Violin Ensemble...

I caught Em in a funny stance with Grandpa Donnie.
Here is the whole group of girls.

Em in her duet with Rachel L.

Emily was able to continue violin lessons through the summer and participate in an ensemble with six other girls. They learned a lot about working together and making a good sound! It was great and the concert was excellent. We enjoyed it very much. She was able to do a duet with another girl and then several numbers as a group. This is a great preview to being in symphony this year.

Which by the way.... I never did announce our exciting news that both girls made it into the local symphony when they auditioned this last Spring. We got the letter one day on the way to town and Emily opened it and screamed and screamed with excitement. Jordan is in Sr. High again and Emily is in the Jr. High. It was a good experience for Jordan to improve on certain techniques so I hope the same for Em.

Our days are busy canning pickles (Thanks Jan and Emmy), picking green beans, picked the rest of the Lima beans and picked some beets to make a few beet pickles and oh, raspberries (they are abundant). The last time I made beet pickles they lasted 3-4 years. I made sauerkraut in a food grade 5-gallon pail and it was closed up for 3 weeks. I opened it yesterday and it is so tasty! It is crunchy and has great flavor (not too strong). A friend gave the recipe from the Amish and makes four 5-gallon buckets a year. I know we'll eat this 5-gallon bucket by Christmas so I better get another one started. You just leave it in a cool place in the bucket and take out as you eat it. She's had it stay good for two years like that. I love finding new ways to preserve food!

The girls and I cleaned this morning and now I've got to get out and mow around the house and trees so the boys can go out and finish while I get those beet pickles finished. Our washer was broke down for a few days now and the part came yesterday (Thanks Rich) so we've kept a steady stream of laundry going! Hope it can take it. Have a good week.