Last days of autumn

Tomorrow morning we head back to Curacao, after a long, enjoyable three-month stay on the farm! We are soaking up the cold weather and enjoying Grandma Barb for one more evening...it will be sad to leave, but we are excited to get back to our life in the Caribbean!

Before the boys got so sick this week, we had celebrated both of their birthdays last weekend...with cousins and family members to help! The boys each got a special cake, decorated according to their most recent interests. (I never thought I wanted my boys to be so into superheroes, but Jack is enamored - mostly with Spiderman. We just make sure he understands that superheroes help people and do what is right!)

One of George's gifts was a "Super George" costume of his own...something he's been wanting every time Jack plays with his own cape.  Unlike Jack, however, George was happy to wear the mask and had a very solemn look on his face while it was donned!  :-)

Enjoying a fall walk with cousin Keteaonk!  (We actually had 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th cousins all here for our little party!)

Here are some other fall shots of Ohio.  The climax of autumn splendor happened about two weeks ago.  Now, it looks more like winter with gray skies and trees stripped bare of their leaves.  But we are so thankful we got to see the height of fall!

I've been meaning to post something about how we've been able to use the produce of the farm to make usable food products!  In late summer/early fall, after rain storms, we found these Giant Puffball Mushrooms just outside!  We did some research and found they are edible and have a unique flavor.  The inside is the consistency of a firm marshmallow...and the taste is much nuttier than other mushrooms.  We made Wild Rice and Mushroom soup with this guy...it was delicious!

Barb has two different chestnut trees just outside in the back yard: an American Chestnut and an Chinese Chestnut.  The nuts fall out of these spiky hulls in mid-to-late autumn, and I've always had fun collecting them when we've been here in the fall.  This year, we tried a few recipes - though the boys enjoyed eating them raw, after the skin was peeled.  While in North Carolina with the Morgan kids, we roasted the chestnuts in the oven and had them for a treat. And back at home, we made Apple Chestnut bread!

While Barb's five apple trees have always produced a lot of apples, this year, the crop was extremely bountiful.  But since they are "organic" (no pesticides used as in the past), it was not easy to find apples that had not been eaten or inhabited by coddling moths.  But, we found enough to eat a few right from the trees....and enough to make a fairly large batch of Apple Butter! 

I've often spotted these trees along the fencelines, but never knew what these cherry-sized fruits were. Thanks to Google, we discovered that they are crabapples (native to Ohio) and that they are perfect for making Crabapple Jelly!  While Gentry was visiting, we went through the process and came out with several little jars of beautiful, jewel-toned jelly! (It took about 2 hours for us to pick enough fruit to make the jelly!)

And....I couldn't end this post without mentioning the Groundhog.  Josh is an expert marksman and has often been able to kill groundhogs that were causing havoc in the hay fields in past summers.  This summer, there was one regularly visiting groundhog that came up to the yard to munch on apples that had fallen to the ground.  Josh had tried to shoot him (since it is burrowed under the barn and could possibly destroy the foundation - these guys are destructive!), but had missed.  Each time he returned home, he hoped to get him. 

Well...wouldn't you know it....on our last day here, JOSH GOT HIM!  Right in the middle of eating an apple!!!  (All part of farm living!)

What will we miss most about leaving Ohio?  GRANDMA!  Jack calls her "Grammie Barb" and George calls her "Ba".  So, Grammie Barb/Ba, we love you and we are so grateful for the time we've had to spend with you these last three months!  We will miss you and keep you in our hearts and prayers!

 

With love from our last post in Ohio....

Josh, Kam, Jack and George