want to miss out.

If his head isn't in your lap...he'd just as soon be underfoot :)

And just inserting a pic here that I took one morning when Strike was getting ready for school.  Mak has HIS OWN bed (same size!) in her room too. (& yes ... Strike wants her bed on the floor like that...go figure ;)

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I'd STILL be peeling if it wasn't for this ever so much time saving gadget :)

Applesauce, Spiced Apples, Pears, Pear Syrup & Puree, & Homemade Vanilla

Pumpkin Yeast Bread

Today ... not much planned sooo I'm planning to do nothing much - for a change :)