A Second Wedding, a Rooster, and Apple Time

 As I have mention before, this has been a busy season for us. 

About three weeks after our son's wedding we found ourselves on a plane headed for Wisconsin to attend my youngest niece's wedding in Green Bay.  My youngest brother passed away eight years ago and between our accident and then the Covid shut downs, we had not be able to get back there since then.  It was such a joy to be able to celebrate with his family and know that if it is possible, he was smiling down on his baby girl from Heaven that day. She was a beautiful bride with a handsome groom, No swords present!

 Wisconsin is such a lovely state.  It was so nice relaxing with family on their back porches soaking in the sunshine and green spaces.  I felt like I had stepped back in time. Our four days passed by all too soon and then it was time to head for home with all of us wishing we were staying longer. Needless to say, discussions for a future family reunion are percolating.

 Another summer activity that took place between weddings was our local Lake festival.  Boat parades, carnival food and fireworks were the order of the day.  This year the town's legendary Rooster was on display.  Now many of you have seen roosters like this before, I am sure.  This guy however, has been a local landmark from way before our time living here. 

Beginning back in the 1960's he sat atop of the local Chicken Drive- in restaurant,a favorite place for the local teens to visit after school.  One year for a senior prank, a group of high school students removed him from the roof in the middle of the night and hid him for a few days before parading him around the Senior end of the year events.  Thus, (with the permission of the owner) history was made. From that time forward, every senior class would "steal" the rooster and display him in some way at the annual homecoming game and end of the year events. The tradition lasted many years until the chicken restaurant was finally closed down to make way for a new shopping area. From time to time, he still makes a public appearance. The Rooster will always be regarded with great affection by the locals who grew up here in the community. 

 

 

End of summer has also brought an early harvest of apples from our Gravenstein tree.  Nature waits for no man and apples have been coming whether we were ready or not.  It was a bumper crop this year. When we returned from Wisconsin we found that one of our daughter in laws had come over with our granddaughters to pick a laundry basket full of apples for applesauce.  Even so, there were hundreds of apples on the ground!There was a major heatwave while we were gone and they all ripened at the same time in just a matter of days.

We picked two more laundry baskets full of apples for my DIL and two large wicker baskets full for my mother to make applesauce as well.  I kept one small basket for myself.

Naturally, I had to bake some apple muffins! I tried a new recipe which I found Here.  Delicious!

 

  What better way to start a quiet morning than with a nice cup of coffee, fresh baked muffins and an interesting book.

In a month, there will be more apples from our second tree which will be made into apple pies, apple crumble and of course, more muffins! Yum!

The pears are almost ready to harvest as well.

However, we will be leaving those to the kids and grandkids this year as we are turning our thoughts towards Georgia and the upcoming birth of our newest grandchild who is due any time now.  We will be flying out tomorrow and staying for as long as we are needed. When we return, in a few weeks, summer will be waning, and it will be time to start looking forward to the colors of Autumn.  May the Lord bless and keep you until we visit together again upon our return.

Adieu!