Still Plugging Along

Earlier this month, we celebrated my birthday. Some people like big parties, lots of people around-I like  to be home with my family, nothing big. My guys kind of struggled, trying to decide whether or not to even make a cake, since I have been diligent with my Weight Watchers, and losing the pounds. I made the decision easy, YES, chocolate cake! After all, Weight Watchers emphasizes eat what you want, just be aware, and account for it! My youngest baked the cake, and added a little creativity. Normally I would insert photo here, but I guess the pictures are on somebody's iphone, and I don't have it. It was cute though, trust me.

And my guys spoiled me with gifts. One son bought me a new purse, another one got me a barn star that I've been begging for-it looks perfect on my front porch. Hubby's gift I picked out for myself!

A friend of ours posted on facebook that she had some antique water pumps she was selling, from her grandparents house. I've been looking for one for the flower bed, so the timing was perfect.  She had two of the pumps, and a cast iron trough.

We bought all three pieces, and the argument began! Hubby wanted to strip the paint, repair any damage and repaint everything. I said that would take away the antique appeal.  In the end I just gave up and told him do whatever he wanted-easy to see what he chose.

I don't know if the value of the items is better or worse now, but after several layers of paint were removed, we could easily read the name Myers, and patent dates on one of the pumps. I think the antique look of the paint hubby chose was perfect, and the pumps look a lot better now.

They aren't in their final destination at the moment, but once the flowerbed is under control, these pumps will look great with my wagon (which is currently hidden behind the butterfly bush)  If I can get my apples finished, maybe I'll get to that flowerbed this week.

Remember the bushels of apples from last week? After peeling and freezing all of them, we started in Saturday morning and picked all the apples from one tree, and then the pears. Along with the frozen sliced apples, I now have 10 pints of homemade apple butter, 20 quarts of applesauce and 4 bushels of apples waiting-I'm not even thinking about picking any apples from the second tree! If we have nothing else to eat this winter, we have plenty of fruit!  On that note, back to the kitchen I go.....