I Have a Plan - Maybe, Just Maybe

 The Ridge

On Thursday, Sept. 18th the first thing I heard was Bill in the shower at 5:40. That meant I slept through from 9:30 pm, so a good 8 hours sleep. 😉 More like my normal sleeping routine. Good!

Good morning!

I didn't have any 'off the Ridge' jobs to do today, unless M messaged before 10, but I was awake and ready to get up. I felt no aches this morning in my hip (sciatica) or in my ankles (the usual stuff before my stretching) so I'm hopeful. I did my stretches after using the facilities and felt fine.

However, after Bill left, I had to go up and do some blocking to relieve the sciatica pain. Nothing is easy, is it? All one can do is try things and push ourselves to do what we believe works for us. That was a temporary fix for me and I came down and made my tea.

After my tea, Gibbs and I 
went on an apple mission.
This is the last tree, on the southwest
corner of the berm.
Can you say LOADED?
All small, 80% not good at all.

A few minutes before 9, Gibbs and I went out to rake apples. Bill wanted to cut the berm tonight and I don't want mashed apples in the grass. Yeuch! After 5 pails of dumping over the fence, I moved to the west corner, yet another apple tree. Loaded.

I raked them into piles and
filled the pail to dump over the fence.
Thankfully, there is a large ditch between us and the field
of corn.

Halfway through raking, and still a tree full of red small apples (not crab apples but an unknown variety), I wondered about making apple cider. 🤔 So, I googled how to use Madame IP in the process and it sounded messy but easy. And I didn't have to core!

I remember 2 years ago when I couldn't
work outside without having Gibbs
on a leash. He would wander.
This is him now, keeping watch while
Mom works. I love that!

From the last 2 piles I'd raked, I sorted the decent, well, most decent, apples and brought them inside. I washed them, and began making apple cider. First time for me, so my fingers are crossed. We love apple cider and I can control the sweetness. 

On the left is the bucket I brought inside
for cider.
On the right, after one batch was made, this
is what's left.

M called just before noon and asked for a quick run into town. He is getting all kinds of assistance from a home care group, VON, Meals on Wheels and seems to be on the right track. I am in the middle of something but for a couple of stops, I'll take a break. 

I had lunch, ran him into town and returned to start on the second batch of apples. My first one produced almost 8 cups of cider and it tastes pretty fine! 😁 By the time I finished, I'd filled a gallon jug that will last us for a while.

My leg and foot were numb when we got
down the lane so I sat on the grass.
Gibbs wastes NO moments, he was
down with me to play. 💗

I read a wee bit of my book but my leg was bothering me a lot after lunch that I didn't want to sit too long. Maybe because of the standing too, who knows what aggravates it. Gibbs and I walked down the lane to check the empty mailbox. No news is good news.

The gate garden is looking pretty
dull with the primroses all bloomed out.
My Dahlia still thrives. 
Soon, they will be dug up for the winter.

Bill was home earlier still, 5:07! He's having a good week, painting the outside lower level of a house in Kincardine. Billy and Zach are on the scaffolding doing the upper level. I'm very glad to hear that my sweetie has his feet on the ground!

One chicken breast was huge so
Bill and I split it.
Gibbs got some of the smaller one
and he'll enjoy that for a few days.

We had chicken breasts for supper, with little potatoes and mixed veggies. I had planned an apple crisp but by the time I finished the cider, I'd had enough with the fruit and I ran out of time. 😆 Maybe tomorrow. We cleaned up dishes and Bill made his lunch.

This jug has to lay on its
side in the fridge since there is
no high enough shelf for it to stand.
I hope Bill likes it too.

It was a good day, in general, with a bit cooler temperatures. Should be able to leave my window open tonight..........well, maybe, the cool breeze may change that. 

Good night!

Thank you for stopping by.