Apples take over

We are blessed with an abundance of fruit growing freely in our backyard. Three apple trees, a plum tree, a peach tree, and grapes that travel over our fence line from our next door neighbor's yard. There is also a grapefruit tree growing in the abandoned yard directly behind our house, where I like to take the kids and liberate the tart little orbs.

This year our apple trees are producing like I've never seen, so I needed to find something to do with the plethora of green fruits. 

Thus, my first attempt at applesauce.

picked fresh today!

I poked around on Pinterest for a recipe, and found (of course) dozens of crock pot applesauce pins. I decided to Frankenstein a couple recipes together to come up with my own.

Step one:

Peel, core & dice 6-8 apples (depending on size.)

after this, I just gave them a really rough chop. not too small.

Step two: Stir together 1/2 Cup water, 1/4 Cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Step three: Add cut apples to crock pot, then pour liquid mixture evenly over apples. 

omg yum.

Step four: Set crock pot to "Low." They cook for about 4 hours total, but halfway through, I gave them a stir. (Ok, maybe I just wanted to get a really good whiff up close, cuz man oh man, did this smell amazing!)

Step five: turn crock pot off and mash apples with potato masher. Let cool & refrigerate. Or serve warm! Whatever you want! 

I'm thinking about making some pie dough & making dumplings with the mixture. Or topping my waffles with it. Or my ice cream, or stirring some into my oatmeal.....

The possibilities are endless :)

Amusement parks are not so amusing

Saturday, I turned 33 and spent the day at 6 Flags with 4 of our kids. The husband's company picnic was held there and we thought "wow, how cool is THAT? OMG, the kids will have so much fun!" 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. 

That foolish optimism makes you think I had never taken multiple children anywhere before, right?

Hey, give me a break here. I try to just go with things. Life is supposed to be an adventure, right? Well, 6 Flags with a 4, 7, 9, and 15 yr old was certainly interesting. Let's just say, the husband & I are really happy we decided not to take the family to Disneyland this year like we had planned. 

6 Flags was a smashing success, in that we learned that this family is not amusement park ready. 

Well, that and also because this happened:

BOOM.

Wordless Wednesday: Wither goest thou, America?

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? It's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."
A road trip is just what this family needs.

Driving Rain, an open letter to Sacramento

Dear fellow Sacramentons:

Yesterday something happened. I realize that for some of you it was very confusing and frightening. 

But, I assure you there was nothing to be afraid of. 

You know that stuff that was falling from the sky? 

You will be happy to hear that it was not, in fact, shards of broken glass. 

It was merely rain! 

Rain is a watery liquid that occasionally falls from the sky. It nourishes our farmland and allows for all the things that California is known for to bloom and grow.

Rain will not hurt you. Sure, it makes the roads wet & slippery and you should drive a little slower, and leave a little more room between you and the other cars on the road. 

You don't have to hassle yourself with braking inexplicably every 15 feet, or lowering your speed limit to 11 miles per hour. But driving with your lights on is a good idea. Using your blinker when you decide to wait till the last minute to merge across 4 lanes of freeway would be smart, too. 

If, after reading this, you still think it's a good idea to drive halfway in one lane and halfway in the other while moving approximately 7 miles an hour with no lights on, please just do the rest of us a favor and stay off the dang road.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Miscellanea