Sunday, October 16, 2011

Making apple cider





Dad had the last batch of apple cider to make so we all met on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to crank up the last of his apples.
Step 1 pick the apples.  (Ronnie always wanted to be 6'6" so today with Braden's help he was.)









All the apples picked up and getting washed.


More tree climbing!!!!

Dad getting the jugs ready.
Grinding away. 





More grinding.

More tree climbing.




The sweet apple cider.  Didn't get much off this last batch of the season but it sure was sweet.

The boys always like to show how strong they are by "punching out the pulp".





More Tree Climbing.




Even got rid of one of those pesky coyote's.


And more tree climbing.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Visit to the U of I Vet School Open House

Well Sunday was such a beautiful day.  Crisp fall day and a wonderful day for a outing with the family.  We had planned to take the kids and grandkids to buy some pumpkins at a farm up by Sidney. Joe and I met the Charlie and Roger Negangard through work.  They are the owners of the pumpkin patch in Sidney.  Sarah was talking with her sister earlier in the week and found out that the University of Illinois Veterinary School was having an open house. So we decided to do both.  It was loads of fun and the kids had such a great time.  Saw all sorts of animals and they got to touch most every thing they wanted and pick out BIG pumpkins too.

Braden kept asking what each of these skulls were.  Mostly birds but there was a coyote too.
Yes this bird was alive.  Didn't move just blinked every now and then.  Closest I've been to an owl before.
They were telling us that this parrot was a rescue bird.  Said it had been kept in a cage with 10 cats.  It had plucked out most of it's feathers. 
They got to hold most of the birds.  That was really fun for them.
This one climbed up on their shoulder and would sit there.
I really don't see what their fascination with the lizards and snakes.
YUCK.  This one is quite a bit larger than the one Joe brought in the house for me this morning.  He thought it was pretty funny.  Me, not so much.
After we left here we drove over to Sidney to pick out some pumpkins.  Great place.  Charlie even showed them the pheasants he was raising.

This was a really great day.  Lots of fun, lots of laughs and I got hugs at the end of the day.