I Love Football and #41!

 Today a few boys were absent, so Josiah was moved in as running back. He carried the ball more today than all year put together! He loved it! He misses the feel of pigskin. He's been busy blocking this year and showing lots of fake hand-offs. You don't touch the ball in fake hand-offs.

 Here we are at first and goal. And yes, we scored. Again and again. We kept recovering our own kick-off, so we dominated possession.

 Josiah ran it in for a 45 yrd TD.

 TOUCHDOWN!

 

 We only had one kid on the sidelines today! Here Josiah gets a breather after a long run.

 Time out and water break. It was a gorgeous Fall Sunday afternoon.

 Final score. Obviously a mismatch today, but we had fun running the ball all over the field!

This tree is in all it's glory this week. I love how it contrasts so vividly to the still green ones across the drive. Remember last year it snowed when the trees were in this stage! Oh, how i love Autumn! (and i don't mean the dog!)

Applesauce,Pigs, and a Cat

 {Brittany, This post and more will be written especially for you as i attempt to honor Dad's request that i blog more frequently for you while you are away from home.The rest of my readers just have to wade thru this blog and realize some things might make sense only to us.} So here goes;


I chose today to make applesauce because Meg loves to make it and the girls do not have school today.

Dad bought 3 bags of Apples at AB Orchard this morning. They were 2nd's, but big and beautiful and it took Meg and I only minutes to cut them all into quarters. The cooking took much longer.

Brooke was helping, too. While Meg and i cut apples she collected jars and lids, washed and assembled them and then also helped turn the strainer. We all love turning those hot apples into the delicious sauce!

Between batches of hot apples Brooke made these 'piggy cookies' for the snack stand that will be at Josiah's ball tournament tonight at Paradise Park.

Aren't they just the cutest thing ever! After the icicng was dried we carefully slid them into cellophane bags.

(Brit, I'm enjoying these little succulents that you planted this summer)

There's alot going on here on our kitchen island. Meg is working on homework when there's no apples to turn. And Brooke's working on those pigs!

I was going to wait to jar any sauce until it was all done, but the basin got full so i had to take some out. I also cooked a kettle of 'mailbox apples' to mix with all those golden delicious.

I kept out 10 cups of sauce and made some apple butter,too. I took advantage of my lower oven as i was also making peanut butter brownies for the tournament. I only use that lower oven a few times a year, but it sure is nice to have when you need it!
 Yeah, these killer brownies. They're still here cuz the ballgames got cancelled because of the storm damage at Paradise Park.

 Next day: The jars are all sealed, and cleaned and ready for storage. The apple butter is awesome and as you can image we had egg sandwiches for breakfast and your dad was 'humming' thru every bite. I'm so thankful this project is complete! A few weeks ago i feared it might not happen, this applesauce making.


Warning! next picture is just gross, but it's a 'Brooke Special'.

Seriously! Dad told her there's a dead cat in the open shed and then she had to photograph it to show me because i would not go look at it! No one will ever know the story behind this cat's poor demise! 

Ball Season

 Brooke's first school softball game was played this week against Ephrata Mennonite. Brooke did a great job in catching and even made 2 plays at home, getting the lead runner out each time!

 She also got a few nice hits and Linville won their season opener. Brooke is also playing for PV this year on the 14U team. Their first game is this week.

 Josiah is playing Little League again and his games started this past week.I took this picture because i thought it was cute how close the boys are sitting to one another. When Josiah saw the picture he said he did ask Ty to move over because "I was at the very edge of the bench!" They are best buds and on the same team because their dad's are coaching them.

 He got a nice hit tonight.

 Stole second base safely!

 Coach Dave and Parker. I love this picture! Speaking of baseball.........

 We planned a quick surprise trip to Spring training in FL to celebrate Josiah's 10th birthday. This was on March 16 and 17. E-man, Marcy, and Tyrell joined us for the great adventure.

 The Phillies and Cliff Lee played the Pirates.

 It was a gorgeous day in Bradenton!

 We 6 made the most of our 2-day trip. The men and boys also went to an Orioles game in Sarasota and of course the boys had to play on the beach.

Happy 10th birthday to our son! ( my baby....... shh-h, don't tell him that's what he'll always be to me!)

I am a fool for baseball and softball. I don't really care if it's a school team, little league, Spring Training, or the Phillies on TV. Just let me watch! Actually, i'd love to play, but still no one started  35+ team for ladies. Pretty soon i'll be on the 40+ team........

Oh! Rhubarb!

 We LOVE rhubarb. We wait for it. We welcomed it early this Spring, due to our warm weather and sunshine. I've long been planning to imitate the Rhubarb Piroshki that Dave bought in Seattle at Pike Place Market in '09 and this morning i decided to start the process. I opted out of making the dough,tho, and used crescent rolls as i was working more on perfecting the rhubarb part of it.

 I was concerned that the rhubarb would not soften enough in the short time it takes to bake the dough, but i was pleasantly surprised, so i will next attempt homemade dough as is used in Piroshkis. They are made as individual pastries, sometimes folded like half moons or made in a square, folding the corners in and leaving the middle filling exposed. But if you are content with buying crescent rolls in a pop can, go for it!!

Yes, they are as good as they look!!!! Here's the recipe:

Rhubarb Cheese Danish, makes 2 danishes

2 tubes of crescent rolls
8 oz cream cheese
a few Tablespoons of sugar
1 egg
dash of vanilla
a few cups rhubarb, cut in small pieces
2 T sugar
2 T flour

Press the rolls onto 2 cookies sheets,( i used parchment paper and did not grease it) connecting the 4 rectangles to make a long wide pastry of each can. Whip the cc, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Divide between the 2 pastries, spreading it down the center (about 2-3" wide strip), while leaving enough dough on each side to fold over and 'braid'. Toss rhubarb with alittle sugar and flour.

Sprinkle a generous amount of rhubarb on the cream mixture, slit the sides of the pastry on both sides, and then alternately overlap them, giving it a braided look. Bake at 375 for 20 min or until golden brown.

Dave and i have eaten most of one and i know the kids will make quick work of the rest when they get home. The danishes are light and fluffy and not overly sweet as we like to taste the rhubarb, not the sugar!

This is the 3rd dessert we've had this week already. I made Rhubarb Cobbler, Meg made a Meringue Pie, and now these danishes. Speaking of Megan and pie.....this was her first ever attempt at pie crust from scratch, found the right recipe for my rhubarb meringue pie, and even whipped the egg whites to perfection. I wasn't even home! It was delish and lasted less than 24 hrs!

I secretly make many notes in my cookbooks in the tragic event that i expire at an early age and leave behind teenage girls, or inexperienced young wives, or even if i live to be 100.... they will NEED to know which recipes i really use out of the many cookbooks i have in the kitchen. One day i won't be here to be asked. Megan found all the info she needed and i smile because my plan works even now while i'm only at a ballgame!

Go on, now and find yourself some rhubarb!!

Another Project Complete

 Dave always planned to insert this grotto and had even framed it out behind the drywall, for just the day when he has spare time and an itch to create dirt beauty. Together we chose the tile and all alone he put it up. Together we chose the grout and all alone he slopped and smeared it on and in the cracks. Together we cleaned the kitchen and together we enjoy this new addition everyday. Notice the beautiful walnut shelf. The wood is from a childhood tree off the Nissley farm. Dave is having library shelves made from it and simply went and snatched a small piece for this shelf. He then cut it to perfection and stained and installed it,too. He really did a superb job here and is quite pleased with himself! We all know he has many talents, but this project opened up a new tab on his resume.

 He also bought a matching pendulum light way back when he bought the island lights and now it is in its rightful place. The light switch was there all along. More days than not i forget i even have a stove light, until i'm annoyed at how dark the area is, then a lightbulb goes off in my head and..........i laughed just now even if you didn't! The Swiss Diamond pan is on the stove most days. It's how we cook our eggs. It's the best pan Dave ever bought. Never pass up a good deal on Swiss Diamond when you see one!

 Dave also installed the backsplash.

 I'm thrilled we added that. I liked the simplicity before, but i like this look better.

 My little-black-praying-coal-girl graces my window sill. My mom and dad brought her back from WV for me when i was little girl.

 The Spring is gorgeous here and this morning we are having a much needed rain shower.

Baseball season is in full swing and i will post pictures soon. If i'm willing to blog again, i need to space out my posts, right?! ( i tend to be whole hog or none here, stick with me, tho) Library shelves coming soon,too!

Vist from our Dear friends

 Our friends from Oregon visited us for a few days sand we showed them a little of Lancaster. We stopped at market but im so sorry i don't have any pictures but it was very fun.

                                        Faith was generously helping Brittany make some yummy fruit pizza.

                                    Brooke and Ivory were playing life on the farm the Amish style.(i have non idea how you play that way but i know that they made it up)

                                The grownups spent most of our time sitting on the chairs and drinking coffee.

                                         They were so excited to take a buggy ride.

                                     Brittany and Faith were decorating the fruit pizza.

                           another picture of them getting ready to take a buggy ride.

                                A few days before the Dominys arrived Dave and his workers were making a new walk way.

                                           They headed towards Philly and then to NY and back home . Safe driving and thank you for visiting us Dominys.
                                                                          - Brooke