Wow, where has

this year gone? Just had a visit from the Passionate Princess this past weekend and she is remarkable - in this period of pain and difficulty, she is keeping her head high and moving forward. She has many conflicting thoughts, but is trying to steer a clear path. She says she can't wait for 2011 to be over with. A visit here gave her a chance to be with her family and touch base with the real world. She did not find our most recent cool snap to her liking, hollering that it was "freezing" when it hit 69 degrees. Each to their own I guess.

Sadly, no chickens for us. Ordering too late and without total agreement or commitment to the project by all involved, we are chickenless and eggless. Our garden is spent and farm season is winding down. One more trip to the Farmer's market this weekend to scoop up what vegetables are left - also have to pick up pumpkins to process for pumpkin breads this winter. Corn season was poor this year and we did not have much to freeze. Season was dry this year and we are in the middle of a drought.

The leaves on the sourwoods and even the dogwoods are turning already - Fall colors should be right around the corner. The apple orchard was busy this weekend and picked up 1/2 bushel of honey-crisps to make apple butter from. Lots of cinnamon will add to the delicious smell as I cook this in the crock pot. All the beautiful jars of apple butter in glorious rich brown on the shelves next to the delicious reds of the strawberry jams and greens of the pickles in so many varieties, a fest for the eyes as well as the palate.

DH will become the house-husband again by the first of next month. Going to paint our homestead and then paint the Queen Mother's manse. He starts collecting SS from Uncle Sam in November and then becomes a man of leisure - if you ever have leisure when we have so much to be working on before true winter sets in. The Bumble Lab will enjoy the company, I am sure.

Baking breads - excellent fruit-laden artisan breads with carrots, walnuts, pecans , apples, raisins - with barely any sugar (2 tsp. brown sugar) they are still deliciously sweet and moist - no butter (1 tsp.) but use buttermilk instead. They are a lovely treat for breakfast on a cold morning. Working on the oatmeal recipes too! Way to get going in the mornings, when you would rather crawl under your blankets and go back to sleep....hmmmm,,,,maybe the bears have the right idea!

Be blessed,
Kim