Busy October

October has been a busy month so far and it's not even half over! This post has 4 parts to it so let's get started. It begins with apples and ends with blood (fitting for the month of October wouldn't ya say?).



Part 1~Juicing Apples

Chris and I (Seth also but he didn't want to come. Teenagers!) were invited by our good friend Scott to come to his dads place in Yahk, B.C. to be a part of thier annual apple juicing activity. Scott is the one looking at the camera and his dad is the one Chris is talking to. That's Scott's daughter Lauren on the right with her baby (Ollie) on her back.

The really cool thing about Scott's dad is that he is 95 years old and still lives on 140 acres of land and has for almost 40 years now! He told me he uses a cane but that he doesn't really need it. Wink. Wink.

Before we started with the juicing Dan (Scott's dad) took us for a little tour of his property in his Polaris Ranger. Thumbs up!

One of the sites that we saw was this random outhouse. I mean is this not the prettiest place to have an outhouse? Just leave the door open right? Why not. Dan has built everything on this property that you are about to see. He is the handiest of handy men I'd say.

This looks like another outhouse but it isn't. This little building is for sitting in during hunting season. Inside are 2 comfortable chairs that look out through a couple of holes that have been cut out of the other side. They are for your guns. Notice that the color of the building blends in with the color of the tree trunks? You gotta be sneaky to get a deer!

This little house (one room) over looks a small body of water. I believe they call it the Lake House. Look at that porch!

This is called the Honeymoon Suite. It was actually where Dan and his wife lived for a time while buiding their home. It was brought up to this location later and then given it's name. Now on to the apple juicing process!

This area is where all the juicing happens. 187 gallons were made in about 5 hours that day!

The process begins by picking up the apples and throwing them in to the wooden box there where my left hand is resting. Pick up the apple, lift the lid and toss! Over and over and over and over again. Inside the box is a wheel that has been fittied with nails. That chops the apples into smithereens which then drops down in to that orange bucket.

When the bucket is full it is then dumped in to ths old wine press that Dan got from Italy years and years ago.

Once the press is put back together you attach a rod to it and then walk around in circles. This squishes the apples. See the juice pouring into the white bucket? They had little cups around for anyone wanting some FRESH juice. It was awesome! From one batch of apples with this press you get about 5 gallons of juice.

When all the juice is squished out of the apples you take the press apart and this is what you are left with. This then becomes food for the deer. Lucky deer. Remember that little building I was telling you about???

The only real way to remove it is by using a shovel. It's actually quite heavy!



Part 2~Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving that is. Lee Lee and her family came over for the big feast and brought with them 2 big pumpkin pies. We all had at least 2 pieces each! Why not right?  Oh, and there is another Thanksgiving right around the corner!  

Cousins picture (Neal, Seth, Caleb and Clark). We missed Brad, Sean, Laurel, Kelly and Michelle though! Another time.

Next month we are going to Lee Lee's for American Thanksgiving where I will bring sweet potatoes and Nanny's potatoes. We have our traditions.

Lee Lee is rarely ever ready for her picture to be taken. Usually her eyes are closed. ;)

This is much better!

This was after 2 plates of food but before 2 pieces of pie! Oh my.



Part 3~Chris

Chris' birthday is the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes actually falls on Thanksgiving. He opted for leftovers and a lemon meringue pie this year for his birthday dinner. He will get that traditional chocolate cake next month when Seth's birthday rolls around! Happy 53rd Birthday Chris!!



Part 4~Kelly

Kelly is living in Salt Lake City, Utah and is in the medical assisting program at the LDS Business College. She loves everything about it and yesterday was her first time taking blood. SHE LOVED IT! She was almost beside herself while telling me all the details on her walk home last night. Blood anyone? Halloween is just around the corner!

Happy October!