The Lovliness of Apples

'An apple a day keeps the doctor away'.

Yes, we have all heard this quote many, many times. And yes, apples are very nutritious. But there is so much more to an apple than that. Today alone we slipped some into the oatmeal (which decidedly among my children is a matter of personal preference), snacked on some whole and sliced, had some in the form of applesauce with the sausage, and I am going to try to fit in making an apple coffeecake for tomorrow's homeschool chess club! Yes, we do indeed love apples around here. (It is also about the ONLY semi-local fruit that you can pick up around here for more than half the year!)

If you love apples too, or if you have been trying to figure out just what to do with the abundance available right now, or are just on the lookout for a fresh new recipe or craft to enjoy with the children, here are some great ideas and recipes for you to enjoy. Pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy!

A great place to start would be at Dawn's and her taste testing extravaganza in her post An apple by any other name. She also has inspiring thoughts and a wonderful poem (from one of her own crew to boot) here at Our Nice Red Rosy Apples, and great instructions for an 'apple tote' that you could store apples, or just about anything in A Quick and Crafty Apple Tote.

Elizabeth and her family had a wonderful Autumn day with apples being the focal point in this post. What could be more fun than a day with a couple friends, numerous friends for your kids, beautiful fall weather, and a ready-made snack?

Marianne and her children have made some beautiful watercolors that she shares with us at The Apple Bird - Watercolor. I had never seen this Brian Wildsmith book, and we are big fans!

This next post sounds like so much fun to me, honestly, it sounds amazing. The whole family out working together, learning together, and producing something for the table to boot! Check out the fun at the Grove.

Mary has a great list of books here along with instructions for an apple doll craft. This looks like a must do with my daughter. (By the way Mary, did you say snowing??)

Mary has a Unit Study posted over on her blog that centres on apples. For all you unit study folk, this looks like some fun. Even for me, it looks like some great reading!

I had to think hard on what recipe to share that would contain the ever useful and versatile apple. (I am not very crafty, and love to bake, so a recipe was my easy choice. ) I decided on this one, because it is so easy, isn't too sweet, and we eat it lots over here!

Last, but not least, Barbara (this previously said Marianne....sorry about that ) sent me what looks like a scrumptious recipe that I think will keep me up late tonight baking (and probably eating!). I am not very computer savvy and can't seem to link it so please head over to her blog and have a look around for the recipe (and to enjoy the beautiful photo that tops it!).

I hope you have enjoyed yourselves, and that this Autumn will afford you some time and peace to enjoy some of these great ideas!

The Lovliness of Apples Fair... coming here next week!

We have had a lovely fall here, in the land of half year long winters. It looked as though it was going to skip out quickly with the cold snap in the first days of September. But it has hung on.

When the leaves begin to fall seems to be when I head into the cupboard for my baking pans and grab my cookbooks from off the shelves. We had 'tea time' so many times last month that my 4yo was heard telling anyone who would listen that now we have tea time twice a day.

My favorite recipes are often the ones which contain the ever faithful apple. If I was a better poet I think I could spin off a pretty nice sonnet right now, praising the lovely apple....

Instead, I think that I will let you know about the Loveliness of Apples Fair I will be hosting here next Tuesday. If you have an apple recipe you love, a craft, (or even a sonnet), or anything else that is apple related that you want to share, please send it on over here by Monday at 8am. You can leave it as a link in the comments section of this post!

See you next week!

The Lovliness of Apples.... or lack thereof!

I am very sorry. The apple fair is not here today. I actually thought I wasn't hosting it, then life sort of took over and I haven't been online as much lately.

Hopefully it will still get up later in the week, either on another ladies blog or my own.

Thanks,
From one apple lover to another.

Goblin Slobber!!???

Theresa over at Lapaz homelearning has a great new unit up and running.
Since Harry Potter is on everyone's minds over here at our home (Mom, Dad, and Hannah reading them while son 12 swallowed them whole in the last month!), we decided that we were in for a Harry Potter unit study. First up is Goblin Slobber.....

Planning

Tonight I was going to be doing a little planning... instead I am tucking in early with a cup of tea ( a bowl of cereal too!) and a good book.

But on the topic of planning, I read a great post today. I found it both simple and wide. I think tomorrow when I spend a some time in the evening planning and making up some goals for our year of learning, I will write up something similar but unique to my own family. Something that recognizes the large goals, and realities, so that they don't (or I don't!) get lost in the details.

Off to my book and my teacup...

The Next 'First ' Day

I think the last few words of my 'first day' post were 'it was wonderful'. If I had to pick a key three words to begin this post with those would not be in the first 300 that would come to mind.

Honesty.... our little 'homelearning/studies etc. or whatever you wish to call it, does not always go smoothly. During math, even with Steve Demme, it can rarely go smoothly for days. But this is not the fault of my dear children- at least not most of the time. It is that old adage my friend Wendy likes to quote- 'if Mom's not happy, no ones happy'.

Our 'next day back' was not a smooth day. Maybe I was under the allusion that they would all be as smooth as that glorious 'first day back'- but hey, I have been at this for eight years now and knew it couldn't be that.

Whatever it was, it was.... and the next day was new. This adventure called 'living, loving, learning, and growing through it all' is not a sprint- it's a marathon. Not for the light of heart. But boy does it take heart. It is a humbling process, one that on those type of days I come to realize (again) can't be undertaken without grace.

Off to bed to try to be a little more rested for another day full of possibilities.....

Note to self: GET TO BED (too little sleep can often mean more of the above days!_

A neat post about 'next days' written by Karen at her wonderful blog.

The sorting hat says that I belong in Gryffindor!

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name."

Students of Gryffindor are typically brave, daring, and chivalrous.
Famous members include Harry, Ron, Hermione, Albus Dumbledore (head of Hogwarts), and Minerva McGonagall (head of Gryffindor).

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.

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