A Bounteous Harvest

This year's harvest time has brought so many blessings that, try as we might, we just can't receive them all. Our peach harvest has been abundant. We've canned and canned and eaten and eaten. Nate's personal goal is to eat six peaches a day. You can probably guess the consequences, but he soldiers on.
We never could've anticipated, when we planted our two little trees back in the day, the satisfaction that they've brought us. They're Elbertas and are the most delicious peaches Nate or I have ever had. Considering that I'm from the peach state, that's saying something. You can't eat one without leaning over a sink or the grass unless you want to get totally coated in peach juice. As it is, it usually ends up dripping off our elbows. It's wonderful that we've reached the point where the yield from the trees is enough for us and to share with others. It gives me a sense of security to know that every year we'll have healthy, delicious food growing on the trees outside our home. One of these days, if we ever move, we'll be planting more peach trees before we even set the beds up inside the house.
 We spent part of an afternoon last week picking buckets of peaches with the kids. This is an activity that I highly recommend if you want to experience a great sense of well-being. It was so enjoyable for everyone. We all took our turns running over to the hose to rinse off the biggest, yummiest-looking ones to eat right then and there. Our family has grown right along with our trees. When we planted them I was pregnant with Bryn. Oh, how our lives have changed since then!

Asa was content to hang out in the girly stroller and watch.

Leah likes peaches.

Loaded down with fruit.

Moving on from the peaches, our garden has produced quite well this year, considering it's a baby year. We even have pumpkins! We have a giant patch of volunteer sunflowers that's grown right between the garden and the chicken coop. They are beautiful! This picture is definitely worth zooming in on. The sunflowers are one of my favorite signs of fall where we live.

 Addison absolutely loves to harvest and work in the garden. Here he is digging up carrots. I've been very proud of his bravery when it comes to picking corn. Although earwigs abound, he's learned to run in, snap the corn off and make it quick, and toss the corn out on the grass.

Addison with Big Bertha, our prize tomato. It grew on the tomato plant that Addison dubbed his own personal Better Boy. It was his favorite from the time of planting and he's very proud of all the fruit that comes off it. He and Bryn don't like tomatoes, but they've been great to eat them anyway this year, although Addison drowns them in ranch, which probably defeats the purpose.

We even canned some tomato sauce last week, which is nothing short of a miracle given our current life situation with the nursing and potty training, etc. The kids were all really excited to help. I think it's the general favorite to can. It's amazing how helpful they've become at it. Addison and Bryn especially. Bryn washed bowl after bowl of tomatoes, and Addison was quite efficient as the squisher and crank-turner. Leah had a great time chipping in here and there, too. Addison and Bryn remember doing it in past years, which is fun. I love traditions.