Why do back-to-school photos always sport bad haircuts where my son is concerned? Nonetheless, I think he's pretty cute. He appeared very confident and happy on this, his first day of Kindergarten. I suppose at this juncture I am supposed to comment on how my baby has grown, and how quickly the time flew by, but really, this summer was LOOOOONNNG and hot and busy and crazy and, yes, we still haven't unpacked all the boxes since moving and so, when I stop to think about it, I think, yup, we're right where we're supposed to be.
Kindergarten.
"Real" school.
He's ready - I'm ready - and we are all hoping that the school year will be filled with wonderfulness.
Now to get the girls ready to start Pre-K next week......

Our trip to Canada was wonderful. We got to see Grene and Grandstan, we got to see Niagara Falls (because we were driving right by it on our way north, and what the heck, watching water fall over a cliff with 30 000 other people is always fun. Caden's hat flew right off his head and into the mists, so we even have a memorable incident!). We got to see Uncle Rob and Aunt Frannie (and stay in their luxurious home - it was awesome) and African Lion Safari (where we were attacked by an Angry Ostrich) and the Donkey Sanctuary (where we groomed donkeys and learned that they make A Lot of Noise). Also, buttertarts, Aero bars and maple cream cookies were highlighted.
Whew.
'Twas a busy week!

Pictures of Canada.

We had friends come to visit for four days this week - all the way from NC!- and we kept very busy. We spent a day at Stribling Orchard, and managed to pick lots of peaches and lots and lots of apples (4 pecks!!!). The orchard itself is beautiful, on high rolling hills with a glorious view, and the apple trees were filled with fruit, which made picking easier for the shorter amongst us.

For lunch, we went to the Apple House in Linden, which not only serves FANTASTIC bbq, but also fries up the yummiest apple butter donut, rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Almost as good as the ones I used to buy at the Guelph Farmer's market, back in the day. Michelle and I agreed that, left alone with a dozen of those bad boys, they'd be ALL GONE in under 15 minutes. I would've taken a photo of them to share with you all, but there don't seem to be any left in the house. Num num num.


Caden demonstrates the handling of the "picking pole" on a peach tree.



Piper hangs out.



Quinn recommends an apple.



Group portrait.

We've been busy bees here.
We've been attending an outdoor Arts and Crafts camp, which occurs every morning for three hours, in the absolutely craziest heat that this area has EVER had. This makes for some tired and cranky campers when I come to pick them up at noon. We are also preparing for the start of school - Big C. actually starts at the end of August! - and then there's all the fun things to do around here, which include this weird shot of us watching Dada mow the back yard with the brush hog. I think this was the "Day of the Thousand Angry Wasps". Dada seems to have a penchant for stirring up the wildlife when he mows.



We also picked three enormous pecks of peaches at a local orchard. And then we froze peaches, and canned some peaches, and made "Peach and Rum and Brown Sugar Jam", and peach crumble and sliced peaches with blueberries for dessert. The urchins love the picking and the preparing, and they seem to do a pretty good job at consuming, too.
For our next kitchen project, I'm hoping to find pears and apples to make sauces and crumbles to put up in the freezer. And by then it will be time to - brace yourselves - put chickens to rest in the freezer. Not sure if that will make a blog post or not.....