Fruit of Her Labor

This post is in honor of my dear mother. This is about the fruits of her labor. Ever since I can remember my mom has tirelessly labored for us, her family. I remember when I was growing up I didn't really understand why she always had an agenda and it always revolved around some kind of work. I dreaded it many times when I was in the garden hoeing or weeding or picking. Then later when it was time to can or freeze I hated it, well hate is a strong word and probably inaccurate, because it was a hate/love relationship. You see the end product was just so yummy, I mean just look at the pictures.

As an adult, I now understand the tireless hours of laboring for your family, I too have enjoyed the fruits of my own labor, as has my husband and children. I know that my son's don't fully understand the kind of love that drives us mom's to labor, the driving force that leads to the tired to the bone, aching back, sacrifices that we make. And not that they are felt as sacrifices, I mean no one makes us do the things we do, we do it because it we want to. It is how we show our love.

I love you mom! You do it all because you want to, because you love us.

Don't these pickles look fabulous? Just a couple of weeks ago I traveled to TN to see my folks and of course my mom sent me home with a couple dozen jars of fruits and vegetables, not to mention a ton of fresh okra, sweet peppers and apples.

Here's my mom picking her bumper crop of okra. It is several feet above her head. This is the first year that mom has gardened without my dad helping her. Daddy's health has been declining and he doesn't have the strength to help. Of course I worry that she does too much, but I know how much she enjoys it.

Okra on the stalk. Can't you just taste that home fried-okra, mmm.

Here is mom picking her sweet peppers.

She had all colors of peppers. A real bumper crop too.

She didn't grow these apples, but purchased them from a nearby orchard.

This is the back of their home. You can see the garden in the foreground. She has raised beds that my dad constructed for her a couple of years ago.

Oops another basket of apples, aren't they beautiful!!!

Wouldn't you love this in your pantry? Labor of Love I tell you!

Another picture of garden, this photo was taken in the late afternoon, on a beautiful fall day.

This is the fabulous view from the front porch.

Front view of the house.

Apple House

A week ago I was in SE Tennessee, I was visiting my parents. On Sunday we took a drive up on Dayton Mountain. Our destination was to Wooden Apple Orchards. It was a perfect sunny fall day in Tennessee. Being there brought back so many memories of childhood. I had a wonderful day. Hope you enjoy these pictures as much I enjoyed taking them.

There was a Pie Shop on the premises. You could order apple anything... apple fritters, apple donuts, apple cake, apple pie, fried apple pie, to name a few. We had fried pies, they were good, but not as good as my mom makes it.

This is my sweet parents, Dad is is 83. He was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, this outing was a particularly good day for him.

Of course we bought some of these beauties to make pie and applesauce.

The colors of fall.........