Of Siblings and Their Spouses and All Things Apple

For several years, Noah has had a hankering to cook apple butter in a copper kettle like they used to do when he was a youngster. We started batting around ideas and decided it would be fun to include all nine of his siblings and their spouses. Much to our delight, all but one couple accepted our offer. All arrived on an October Monday afternoon.

 

 

 Early the next morning, Noah started a hedge fire.

 

Amos and Hannah got busy before breakfast cutting up and peeling apples.

 

 

Israel stirring the first apples put on to cook. Although we don't own a copper kettle, Noah went on a quest and borrowed one from a local Amish family.

 

Two farmers side by side... Andrew was unloading bean meal, while conversing with Melvin.

 

Meanwhile, more apples are being prepared.

 

And good conversation is also going on.

 

Noah stirs the pot...

 

while Alvin adds more apples.

 

All are interested in the process.

 

Israel stirs again. Everyone took turns stirring.

 

Meanwhile, we women got busy and made 85 half moon snitz pies from dried apples.

 

The delicious results were enjoyed with ham and bean soup for lunch...

 

Along with a small portion of Mollie's 30 pound block of cheese!

 

John stirs while Anna fills her jars.

 

More jars being filled.

 

Amos stirs while busy hands fill jars.

 

Now that the work is done, they sit and rest.

 

But the next day, everyone is back at prepping apples for cider.

 

Our garage becomes a hive of busy bees again.

 

Apples ready to press.

 

This is how we cooled the cider.

 

With everything cleaned up, everyone enjoyed visiting again.

 

Lunch. Around 3 p.m. the first couple left, and the rest followed within the next 15 hours. We enjoyed hosting everyone, although some slept at a nearby lodge. Hopefully, they all enjoyed it as much as we, and they have good memories of our time together, as do we.

T-Shirt Quilt

When my sweet daughter-in-law, Nicole, brought me a bag stuffed full of her FFA T shirts that she had acquired during her time in high school and being a state officer, I was excited to make a quilt for her.

 

 

However, the bag set on my sewing table for several months. Then when I decided to clear my tables for scrapbooking, I was quite easily distracted by this bag. I started to empty it and placed the T shirts on piles by color. And without even thinking, I started to cut out the blocks. After I arranged them, they came together pretty fast.

 

I asked Nicole if she wanted to help tie it, and she was up for it. So one Saturday she was here bright and early and we tied a little over two thirds of it. I finished the Tuesday after and sewed down the binding by machine. I used fleece for the backing, so it is quite cozy. She is using it for a throw, but it is large enough for the top of a bed. 

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt ~ My Version

 

Although I completely stuck to Bonnie's color scheme, I struggled with the way the pattern came together. The double triangles were my biggest dislike, so I experimented with chevrons. I made enough for one block, then I laid out a block using them, and one using the double triangles.

 

I felt the double triangles made the block so busy, while the chevrons calmed it down. So, although I had all the double triangles made that I needed, I went to work and made 100 chevron blocks. Yes, I ripped up 50 of my originals. The remainder went into the end borders. I chose to use them to add length to the quilt rather than having a square quilt.

 

I am so happy with how it turned out. I opted not to go scrappy this time, and since the pattern is so busy, I am glad I made that choice. It is hand quilted, as are all my quilts.

Hawaii ~ Kauai ~ Waimea Canyon

I think my favorite island of all was Kauai. It is so beautiful. One day we went to Waimea Canyon State Park, which reminded us of a miniature version of Grand Canyon in Arizona.

 

 

One big difference between Waimea and the Grand Canyon is that Waimea is green and has waterfalls, one of which is visible in this photo.

 

Noah posed for me.

 

Gorgeous.

 

 

 

On our way back to the ship, we stopped at a coffee farm. We enjoyed sampling their delicious flavors.

 

 

Coffee grove.

 

Coffee beans

"Floating Stars"

I have always wanted to do a Feathered Star quilt, and when I found this pattern in a book at an estate sale, I was delighted.

 

 

I put the quilt together two years, ago and it waited patiently in the closet until December when I put it into the frame. It came out of the frame the day before Christmas.

 

It is entirely hand quilted.

Hawaii ~ Oahu ~ Pearl Harbor

 

We spent the entire day at Pearl Harbor. Here is the Arizona Memorial. The harbor was so peaceful that it was hard to imagine the fiery scene on that fateful day.

 

 

Outside the memorial.

 

Inside are the names of all those who perished in the attack, and also those who have chosen to rest here posthumously.

 

Do you see the rainbow colors in the water? This is a result of fuel still seeping from the vessel.

 

 

Part of the Arizona.

 

We had the opportunity to tour a submarine. This is on deck.

 

 

The kitchen is large enough for one cook.

 

Some of the bunks are up, but if they were down, there would be only a narrow passage way.

 

The mess hall.

 

 

We also had the privilege of touring the Missouri, a retired battleship.

 

It was on this ship that the Japanese surrendered, precisely at this spot.

 

On deck of the Missouri, the guns pointed to the Arizona Memorial, standing guard.

 

Some of the bunks

 

The kitchen, still equipped with huge mixers and all equipment.

 

The mess hall.

 

Notice all the ovens lined up. I wanted to take one home! Lots of stainless steel tables and all the sheet pans, etc. used in a place intended to feed multitudes!

 

The mailroom.

 

After that we went to an aviation museum, but I didn't take any pictures there. It was a very interesting day.