Virginia trip

The trees were very colorful on our trip to Virginia. It was cloudy, but beautiful.

Crystal is standing beside their blueberry bush they just planted.

They just put up their greenhouse a few weeks ago. They have several different veggies and a few trees in pots.

On Saturday, we went hiking and had a picnic. It was rather chilly!

We hiked for about 10 minutes up the mountain, then turned around.

We drove on the Blueridge Parkway and this was one of the areas to stop at.

During the Civil War, they used slaves to move big rocks to form rock fences to keep out the wild pigs.

Another visitor asked if she could take a picture of all of us.

At Gypsy Park in Staunton, Va.

We spent a little time walking around the park. We got Kline's ice cream, pumpkin flavor! Yum!

We came home Route 33 through the mountains. This is in George Washington National Forest.

Just one of the many hairpin turns!

At the end of the most mountainous and curvy part, these rocks are a beautiful sight! I think they are called "Bald Peak" or something like that.
It was a good trip! Thanks Joe & Crystal!

canning 08

Canning day in September. Christa, Scott & Angela came home to help.

Grandpa & Bonnie came to help cut apples. We did 81 quarts of applesauce.

I put everyone to work. . .hard work! Give people with muscles the tough work.
Of course, we had chocolate cake to put applesauce on.

Ed was our "canner man". We gave him full jars as fast as we could.
He kept up and even waited on us occasionally.

The "thinker" and the canner.

We canned 23 quarts of V-6 juice. Can't you just smell the peppers and onions?

The night before, Ed & I pulled the grapes off the stems, cooked them, and put them in pillowcases overnight to drain.

We canned 26 quarts of grape juice. Yum!

The weather was perfect for ripening the apples. They "blushed" nicely.

It was a good weekend and we got a lot done. Angela also made 3 batches of brown bobbies, but I must have been too tired to get inside to take a picture.
We got all this done after a pancake breakfast and before supper at 6:30.