Playhouse Shutters
There wasn't enough linoleum to do the floor of the playhouse...but I got an idea while I had it out measuring it: I cut out a square, and two rectangles, then painted on the back sides of them, and then stapled it to the playhouse. And now we have a faux window and shutters. 
A friend told me I need to make a faux flower box to go with it, so I will get to that soon.
You can see how much fun Bonnie is having in the playhouse. There is a table and chairs inside and the kids have been having picnics out there.
Yesterday, the kids helped me pick this small container of apples and pears- I LOVE the deep pink color in some of those apples:
Then, yesterday evening- all the good apples are too high to reach a ladder, so with Caleb and Bonnie's help, I stood on the ladder and picked away! They helped me out by taking the apples from me and then putting them in the bucket. This bucket is a 10 gallon one that is filled 3/4 of the way:
And yet there are still SO many more apples to pick. I asked James what I should do with them all (after all, we've got enough jam to feed an army)...he said to just chop them up and put them in the freezer...so I guess that's what I'll do!
A friend told me I need to make a faux flower box to go with it, so I will get to that soon.
You can see how much fun Bonnie is having in the playhouse.
There is a table and chairs inside and the kids have been having picnics out there. Yesterday, the kids helped me pick this small container of apples and pears- I LOVE the deep pink color in some of those apples:
Then, yesterday evening- all the good apples are too high to reach a ladder, so with Caleb and Bonnie's help, I stood on the ladder and picked away! They helped me out by taking the apples from me and then putting them in the bucket. This bucket is a 10 gallon one that is filled 3/4 of the way:
And yet there are still SO many more apples to pick. I asked James what I should do with them all (after all, we've got enough jam to feed an army)...he said to just chop them up and put them in the freezer...so I guess that's what I'll do!
You can make applesauce and apple butter. We freeze our applesauce, rather than can it. You can freeze it in quart sized bags that will stack well and take up less space in yoru freezer. Enjoy the apples!
Malia Russell
www.homemaking911.com
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Thank you, Malia!!
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An elder from church offered me apples from his orchard. So, I took 3 large laundry baskets and my 2 teenage sons to pick. Once picked, the baskets were so full that they each weighed in excess of 50 pounds. In other words, I had at least 150 pounds of apples to do something with........ Here's what the Wolf Pack did: Quarts and quarts of applesauce (very easy) and with NO sugar!, Apple Peel Jelly, Apple Pie/Cobbler filling (to can and freeze) & dehydrated apple slices (we have none of these to save, though, because every time the dehydrator gets done, my 6 kiddos swoop in and eat all 4 trays worth) ;0) Oh, well. Cheap & healthy snack foods. I still have about 30 pounds to deal with. My 16-yr-old juiced some yesterday on our Jack LaLanne Juicer, because the 2-yr-old kept asking for apple juice, and we are out of the store bought stuff. Happy Canning! - Tera and the Wolf Pack
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Wow! You have really been busy, Tera!!
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Bethany,
I just read this on a blog...freezing homemade apple pies!! Yum! Thought you may be interested...
http://grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com/2008/08/move-over-marie-callender.html
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Thank you, Alicia!
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Your playhouse looks like so much fun! Is it furnished inside?
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Janet, I haven't taken the time to do much yet...just put a table and chairs in it...but I plan to eventually paint it and make it look better!
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The shutters are really cute. I'll download the larger version of the photo of Bonnie and Anya hopefully soon for you. Our main computer is having issues right now, so we only have the laptop to use currently.
I think the apple sauce would be a great idea!
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Sorry to hear about your computer issues! No rush on the picture...I can always get it later!
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The playhouse turned out so cute! I love the idea of adding a flower box. Your kids will love this playhouse forever.
That is an amazing amount of apples! Do you live on a road that you could put a small stand on? I'm sure lots of people would stop and take some of those off your hands LOL
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That's a good idea...or I could give them out at church or something. I might need to do that, so that I don't waste any of them!
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Awweee.. how cool! It looks so nice!!! Good job! It's offical... Bethany is SUPER MOM!!
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JM, Awww, you are too sweet to say that.
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I love the whole playhouse idea!!! ANd I love that the walls are letting air through!!! Most houses that are on the market are closed and I don't like the idea of that in our lone-star state. It gets so hot over here!
Well, you are an inspiration, as always, and maybe one day, I will get there... (I was thinking to be able to build my own bookshelf!)
God bless you.
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