Just because.....

I opened my door and found these on the door step.

My hubby had sent me flowers just because. There wasn't a holiday near or any special occasion. Yes, he wins points for spontaneity.

Thanks babe.

FRESH Apple Juice

My life is forever changed. I discovered fresh pressed apple juice and I will never be the same. Breanna allowed me to tag along and help juice apples with her family. I discovered how much I LOVE the taste of Honeycrisp apples. They are the best. We did a combination of honecrisp and gala apples and the outcome was so amazing. It is just fresh squeezed/pressed apples, nothing else added, no sugar no nothing! I loved this so much, I want an apple press, really really bad. The Cameron's family friend built this set up himself after researching lots. I really like the two bucket method, keeps things rolling along pretty fast. I know have a real appreciation for this apple juice. I call it "Liquid Gold." Ya, it's that good.

The setup in the garage. The two black pots are full of water. We placed the apples in there and then cut them in quarters to place in the square box above the bucket. That box is there they apples get ground up into bits and fall into the bucket.

See the opening where the juice can fall into the white bucket? The design of the machine is sloped, so the juice naturally runs off. Brilliant.

Here is some cleaver additions to the normal apple press. Hook up your power drill to turn the grinder for you. Smart. Very smart.

Then you place the bucket (apples wrapped in cheese cloth) under the press and screw down the press, brute strength required here.

Look at that beautiful stream of Liquid Gold flowing from the bucket. Makes my mouth water just typing this.

Fruit of our labor. Placed in plastic bottles with space at the top for freezing. Comes out of the freezer just as fresh as when it went in.

All of these bottles plus the four 5 gallon buckets. Sweet!!

Check out the apple by product. That equals a lot of labor there. Just don't till this up in your garden. You will be over run by a million apple seed trees. True story.

You probably won't ever get to try this kind of apple juice unless you have a really really really nice friend that shares with you because of how much work goes into making this juice. However, once you have tried this Liquid Gold, you will never drink any other kind of apple juice again. This is not because you will now be a food snob, but because there will never be anything that compares to it again. I am busy researching apple presses.

Jaynee and Kailani's Piano Recital

We went to Kailani and Jaynee's Piano Recital. They did a great job. I helped Lori make music note sugar cookies. They were fun and a perfect addition to the night.

Kailani

Jaynee

Tessa, Weston, Jaynee, Lori, Abagail, and Kailani Schulthies Family

Jaynee and Kailani with their music teacher Mary Woodruff

Pumpkin Carving

Breanna had a great idea to have FHE carving pumpkins. We also had fun trying on Halloween costumes, looking for something to wear this year (I have a rather large collection of costumes, a fun genetic trait I inherited from my mom). It was a fun night for the kids.

What a messy project. It was raining cats and dogs outside, so inside it was!

Olivia, Landon, Howie and Eli

Breanna and I sporting matching bottlecap necklaces that have witch boots on it and says "If the Shoe Fits."

My favorite part of the night: making roasted salted pumpkin seeds.

Annual John Duke Fish Dinner

John Duke is our family friend from the Oregon Coast who comes hunting every year. When we were kids he used to bring us bags of candy. We loved it. Now he is just as awesome and brings us fish, salmon and halibut as well as canned tuna he does himself. He had something new for us this year, canned smoked salmon. It was like jerky and was delicious. We love this annual tradition of a fish dinner. John does the cooking of the fish and we provide the rest of the sides for the meal and dessert (which we baked pies from the Pie Lady. YUM!). John makes the tastiest fish around as well as a dozy of a mess in the kitchen. I think we can all agree it is worth it though. Thanks John, can't wait til next year.

Delicious Salmon

This is what John called 'Sleezy Cheezy Halibut' and it was divine. Pretty sure the nutritional value of the fish is canceled out in this dish, but sure tasty.

Dad and John Duke