I Love Bottling!

I just had to add a picture of Gramps (with Rachel).

A bit of this year's bottling

For about 9 years I have been bottling. I started out with peaches and it seems that each year I keep adding new foods. I have a great love for bottling. I just finished up my bottling for the year....although I'm thinking of adding some more things in January! My pantry is full of wonderful food that we grew, picked or bought from my neighbors. This year I made salsa completely from our garden! It feels so good to know we have healthy foods with no added chemicals, preservatives, etc.

This year my mom gave me 3 recipes from my Grandpa Foster....chili sauce, India relish and his pickles that I can still remember eating at his house. I had this huge desire to bottle these just because they were Gramps' recipes. How I wish I had him here to ask questions! But, I figured it all out with help and guessing from Mom and they all turned out wonderful!

Halloween 2008

Happy Halloween! All of the kids got to wear costumes to school this year! I was glad to see they all participated and are having fun. Emily has her first dance today in 6th grade. Here are some pictures before they left. Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Dorothy off to the bus.

Dorothy and Toto.

Desert storm Matt.

Curt did not want Cinderalla's sparkles to get on him! :)
He kept her at arm's length.

Cinderella.

Halloween Dance

McKenna, Matt, Linzie & Matt

Big Bad Wolf & Little Red

Kelsi getting him all made up!

Matt was asked to the school Halloween Dance. His date, McKenna, was little red riding hood and he was the big bad wolf. We were lucky to have Rachel's friend, Kelsi Jo, who really helped created his wolf look. Isn't she great? It was great fun to help him get ready and he had a fantastic time.

Witch Makeovers

Rachel getting her witchy hair!

Grandma Frandsen, Rachel, Olivia, Sammy, Riley & Emily

Emily all done!

With our faces painted first!

It was the end of the first term of school and we celebrated by going to get witch makeovers. We started out with face painting and I even did that! I've never had face painting done....it was kind of fun. Then the girl's had their hair done with cobwebs, spiders, and snakes. We also got our nails done and wandered around looking at all the witches on display. It was beautiful weather and we also got to spend it with our cousins and Grandma Frandsen.

Quilts and Amish

Quilt Shop

Horse and buggy in town.

Emma's beautiful garden.

Wendy and I at the Stoltzfus farm with their buggies.

Just a beautiful view of farmland.

I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a tour with 42 other women, who are quilters, to Pennsylvania. Six months ago my friend Wendy told me about this trip and I jumped on the chance to go! Now we are better friends and I met some fantastic women and have more friends.

Our tour guide has a friendship with 2 Amish families there in Lancaster County. So, what drew me to the trip was the opportunity of meeting these families. So, I have to say that very best part of the trip was meeting Katie and Chris Stoltzfus and Emma and Henry Stoltzfus. We were able to see their beautiful farms, meet their families, learn a lot about their religion and the way they live. They even fed all of us dinner! They were wonderful people and I will never forget that experience. I had to take good pictures of their faces in my mind and heart since I couldn't take pictures of them. And I LOVE to take pictures!

Most of our tour focused around quilts and fabric. Did you know fabric there is MUCH cheaper to buy there than here in Utah? Well, I didn't! I didn't have enough room in my suitcase for all the fabric I wanted to buy. Maybe next time! :) And to see all the hand quilted quilts was amazing!

The beauty of Lancaster County with all of the farms is one of the most beautiful places I have been. It felt so peaceful and the simplicity of their lives is so attractive. It keeps reminding me to enjoy life, slow down and let the materialistic things in life go.

We also got to tour Gettysburg which was an experience I wasn't really prepared for. The battle ground was so much bigger than I ever thought! Now, I'm reading a book on Gettysburg and am looking forward to learning even more and maybe being able to remember the places I saw as I read.

I sure had a hard time leaving my family but once I got there, I really enjoyed it. I'm happy to be home and to hug my kids and I'm happy to be doing piles of laundry today! ;)

Me? On a Horse?

We have had horses for almost 5 years and I have NEVER been on them. I've help take care of them, groom them, drive them, feed them and even helped a little when they have been sick. But, I have never, never (did I mention never?) had the desire to ride on one. I'm scared. But, my loving husband has really taken to trail riding and wanted me to enjoy the same. I have been telling him (putting him off), maybe in the Fall.

Well, yesterday was the day! I had a free afternoon in which I was going to pick raspberries. He invited me go with him to see the beautiful leaves. Fall is my favorite season and I love the leaves too, but on a big horse? I wasn't sure. I gave in for him and off we went. I get on the horse and immediately the tears start to flow (from extreme fear of dying) and kept flowing for 20 minutes. Curt was patient with me and I finally stared to relax. My horse, Spiderman, was a good horse. I think we have bonded.

It was a lovely time and I will happily go again. After we got home Curt, Emily and I all picked the raspberries that I wanted to pick. Happy day! Thanks Curt.

Our self-portrait!

Soccer 2008

Emily had a great soccer season this year. She was on the same team as her BFF, Taylor. She loved her coach and their team was one win shy of making it to the championship game. They all worked well as a team and had fun playing. Good job Emily!