Posted in The Orchard

For the last few weeks we have had Jessie staying with us.

She willingly gave up a few weeks of her life to come and look after our children while I got over the worst of the morning sickness. She has been homeschooled herself and stepped right into our little classroom with confidence and skill. I've been looking at some of the work the children have done and she has actually taught my two oldest how to print properly and neatly! I was despairing of this ever happening before Jessie came.

She was an absolute pleasure to have in the house - and I'm missing her back rubs and relaxing in front of the fire at night watching the Waltons, which on some really bad morning sickness days would be the first time I saw her, and the kids are missing having someone young and fun and with a whole lot more energy than me around, and Meredith's hairstyles have suffered since Jessie went home. And I missed her yesterday when Theodore had a really stinky nappy and I had to tie a teatowel around my head before I changed him.  

Her visit here was a real time of ministry to us, and I hope and pray that it is counted unto her (and her parents, for allowing her to come) for righteousness.

We have a tradition at our place that any visiting friend or family member who stays here gets to plant a fruit tree in our orchard. On her last day here, Jessie planted a fig tree in amongst our apples and cherries.

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit...." Matthew 7:17

Posted in The Orchard

We picked the first apples from our orchard yesterday. When we bought the tree they were already on the branch and we've watched them grow and ripen through the summer. There were five apples exactly  - one each! We cut one open and shared it around yesterday and it was delicious! No moth or worms or anything nasty like that. It was from the tree (variety Priscilla) belonging to my Canadian friend Leanne - aka ET (who lives in Australia), who was here last October for a brief visit.

Posted in The Orchard

We have planted three new trees in our orchard this week. That means we've had three different groups of friends and family staying - a good week for our orchard! At the beginning of the week we had our new friends from the USA come and stay for a couple of nights. What a privilege it was to have them stay in our home and to meet them. They planted a Dawson cherry tree for us in our orchard . (Hi Ginny if you're reading this! We waved and watched your plane fly north over the house today!!)

Then we had my husband's older brother and his wife, Hugh and Dianne come and stay for a night - it ws a lovely surprise to have them as they were passing through town, and we had a fantastic time with them. They planted a Stella Cherry right next to the 'American' cherry. (it's not really an American cherry - we just call it that now because it was planted by our  American friends). This photo shows my husband and our children with Aunty Dianne. The smaller picture is of Uncle Hugh and my youngest son, Theodore.

And today my parents who are staying with us over Easter planted a heritage apple tree called Laxton's Fortune. We now have 9 trees in our orchard and it's looking great!

I'm loving the new features that photobucket has - I've been playing around with it this evening.

Posted in The Orchard

I've had all day to think up the title for this entry, because our internet server was down.

I took this picture this morning just as the sun was coming up. It is of my orchard. I only have apples there for now, but am planning to add a few more fruit varieties in the next few weeks. I have a tradition with my orchard that I started when we built this place. Every tree is planted by family or friends who visit us. My three children have their own trees, and I have one in my grandparents memory. My sister gave me a heritage tree and a friend from Australia planted one also. So it is my orchard of friends. I have a cherry tree to be planted this weekend when our American visitors come, and my parents who are arriving for Easter next week will plant a Fig. I am wanting to get little plaques to stake in at the bottom of the tree so we don't forget whose belongs to who.

I got this idea out of one of LM Montgomery's (the Anne of Green Gables author) books, and I was charmed by the idea. I hope to spotlight each tree and its owner in the future here on my blog.