Applesauce

My friend Joelle has had a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes, so Anna and I walked to her house to pick some of her shared bounty!  It was then that we found out that one of her apple trees were so full of fruit that one limb broke.  So we went and picked mini-apples and made applesauce with the help of our new (to us) Pampered Chef Apple Peeler Corer Slicer

It was like magic and so satisfactory

We used the Instant Pot and the apple sauce is so great that I have been using it like jelly on my toast!

 

8/15/21

 My sweet Aunt Rita died earlier in the week.  So on Sunday of our crafting weekend, Mary went to pick-up my Dad in Burlington.  Leslie and I crafted for awhile longer, then I left for Dubuque to meet Mary and Dad for the funeral (to be held on Monday).

We met at my Aunt Bernice's house.  This is my Dad's oldest living sister.  I think she is 96 and still lives alone and bakes tons of cakes and cookies.  (see cookies on the table that she sent home with Dad)  She also is mostly blind and her house is immaculate.  Wow!  

Later that night we stopped by to see my Uncle Russ and Aunt Joan.  I don't have to say that Russ is Dad's brother....pretty obvious.  Russ is 93 and recently had lung surgery and is doing great.  I still remember the time I went to their house and their kids took me ice skating for the first time in my life!

Here is the dinner after my Aunt Rita's funeral.  (Rita was my mother's brother's wife.  She gave me my first permanent.  We normally stayed at their house when we went back to Dubuque to visit my Grandmother, once she was living in the nursing home.)  Here are some of our favorite cousins:  Jerry (Rita's daughter) and Jerry (her husband).

(Dad....I will print you copies of these photos)

First Post vaccine visitors! 8/14/21 - 8/15/21

I haven't seen my sister since Thanksgiving weekend 2019.....until today!

She and Leslie came for a crafter's weekend.

Mary and the girls designed t-shirts to be printed using Mary's Cricut when she went home.

Ann received her shirt the next week!  So cute.

Leslie and I mostly sewed, making this wonderfully large carry-all bag.  We also made another Christmas stocking and a cute froggie pillow for Joey (using a former favorite shirt).

 

First Day of School 8/23/2021

Anna's Freshman Year

The sophomores started school before juniors and seniors this year so they could get acclimated to the high school....so Joel slept in on the first day of school.  I told him to take a selfie, but when I just asked he said, "uh, that didn't happen".....so here is Joel, first day of school.  Senior Year

 

Happy Birthday Carolyn

Carolyn turned 20 yesterday!

She and Matthew celebrated with "Taste of Iowa City" and a Molly's cupcake.  I guess the "Taste" program allows you to buy tickets that you then use to purchase food at local restaurants.  They really had fun as they enjoy trying new and different foods.  Here they are at Matthew's apartment (with his bike in the background!!)

 

Inspired by a Para-Olympian

 

This 56 year old is in Tokyo completing in Archery.

I have now read 3 articles about her and she is such an inspiration. 

Her name is Lia Coryell and despite having a terrible childhood and being diagnosed with progressive Multiple Sclerosis in her mid 20s she has done such amazing things and inspired so many people along the way.

The top picture shows Lia with a little girl who was taught to do archery using her mouth due to an arm injury.  The bottom picture shows her with an archery team she helped coach. (I think from UW Lacrosse)

8/20/21 and 8/21/21 The Iowa City contingent returns to UI

 

Matthew returned to school on Friday.  No picture because I was gone to work when he left!  Ken took Carolyn to her new dormitory on Saturday morning.  He also brought Matthew his bike and retrieved Carolyn's "big stuff" from Matthew's apartment.

Then they all went out to lunch and grocery shopping!  I was sad all day.  Carolyn looks pretty happy here, but I think she was a little sad too.  Ankeny will be so quiet now!  (with much less laundry...eventually)