“A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.”
~ Leo Tolstoy, Family Happiness
Doesnt that sound like a near-perfect way to spend one’s life?
It’s Labour Day, the unofficial end of summer. For many years, early in my career, I took vacation in September. Sometime’s we’d take a trip but I always made sure I planed at least a week at home. I cherished those days at home and imagined a day when I would have an endless supply of them. Later, September became one of my busiest months at work and not a good time to be away from the office; the month usually passed by in a blur.
Now, September seems like a slowing down time. The majority of the canning is finished, the garden is winding down, and the weather is still nice enough to enjoy outdoor time.
Today I’ll tend to those jalapeños I didn’t get to yesterday and maybe make an apple pie. Or maybe not. Maybe I’ll just take more photos with them. ?

Mmmmm…you are making me hungry with all this food ?
Ha ha, Karen!!
Put jalapenos in the apple pie! That should shake things up. I see these apples and I think, “Crisp and tart.” Is that how they are?
Not sure about the jalapeños, Karen! The apples are McIntosh–the national apple of Canada!–and grey are indeed tart and crisp and delucious!