Incoming!

Yesterday afternoon was a pleasant one. I love this time of year! Brisk Autumn breezes blowing color into little cheeks, rain and snow in the mountains. . . Down here in the valley, partly sunny, patches of blue sky, moving clouds. . . Ya really can’t beat it! : )

We turned on the heater yesterday morning, for the first time this season. When the kids left for school, they could see their breath in the cold mountain air. The car was covered with frost, and Charlie had to warm up his truck for a while before heading off to work and classes. . . So different from balmy Virginia, where we spent the weekend. But it’s good to be home! I enjoyed a fun day with the Binky, picking up, (as Charlie likes to say), or rather cleaning up the house a bit, and waiting for our errant luggage to be delivered from the airport. . . Luckily, I checked my email and it was there that I learned about my dentist appointment at two. No cavities! Yay!

Later on, after the kids were home from school, Tommy got it into his head that we needed to pick some apples. Our apple tree is bent over double, and the apples still on it are red, juicy, and overripe. Eric’s been bringing them in a few at a time, all polished up and beautiful. . . He’s filled up one of our orange Halloween bowls already with such admirable specimens, and even took the time to mix up some pie filling while we were gone on Saturday. Tommy talked Eric into helping him harvest. I could see the boys out of the kitchen window. Eric had climbed to the top of the tree, and Tommy was on the ground catching apples as brother tossed them to him. Too bad he accidentally beaned Aleia smack in the head. . . She wasn’t too happy. The highlight of their little game of fruit baseball, I would have to say, would probably have been the moment that Eric lobbed a juicy red hand grenade directly at the kitchen window. “Incoming!” he yelled, grinning. Unbeknown to me, Tommy was standing beneath this particular window, and with lighting-fast reflexes, shot his hand up and into my view, just in time to make a spectacular catch, intercepting the apple before it hit the glass.

I had to laugh. Really, what can you do? Yes, these are the moments we cherish! : )

Wisely, perhaps, I decided to move away from the kitchen window. Across the street, on the other side of the house, Aleia, and her friends Hope and Emmalee, were jumping on the tramp in their Halloween costumes. It was truly a sight to behold! Lea, in her black witch costume, with her long red hair whipping about as she bounced and spun, bright eyes and rosy cheeks, certainly contributed to the happy scene. The girls flew skyward and back again, shrieking with delight!  : )  Such fun!

I think it was then that I got the bug, and decided to throw together some appley pies. Sugar and cinnamon, Baby! That’s what it’s all about! Anyway, it sure smells good coming out of the oven. . . I was very grateful to Eric for taking the time to cut up all those apples. . . But we’re not through yet! An hour later, Tommy hauled in a full box of newly picked bad boys and dropped/set it heavily (and without permission) right on the kitchen table. Such a helpful lad! : )

Guess we’ll be makin’ room in the freezer, cause there’s gonna be a whole lot of apple pie filling stacking up soon! YAY for October!  : )