It’s strange to be blogging early on a Sunday morning, but Rich left at 6:15 for a flight to Chicago. It doesn’t seem like a normal Sunday anymore. He will only be gone until tomorrow night, but when he told me last week about this business trip, I got mad at him. I was so angry inside, mostly for selfish reasons…..”I” have to go to church with the children by myself now, “I” have to take the boys to music lessons by myself now, “I”, “I”, “I”, etc. . . . .I was bitter inside.
But now, I’m sitting here with tears of gratitude in my eyes because the Lord gave us such a beautiful day yesterday. He used an early morning walk, our children, a beautiful sunny day, bright sky, and apples, to tenderly knit our hearts together again. Our relationship was renewed, and Rich and I both felt so one, united, and close as we said our good-byes just an hour ago. All is peaceful again.
Rich has to work a lot. Sometimes on a Saturday his blackberry will keep going off and he’ll have to check it over and over. He was gone an average of 12 1/2 hours a day last week. But yesterday, his work seemed far away and all we did was concentrate on each other and the children. It was a much needed blessing.
At about 9:30 in the morning, after a stop at Dunkin Donuts for a breakfast sandwich, we drove the back roads to the Sturbridge area. We like to go on drives, the children are such good travelers that Rich and I can talk and enjoy the scenery as we go.
Jacob did get carsick though, poor boy. But soon we arrived at the apple farm and the fun could really begin! We took the children last year, too, and I’m sure it will be a yearly tradition now.
David, more than any of the others, has been wanting to go apple picking since spring!
We took home a total of 1 bushel of apples and I didn’t pick one! I let the children have the pleasure, I enjoyed watching and taking the pictures. . . . . .it didn’t take long for them to fill our bags.
My husband, not surprised to find me under an apple tree.
Ethan loves to shine his apples. It was chilly outside, thankfully moving around kept us from getting too cold.
Rich took this one, of me and the children.
Davy has to run to keep up with his Dad. I love how his arm is swinging way back in this photo, you can just tell he’s determined to keep up.
We also bought a dozen fresh, hot, cider donuts and passed them around in the van on the way home.
Caleb is wondering whatever are we going to do with all these apples?
(with his mouth STUFFED with donut)
Thankfully, the children were all too willing to get their mama to bring on the pies!
I was so tired, I needed their motivation.
We made three apple pies and a 9 by 13 pan of apple crisp and barely made a dent in our supply.
Schoolhouse Apple Crisp
from my Aunt Mary Ellen’s recipe collection
1/2 cup water in the bottom of a 9 by 13 pan
Layer the apples in the pan as thick as you like.
Combine 2 cups brown sugar, 1 1/2 cup flour,
and 1/2 cup cold butter in a separate bowl to make a crumb topping.
Sprinkle topping onto the apples, and. . . .
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, until apples are tender and topping is golden.
My Grandma’s French Crust Apple Pie
1 nine inch pie crust (homemade is best, but I bought mine yesterday)
Filling: 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon, dash salt, 6 cups sliced apples
Topping: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup cold butter (combine with pastry blender until crumbly.)
Mix apples and filling together and place in pastry lined pie plate. Sprinkle on the topping and bake for 50 minutes in a 425 oven, cover with foil the last 10 minutes to avoid over-browning.
Good to be Home 
I’d really like to taste a cider donut ~
What a *HAPPY* post!! I love it. 🙂 I grew up in Northern California and we would go to “Apple Hill” every fall and make apple cider, buy caramel apples and pick apples. For weeks afterwards we’d have fried apple pies, apple cobblers, apple butter, apple jelly…….all the wonderful things that make you think autumn.
Mmm…apple cider donuts…There is an apple orchard back home (in IL) that makes the most delicious cider donuts. We are going up for a family baby shower in a few weeks, and I am determined to stop and get some. Thanks for sharing pictures of your lovely Saturday with your family 🙂
I understand all too well the frustration of a husband who has to work a lot. 🙂 It has been difficult at times when he has to leave us and go take care of someone in the hospital. I try to put myself in that patient’s shoes, but it is hard sometimes. Overall, I’m thankful that God has provided a good job for Dave and that Dave gets to do something very fulfilling. I also know that this is His plan for our family, and that it does give me the opportunity to rely on Him for what I need instead of Dave. Our ministry to the sick is a family-effort; Dave has to deny himself with us at times, and we have to deny ourselves with him for the sake of others and the name of Jesus. Wow, writing this out has been very eye-opening! I’m teaching myself things as I type! Remind me of these things if I get gripy on my blog about Dave being gone. 🙂
What a great day! I loved all the pictures. The weather looks like it was great, time spent with family, making pies together, before you know it your little baby boy will be joining the fun! Imagine! I hope your having a great Sunday! Love, Lish
Yum!!! We have two trees, and they are bending over with apples! I can hardly pick enough! I have been making applesause (it is SO easy!) for weeks now, along with bread and cakes and pies! I can’t wait to try the apple crisp; thanks for sharing it.
I love all of the pics, especially the one of your husband peeking under tree and the one of you and all the kids. What a lovely fall day
Lovely. Those cider donuts sound great. It’s hard to believe your weather is so much cooler than ours but we have wind to push the warm air around.
I hope your Sunday is as beautiful as your Saturday. Cider donuts sound lovely. I love the picture of you and your children (you straightened your hair again, huh?) and also the kissy pictures with your husband. It’s just sweet.
I just have to say, the picture where you are Rich are on the wagon and you are smiling and he is looking at you is the most precious picture… I don’t know if it was planned or if it just happened that way… but the look of love in his eyes is so beautiful!!! That is truly the sweetest picture. Praying you have a most beautiful day today and tomorrow and the kids are absolute angels for you!!! ****Hugs**** ❤ Jami
What a wonderful day! I love all the pictures! I especially love your RED shoes! I like to put some oatmeal and some sunflower seeds in my apple crisp for some extra CRUNCH!
Such sweet pictures…especially the ones of you and Rich. Cider donuts…I’ll have to search for a recipe!
I just love coming here to this corner of cyberspace. So much peace and love. Such an inspiration.
Looks like so much fun!
I will be using your recipes this week! They sound so delicious!
I hope the next 2 days go quickly for you:) What a wonderful day that sounds like!! Such beautiful pictures you took. Your recipes sound so good!
Apples, apples, apples! I love them! No apple orchards in AK (that I know of), but I can get some at the store. Not the same, but we go through apples about as fast as I can bring them home. Your post is beautiful! I enjoyed seeing you and your kiddos in sweaters- so fitting for the season. I’ve never had a cider donut, but they sound fabulous!! My hubby is leaving this afternoon for training in Anchorage. He will be gone all week. I am thankful for his job, but I sure miss him when he’s gone! Hope you are having a good Lord’s Day.
What FUN! I made an apple crisp yesterday too, similar to yours, it was Paula Deen’s recipe. Really YUMMY. I sometimes let DH’s work schedule bother me too, you aren’t alone. I have come to realize that he doesn’t like it any more than I do (that he has to work so much), however, it’s his job and we are extremely blessed and thankful. When both of our work schedules are crazy is when it bothers me more….luckily, mine is much more stress free at the moment!! (HUGS) and prayers for travel mercies for Rich. Suz
I’ve been blueberry picking and pear picking, but never had the opportunity to pick apples! I hope to do that sometime now that we are living in an area that grows them! What a NEAT family outing.Shanda, you are just glowing and so pretty in these pictures. I especially love the one of you surrounded by your little (well, growing!) brood, and also the one of Rich looking at you. Rich looks so youthful in that picture and love-stricken (which I’m sure he always is! ) So precious. And YOU look like you could pass for a good 10 years younger than 32. Take care and I hope things go well while Rich is gone. That has got to be hard. I read geidlbots’ comment, and actually when I read this post my thoughts immediately went to the wives of physicians I have known; I remember one of them saying she often felt like a “single mom.” Rich’s job sounds very demanding too, and you handle it extremely well and gracefully most of the time. I hope that in time, things will improve and he will feel more freed up at least on the weekends. But in the meantime, prayers for strength and grace for both of you! Love,Angie
What a wonderful time you had. the pic of you and the kids under the tree is so beautiful!
What a great day! I love all the pictures. I hope the next day goes quickly. I’m glad it was a quick trip.
We haven’t gone apple picking yet, but I definitely want to. I LOVE apple crisp, it’s nice to see someone using the kind of recipe that WE love, without oats. YAY! 🙂 I’m glad you guys had a nice time. Hope the time goes by quickly for Rich getting back home.
Apple picking is one of my favorite things to do in the fall — in Apple Hill above Sacramento, or Cherry Valley above Redlands, it’s one of the places that I really feel fall in the air! I’m so glad you had such a nice day before Rich’s trip — and this time he’ll only be gone a couple of days.
looks delightful~ and day as a family is always a blessings – 🙂 we have peach orchards our way down here — and strawberry season to go pick — I’m not sure of apples, though I could be wrong – it does seem that would be a fun thing to do – eat ! along the way! I love the pictures – thanks for posting – my mom baked apple pie last night with my daughter – she was delighted and then mom let her set the table all up w/ fall decor – and they had a marvelous girl time. I will have to pass on this recipe to her as well as give it a try myself.blessings on your new week ~lys
Makes me excited for apple picking next week!~
Oh man, I gotta go get me some apples and get Bri to make that recipe for apple crisp!What a deliciously, crisp fall outing!
What a lovely family outing for a lovely family!
Delicious recipes!
My oldest is prone to car sickness and any trip longer than 45 minutes makes me nervous!
YUMMY, thanks for sharing those delicious recipes with us, I think I will try the crisp today.
Sweet happiness. You are so good about being transparent Shanda! Praying you are strengtened today until your hubby gets home. I have tried to explain before how much mom’s need their husband’s during the season when they have small ones. Yet, unavoidable that Dad’s have work demands….I know the good Lord sustains us during that time. So glad you all had the time of refreshment and joy.
I love the pic of Rich looking at you….he looks so happy, and like one of his boys. The two little apple pickers in their marching sweaters is so cute too. Well, really all of them are. Thank you so much for sharing…we like to go on your outings too . Jenny
I have never tried an apple crisp recipe without oats – I may have to do that tonight! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Steve and I have been going to the local orchard since we were dating, it is always such a good start to the fall! Your new (is it new) sweater is super cool, I look awful in orange but you look so pretty in it, and the red boots, very cool Shanda Banda! I think it is a nice tough how you add the recipes to the blogs!
That looks like fun. Apple picking that is. :)In His Love,Jaime
@mymeanderings – The sweater is new from GAP maternity, I HAD to have it when I saw it! LOL My boots I’ve had for a couple years, from Land’s End clearance–also bought because of the COLOR. xoxo