I am a few days late (3 actually) in posting my ‘birthday’ blog for my beautiful little 3 year old, Capri. (I was taken down for a few days by a nasty cold…)

On February 24th, 2008 at 8:16pm my beautiful little girl – Capri Grace joined our family.  To read more about her birth story click HERE.

Capri at 1Capri at 2Capri at 3 –

and this picture perfectly depicts what my ‘sweet, little snuggly’ Capri was like on her birthday – stubborn and wryly.  I have to say – it’s never been the terrible 2’s here – more like the terrible 3’s.  I had about 3 months of a break from them but now I have another 12 months to endure…wish me luck.

We had a very laid back birthday celebration for Capri.  Grandma and Grandpa Van came during the day to hang out and play.  We went to ‘Market Street Diner’ for lunch and to enjoy our ‘free birthday cake’.  There were plans to go to Bouncy Town but due to some behavioral issues we had to pass. Papa brought home Capri’s favorite pizza – cheese and olives and then Grandma and Grandpa Lapacek came by at night to enjoy some ‘blue’ cake with the birthday girl.

I’m pretty sure Capri had an enjoyable celebration and is quite happy with her new toys and clothes.  I can’t believe that my baby is already three and soon to be a big sister!! 

  Just a few things about my lovely Capri…

• she’s so easy to give you a smile and is happy to snuggle whenever necessary
• building with blocks/lego’s/etc, coloring, and putting together puzzles are just a few of her favorite things
• she was slow to start talking but now that she has, she continually amazes us with all the things she has to say
• her eyes are definitely going to get her in trouble with the boys someday
• she shows no fear
• I can’t wait to have her measured at the doctor next week so I can share with you exactly how tall she is – and she is tall!
• My favorite thing that she has said to me that still melts my heart is, “I so much love you.”

Well, they’ve been canning away in our commercial kitchen (aka basement) and because of that there’s been partial jars of ‘Apple Pie in a Jar’ left that didn’t quite make it into the can.  Well…one can only eat so many apple pies (I know…shocking) so we discovered something new and delicious to make.

This morning, Jared and the girls made up a batch of French Toast.  Once that was done, we heated the apple pie filling from the apple pie in a jar just a bit to warm it up.  Spooned it over one slice of toast and covered it with another.  You can then put a dollop of whipped cream on the top of the toast (or, I discovered on the side so you can dip into it without it melting away) and ENJOY!  It was quite a tasty treat for breakfast – I highly recommend it. 

Many people think that from December until August we just relax.  Well, there's a lot of other things we need to do during those months including pruning, planting, thinning, and of course, canning.  This past season I put up a sign-up list to see if anyone was interested in taking canning classes from my mother-in-law, Diane, and we were amazed to have TWO sheets full of interested people. 

Because of that, we have set up canning classes that you can sign up for and participate in.  The people that signed up for the list got the first crack at signing up for this but now I am opening it up to anyone and everyone that it interested!

DETAILS:

Each canning class will last for approximately 3 hours.
Canning Options:

Option A:

Applesauce AND one of the following:
1. Apple-Jalepeno Preserves
2. Caramel Apple Jam
3. Spiced Cider Jelly
4. Seedless Raspberry Spread

Option B:

Apple Pie in a Jar AND one of the following:
1. Apple-Jalepeno Preserves
2. Caramel Apple Jam
3. Spiced Cider Jelly
4. Seedless Raspberry Spread

For $50/class

• Choose one of the options listed above
• 3 hour lesson

• 2 Quarts of Sauce
• 2 1/2 Pints of the jam/jelly in your class
• a mini-recipe book that includes recipes for EVERYTHING listed above

We can fit 3-4 people in each class due to space limitations in our commercial kitchen so please let us know if you have a group of people that wants to be together for the class
You can choose to add Apple Butter to either options for an additional $10 and you take home one 1/2 pint of apple butter.

On the day of your class, bushels of apple seconds will be for sale so you can go home and make batches of canned goods to enjoy throughout the year.  This bushel option is only available for those that sign up for the class.  Other canning tools and books will also be for sale at the end of each class.

Schedule:

Please email me asap (lapaceksorchard <at> gmail <dot> com) as to what day(s) you are interested in attending - room is very limited so we need to hear from you.  When you email also include the option and if you have a preference for jam/jelly you are most interested in making. 

Each session will go from 9am to NOON:
Monday, January 10th
Wednesday, January 12th
Monday, January 17th
Saturday, January 29th
Monday, January 31st
Wednesday, February 2nd

Canning classes will take place in the basement of our house at our new location. 

N1959 Kroncke Rd
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-4780

A fantastic photo submitted by Elizabeth Peters to the Lapacek’s Orchard Facebook page as part of the Orchard Photo Scavenger Hunt.  I love the shot they got with the barn quilt in the background!