Making Applesauce With Grandma!

One of the best parts of the whole trip to MI was Grandma teaching me how to make homemade applesauce! Every morning for as long as I can remember, Grandma makes toast with peanut butter and applesauce (or rhubarb sauce) for breakfast. Grandma, Mom and I were just sitting in the kitchen and I asked how to make applesauce so I could write it down.

Grandma said it is too easy to make so we made it right then and there, while dinner was cooking in the oven. She peeled and diced two apples and one pear (we added the pear because she wanted to use it)

Cover with water, add a 1/4 cup sugar and boil til soft (approx. 10 minutes)

Strain or pour off the excess water. The excess water makes a great glass of apple juice too!

Mash the apples ......

.....and add a little cinnamon and viola, you have applesauce. You can do this to just about any type of fruit!

Here are just some pics of Mom being a little silly! She said it was the princess smile .... and wave!

I will cherish this memory of making applesauce with Grandma forever!

The Michigan Countryside

Just some random shots of the Michigan countryside on our way to Uncle Albert's. Mom and I couldn't get over how beautiful the red barns and silos looked! It seems a lot of towns have these water towers. Interesting!

Visiting The Relatives

Took a day to visit my step-father, Leo's, family. His two sisters don't drive far and it was a pleasure driving them 2 1/2 hrs to see their brother Albert at his house.

Uncle Albert & Mom

Uncle Albert and Aunt Joyce have the most spectatuclar view from their dining room of the two small lakes. He owns all of this and 400 yards into the tree line - about 78 acres!

Uncle Albert's fishing boat - he loves fishing for blue gill and bass. Even does some ice fishing in the winter!

Uncle Albert, Aunt Orietta and Aunt Simone

Uncle Albert and Aunt Joyce took us to a beautiful restuarant in a nearby town for lunch.

Aunt Orietta, Mom, Me, Aunt Simone, Uncle Albert and Aunt Joyce

Then we went back to Uncle Abert and Aunt Joyce's for desert and to look at pics that I brought to share.

More pics of their property!

One last group picture before saying good-bye!

A Day At Lou's

Spent the afternoon and evening with Lou and her family. The afternoon was quiet and we were able to sit and talk while munching on chips and salsa.

Lou

My nephew, Joey

Mom & I

My brother-in-law, Kevin, cooking for us girls!Kiss the cook!

We all teased Joey all night about his jeans hanging off - - maybe it's just a phase!

We all had a great time just being together!

Mothers and Daughters

What a perfect Mother's Day! I heard there were $99.00 airline tickets available and decided to go to Michigan to spend Mother's Day with Grandma, Mom and sister Lou. I wasn't sure when I would be able to go again and I was worried it might be the last time we get to spend Mother's Day with Grandma, who will be 91!

Grandma

Mom

We spent the day before making cold salads, jello and deserts. Lou brought a couple of cold salads and desert and Uncle Johnny barbequed the chicken and sausage. We had TONS of food!

Uncle Johnny & Aunt Kathy

Kevin, Joey and Sister Lou

Mom, Grandma and I!

Then after dinner we took the 3 generation family pic. It took some coordinating trying to get everyone to wear the same color!Mothers and Daughters!Grandma's violets - a gift from Lou. I will always remember Grandma and her good luck with violets. I always kill them!

Just wish Mark and Kevin were here with us too!