After two weeks of canning, we now have a bushel of apples (that’s a lot folks) put away! Papa, Mark’s dad, orders apples in bulk every year from a place in Georgia. Let me just say that they are not that expensive and they are sweet! Last year, we got a 1/2 a bushel which was enough to see if I could do something with them. This year, we just got a full bushel since I am using more applesauce to make bread and Ceili Rain will need some for when she starts eating. So, I put away over 15 pint jars of applesauce and 18 half pint jars of apple butter (can you say Christmas gifts…if Zoe doesn’t eat them first). I know it won’t last a year, but at least I have some fresh applesauce, which, to me, is way yummier than store bought applesauce (by the way, we buy the unsweetened sauce with nothing but water and apples).

Next year, I’m hoping, won’t involve that much traveling and we will probably increase our order to more than a bushel…we’ll just have to see. I think Mark’s glad to have the apples out of the fridge!

I was laughing last night as I was canning apple butter and wondering out loud, “If someone had told me eight years ago that I would be canning applesauce to make my own bread…” I really just don’t think I would have believed it. Of course, I wasn’t going to stay home nor homeschool either…That just teaches you to never tell God, “no” when you haven’t asked Him first!