Today we did something that neither of us has ever done...apple picking!  In the last week or so, I had read other blogs or heard friends talk at work and on FB of their own experiences and it sounded too good for us to pass up. Also, we live close to Ellijay which is known for its apple orchards.  We had a great time and even came home with some freshly fried apple pies to go with our apples!  If you get the chance, go apple picking this Fall and if you happen to live close to northwest GA, visit Reece Orchards.  Also, this orchard and others in the area are near Burt's Pumpkin Farm.

Lettuce Learn About Fall Gardening

This year is the first time I have ever experimented on Fall gardening.  Well, we will be eating these lettuce leaves tonight.  I would say it has been successful so far!  Many different types of lettuce, carrots, snap peas...yummm!  Because this has been an experiment, everything is in containers on our back deck, but I look forward to expanding in to the garden plot in the backyard.  Also, I have been prepping the heirloom seeds I have collected for next Summer's garden.  I LOVE sharing seeds with folks, so friends that live nearby, let me know and I will share some with you!

Life That Has Crossed My Path

No Rhyme or Reason...

 ...the amazingly artistic underside of a mushroom from our front yard.  I had no idea!

 These two above shots visually describe what our neighborhood has looked like for the last two months due to the county laying a gas line across the entire county.  Disheartening and impressive all at the same time.

 Does anyone know what kind of plant this is?  We came across it at Sawnee Mountain Preserve while out on a family hike.

Last but not least, this little guy may be the culprit to the disappearing leaves of my green bean plants in the garden.

My Second Pregnancy Has Taught Me

With each subsequent pregnancy, the pain gets worse.

It takes longer to heal.

Your hair will still fall out in handfuls several months later.  I should be bald by now.

My clothes do not fit the same and might not ever.

My body is thicker now and I have the feeling it might stay that way.  I have tried cutting out flour and processed sugars, which I have done in the past with great results, and my body was not even phased this time.

Headaches, headaches, headaches.

Crickets, Fall and Gifts

Whew, is it obvious that I am back at work and having trouble with time management?  I just completed my fourth week of work and thankfully I jumped right in to it easier than I thought I would.  My heart and head wanted to stay at home with our boys, but reality and our finances were telling me otherwise.  

Many things have taken place since I last posted and I hope to update pictures and stories from our beach trip, the farm, starting a Fall garden, seeking out specialists and weighing adoption.  The list goes on, while some of it is fun and some is so heavy that my heart will ignore it for a time for the sake of not wanting to cry one more tear, it is all life.

Change of subject...I hope you all out there are well.  The temperature has dropped significantly here in the last week and I am loving it!  The A/C is off, windows open, beautiful butterflies fluttering around and the oak in our backyard about to drop an amazing amount of acorns.  Do you have any Fall plans?  Have you started your Fall garden?  Have you been watching football or sitting on the back porch after the sun has set wrapped in a blanket from the chill in the air?  I hope you allow yourself the chance to enjoy this beautiful time of year.

Oh yeah, if you are already looking for Christmas gifts to buy for the special people in your life, consider helping me clean out my handmade craft stash.  I will make you a deal!  I am running our of room to store all my items, don't know what to do with them, yet still want to be creative and make more things.  Ahhh!  What is a girl to do?

Confused Blog

My husband made the comment the other day that my blog is all over the place.  I did not take offense.  I know exactly what he means and I have had the thought myself.  One post talks of recipes and sewing projects while the next tidbit discusses grief and the loss of our boys.  I originally started this blog to share photographs of life experiences and it slowly turned in to a blog on life.  All encompassing.  We all know that life is not always kind to us nor always ugly, so I share it all.  We were given life by a creative God that has surrounded us with beauty and we live in a fallen world.  I want this blog to share that entire spectrum. 

  

Prevent the Use of Plastic at the Grocery Store

I ran across an old post on a blog I follow, Sleepy Time Gal, on yet another way to cut down on waste through sewing up a quick and easy craft of reusable grocery store mesh bags.  I completed one myself, as I was a little skeptical, but I am pleasantly surprised.  It was easy to make and the mesh is more durable than I thought.  If you don't like using the plastic produce bags at the grocery store, make one of these.  It is light weight so it won't add much if any cost to your produce and it can be used for many more things as well...organizational travel bags (keep all your socks and unmentionables together), round up your kiddos blocks or carry veggies from the garden as was mentioned in the above blog. 

Tomato Pie

Tomato pie is where it's at ladies and gentleman!  I found this recipe off of allrecipes.com.  It is a good base recipe and allows plenty of room for you to embellish as you like.

1 9 inch pie shell

1 onion, chopped

1 tsp of olive oil

1 cup torn basil

2 cups+ of chopped fresh tomatoes, drained

1 cup of mozzarella cheese

1 cup of mayo

Saute the onions in the olive oil.  Layer the onion, basil and tomatoes in the pie shell.  Mix the cheese and mayo in a bowl and layer over the tomatoes.  Bake at 350 until golden and bubbly.

The changes I made included crushing up oyster crackers and combining with 4 tablespoons of softened butter and that was the "pie crust".  I added two tablespoons minced garlic to the mayo mixture, which I substituted 1/2 cup of plain yogurt in place of half the mayo.  I used monterey cheese as that was all I had, but it turned out well.  The pie was baked about 35 minutes and probably could have gone a little longer but we were quite hungry.  Next time we make it, we might add bacon.  Watch out!

In Fidem: A Real Hero: Oscar Pistorius

In Fidem: A Real Hero: Oscar Pistorius

My brother posted a photo of Oscar Pistorius on his blog and I thought it was such a great shot, I wanted to share it. 

Matt and I were able to watch Pistorius compete where he came in 2nd place against folks that have both their legs.  The commentator stated that some athletes were upset he was competing with them...they are threatened.  It was also shared that Oscar lost his legs when he was 11 months old.  Growing up, if his older brother was climbing trees, him mom would say, "Go climb trees Oscar."  So inspiring and humbling.

Together They Shall Remain

We received the call that Samuel's headstone had arrived and the boy's plot was now ready for viewing.  We are heading out of town on vacation this weekend and wanted to see it before we left, so we headed to the cemetery Thursday evening trying to beat the setting sun.  They are together in the same plot.  Merely a comfort to us here on Earth even though we know they are not in the ground.  They are together in Heaven too, which is more important and hope-giving.  

Uhhh...my baby boys, my sweet babies.  My eyes are welling up with tears knowing I missed the baby years with these little guys, the absence of birthday parties and holiday celebrations, missed out on their weddings, on being grandparents to their children.  Next time I see them, they will look completely different.  Will I feel like I missed out then?  Amazingly, the answer is no.