Sunday was a gorgeous day, here in western Pennsylvania! The sun was brightly shining...but the air was cool, proving that autumn has really set in! We attended a church service for the dedication of our one niece to the Lord...her parents promised to raise her to love Him and guide her in His ways. It was quite lovely.
Following the service, we had fellowship with family and friends at the pavillion with a picnic. We had a delicious meal of sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls (that was my contribution), and an array of desserts to choose from!
Some of the men-folk went off to play horseshoes, to burn off all those calories eaten, I'm sure! ;)
Look out yonder (below)...do you see what caught my eye? That lovely barn-red spot in the trees...isn't it beautiful? One little patch waiting for the other leaves around it to catch up! I have every intention, as more leaves turn colors, of making one of
THESE fantastic jars. Oh how I love the autumn changes as the cooler weather settles in.
Madelyn, enjoying time on the swingset...
Normally, after a filling lunch and time of fellowship, everyone would head home to enjoy a nice, relaxing Sunday with their family. This particular Sunday, however, had quite a different agenda! It was apple-cider-making-time! The family's
fall festival is coming up this weekend and our fresh-pressed apple cider is a favorite among townsfolk who come and visit!
We begin with lots of apples!!!
We needed some pears too, as they just add the right bit of extra flavor to the cider. There's my Christopher, monkey that he is, up in the tree picking pears...
Here's a sort of *Where's Waldo?* puzzle...except this time, it's *Where's Xavier?* (like father, like son...monkeys ~ *both* of them, I tell ya!) Can you find him?...
Others got in on the pear-picking too...
Then it was time to press every ounce of juice out of those lovely fruits...
Yum, look at all that beautiful juice, freshly-squeezed...
The leftovers...
Cider, ready to be put into jugs...
I stayed busy, for a bit, putting labels on jugs. We had a lot of help there...so I even got to squeeze in some time holding my niece from Chris's side of the family!
The juice was strained again, then placed into jugs...which were lidded and wiped down...then placed into the cooler!
The sky was just breath-taking as the sun set...

It was an exhausting but enjoyable day! Do you like apple cider? I love it! If you are local, stop by the festival on Saturday...anytime from 9-5...we'll have good food, face painting, cider, craft booths, a hay maze, buggy rides and more! If you *aren't* able to come, I will be sure to share pictures of the day, here, for you to see! We are praying for good weather!
Yesterday, I awoke at 4 in the morning with a terrible migraine. Thankfully, after much rest and prayer, I was feeling much better by the time the afternoon rolled in. Today, we are making up the schoolwork we weren't able to finish yesterday, due to my headache. We have accomplished some but have more to go. I best get going...Thank-you for visiting! :)
"You will always have joy in the evening if you spend the day fruitfully."
~Thomas a Kempis
"When I think upon my God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit."
~Franz Joseph Haydn
Warmly,
Katy
Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:2b