Lemon Cucumbers and Crabapple Jelly

So I know Pitkin, Part II is way over due but I was so excited about our summer harvest, I don't care. We have been busy collecting lots and lots of zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes and our favorite, the lemon cuc. Unlike its counterpart, the lemon cucumber is not bitter or seedy at all. It is just the right amount of firmness and all over cucumber taste. I highly recommend them. Now on to canning. I can sum it up in one word, PHEW! I'm tired but feel very accomplished. I canned, with the help of Helen, 22 jars of jelly today. My hands are tired but I feel good!

One of our lemon cucumbers

The crabapples

It takes a lot of chopping to get the fruit from these little guys.

A picture by some of the finished product.

Elijah was there the whole time, which is why his nickname is "The big helper".

Get Inside His Head

My boy, Elijah, is a smart kid. He is pretty sure he knows how the world works.

Saturday at Costco he tells me, "You should go and buy more money mom." Wouldn't that just solve everything?

Chloe's World

We made homemade ice cream in ziploc baggies last night. It was extremely easy and fun, except for the part where the bags had to be shaken for 5 to 8 minutes. The kids had Tired Arm Syndrome pretty early on and I was also feeling a litte tired after 5 minutes of shaking. When we were done, the kids dove right into eating the yummy treat. Looking a little closer at Chloe, I realized she was wearing no pants. I said, "Chloe, you have no pants on!" She looked down, grinned, and responded: "just pretend like I have on pants mom." Will do daughter.

Pitkin, Part 1

"Pitkin isn't on a map, but neither is heaven" - from a bumper sticker in Pitkin, CO

Golden's Farmers Market

The City of Golden has a farmer's market in the summer every Saturday. We went the last weekend of June and had an awesome time. The market itself isn't anything too fabulous, especially if you've been to Boulder's market - which happens every Saturday as well. The great thing about Golden is they provide free horse drawn carriage rides and the driver is an old friend of mine, Nina. Nina used to board her draft horses at my Grandma's property in Golden for many years until my Grandma sold her land. It was so fun to see her and take a ride.

The kiddos really loved the ride through an older neighborhood in Golden.

Nina and her Carriage

She has two carriages running on Saturdays. The line can be pretty long at times but definitely worth the wait.

All smiles!

Except for one......

Two out of three ain't bad!

Two peas in a pod

Micah's First Pony Ride

Not quite what I expected...

Chloe's prayer wall

Her Sunday School class prays for different missionaries throughout the year and today Chloe came home with a picture of Bobbie Stratman. When I told her that I knew Bobbie, shock registered on her face. My brother, Ryan, lived with that family for a few years and we consider Bobbie a good friend. Chloe prayed tonight for safety for Bobbie while she delivers Bibles.

Eating dinner on a summer evening in our own backyard.

Estes Park - 2011