Apple Picking Time is Here Again

 It's that time of year again!
(This is one of four large baskets full of apples from our solitary McIntosh tree.)

It was a fun Sunday afternoon task, requiring three different ladders and still having to abandon some apples that were too high on the tree to reach. Eventually they'll fall and the deer will eat them. That's okay. Most of the ones we picked will go into the dehydrator, after giving a few bags to new neighbors.

It's a very busy time for us, which is why I've not been blogging lately. Between two places, Wausau and Dallas, we've got lots to get done. So right now it seems like we have two homes. Oh. Make that 3. The other day when I mentioned that we would be 'going home,' Henry said, 'You mean to Menards?'  OK, Smartypants! LOL  Yeah, right now Menards and Home Depot are kind of our homes away from home!

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." - from Jeremiah 29. 

The sermon today was about the lost coin and lost sheep and lost son -  from Luke 15. 

https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/a-coin-a-sheep-a-son/5264/

I posted this photo (above) before, but I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be part of a worship service and stand with an entire congregation reciting the Nicene Creed. It is a real blessing. But of course we can't stay here (Rice Lake) forever, and eventually we will be finding a church in Wausau.

Fall has arrived at the backyard pond garden.
Look at God's marvelous work in Creation!

Morning fog over the creek,
from the porch

 Four boxes containing washed and ready-to-go canning jars to go to our daughter-in-law.
54 quarts and 43 pints, with more to go later. It's part of my downsizing project, of which you have already heard far too much, so I'll move on.

 One of my favorite corners
Our Amish neighbor's barn across the road
You may have already seen this photo on my Instagram account:
@cranberrymorning
Feel free to join me there for daily photos. Posting photos daily is lots easier than writing a blog post, believe me. LOL

And although Henry's cows were in the bean field yet again,
he has since managed to finally contain them with some extra wire and a few huge tires leaning up against the shed. It works. Well, except for the little ones who simply walked UNDER the fence (a different spot) the other evening to get out. Mr. C. didn't bother to tell Henry but simply put the little rascals back in and fixed the fence. Now THAT's a good neighbor!

And did I care if Henry's cattle got into the bean field? Of course not. I thought it must be quite an adventure for them. But realistically, the man who rents Henry's land and put in the bean crop wouldn't be very happy if all the beans were eaten or trampled, now would he.

 September 8 sunrise.
from the top of our driveway.
Awesome skies always fill my heart with joy and praise to an awesome God.

***

On to work on the Wausau house:

 This is the song that never ends...
(but actually, it should be ended by Tuesday of this week. It's been a huge job, laying all that floor tile, and Mr. C. never complains, although laying 18" tile on a floor that's not always perfectly even is a job that requires lots of patience and skill, neither of which I possess, but which he possesses in great abundance. Thank you Lord!)

Right. My job was to stand on the ground and catch the apples and to fret and scold Mr. C. for standing on the very top of a very tall ladder. He just laughs. I told him I wouldn't visit him at either the hospital or the morgue. His response?
Well I'm sure you know.

Anyway, I hope you all had a blessed Lord's Day and found (or remembered) a great many things for which to praise our over-the-top-loving God.

(I did, and especially after the apple picking task was over and Mr. C. was safely on the ground again.)

But I do sometimes ask God why oh why he doesn't make Mr. C. listen to reason.


 ***

May God bless you,

Sunday Evening Ramblings

We had supper with this sweet 5 year old (grandson) and his baby brother and parents on Saturday evening. You can't really tell from this photo, but this little guy has the bluest eyes!

It's been so long since I've posted anything on Blogger, finding Instagram easier to use when I'm without my computer. But I decided to put up a few photos and let you in on the fun project we're working on at the Wausau house.  Also, Terri from Your Friend From Florida blog, who hosts the Wednesday Medley, has just had knee replacement surgery and although her recovery seems to be going well, has decided to take a much-deserved break from the Medley. So until she returns, possibly in October, the Wednesday Medley is on hold.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Marathon County, Wisconsin
We were out driving around the Wausau area, and this country church had a great view from the front door - and from its cemetery!

On Instagram this morning, I posted a photo of that church along with the following lyrics from one of my favorite John Rutter songs:

As the bridegroom to his chosen,
As the king unto his realm,
As the keeper to the castle,
As the pilot to the helm,
As the captain to his soldiers,
As the shepherd to his lambs,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.


I'm sure I've posted this YouTube clip before, but I love it, so here it is again.

 It's time to pick apples from our McIntosh tree again.
This is the sole surviving tree, thanks to the deer. But then again, the deer are so cute, especially when a doe brings a couple of her fawns to entertain us by playing under the apple tree, early morning or evening.

 Too much of a good thing, maybe.
(Neighbor's horse and tree)

One of my favorite spots along my favorite walk. I don't know why I'm so fond of hay bales, but they seem to be featured in many of my photos.

Just a few shots of our current life as DIYers:

 Future kitchen west wall

 Dining In

Spray foam in the joist pockets.

This weekend I've been working with an online kitchen project design program to figure out cabinets and placement thereof. What a pain that is. But it's also pretty exciting when I get to print it out and see the photos. I think this week will be laying floor tile.

And when I get sick of this whole project, I just think of

two of our best motivators (who give us frequent encouraging hugs)

So, between bouts of home construction and during trips back and forth from Wausau to Dallas, I read a lot. An article I've recently enjoyed can be found here: Finding God in All Things

I hope you've had a blessed Lord's Day. I certainly have had. Worship service this morning with Holy Communion, beautiful scenic views with cows this afternoon, and a 'fry' made by Mr. C. for my Sunday dinner.

To the uninitiated, I'm not sure how wonderful this looks, but let me tell you, NeverAny ham with scrambled eggs, crispy hashbrowns, and a variety of sauteed peppers and onions is one of my favorite meals - and I don't have to make it. It's one of those really nice things that Mr. C does for me. Dessert was smooth Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate.

***

I'm hoping to reopen my soap shops when we get settled in
and have sold our farmhouse.

So much to do.

Thanks for stopping in today.

 

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for daily photos