Apple Picking and Mountains

It's September!  It's technically fall but it's been 90 degrees and humid the last few weeks. I have not really wanted to be outside, so we have spent most of our week running errands, grocery shopping (my least favorite chore), and unpacking.  I think we are turning a corner on the unpacking and have even reached the hanging picture phase (which is saying something). 

Last weekend, some friends invited us out to an apple orchard.  In the midst of all of this craziness, we thought, let's go pick apples.  We, of course, forgot that you actually have to do something with those 20 pounds of apple we just purchased, so I ended up canning applesauce and pie filling.  Having never canned before, it's been a wild week.  There was a beautiful apple pie and the end of it, so I guess I can't complain.

Our friends.

We picked at this beautiful farm down by Front Royal.  It never ceases to amaze me that you can drive an hour out of town and be at farms and rolling hills.  I get caught up in the mass of suburbia and humanity where I spend much of my life.  Millions of people to farms in just a short ride.  It seemed the perfect spot to stop and take some pictures too.  How have I lived for 30 years and not gone to pick apples? 

Sometimes I miss the mountains.  There is something so grounding about the mountains, I always know where I am.  We have traded mountains for trees again, but being in a place with the rolling mountains (hills, really), it makes me not miss home quite so much.  There will always be a part of me that gravitates to the country, to the fields of alfalfa, the wooden fences and barns.  I wonder about the experiences that have led us here to Virginia and away from my roots and mountains.  I think it's going to take some time to see what the reasons were.  I know the initial reason of a job, but I am interested to see what will come as we build our life here.  There is some definite growing happening. 

Life Lately in June

It's our last month in Logan and we've been taking full advantage of all the fun things to do.  

I had been waiting for ages to go to the Logan Gardeners Market.  I have so many good memories from our grad school days of us going to the market.  On most Saturdays, you'll find us there buying up some salsa and a fresh lemonade.  We've had company for some of the weeks, my folks and Heb's too.  If you make it down there, be sure to try the Crumb Brother's booth.

This guy loves riding his bike around.

 

We've been down to Grantsville to visit with my extended family.  I love to visit with my cousins, aunts and uncles and grandma.  There is so much love there.

We have been taking trips up the canyon to have fires.  This is one of the things I missed most while living in Virginia.  Our latest fire was with the Hendrick's, friends from our pre-kids days.  We got together soon after we moved back in November and it was like we had never left.  And the best part is that we like their little boy and Leo does too. 

 Every chance we get we are up in the mountains and on a trail.  Even for a short walk, we love being in these mountains.

 

We've made some major decisions lately and I feel so much less stressed.  Even though those plans include a big move in the very near future, I feel very calm about the whole situation.  I think knowing what we are doing and not living in limbo anymore makes me feel so much better about the world.  And, of course, it's at this moment that our life really settles in her and I feel like I have friends and a routine, just in time to change it all!

And we have these darling little ones.  We just love them.  Even in all the craziness.

Leo had a very fussy week last week.  This is his "it's mine!" face.  We discovered 2 molars on Saturday and it all made sense!

So that's the latest.  So much good happening.  Ah Logan, you really make it hard to leave with your great summers!