My granddaughter Anna (15) is guest blogger today.
She photographed these alpacas at the Smith Mountain Lake Farm in Virginia last weekend.
She said the alpacas are nice and don’t spit at you like llamas They are like dogs. Plus they poop in the same place everytime..
Anna, thanks for sending the photos.
This is the way Chuck and Sharon keep their home toasty warm in the winter. There were at least three huge stacks of firewood. I have a little plastic thermostat on the wall that I adjust, no real work involved.
I asked what kind of wood it is and Chuck says “Ash”.
When I got home I ordered this book for Chuck. not that he needs any tips on how to chop, stack or dry wood but just to read about the Scandinavian way. ( It’s a bestseller- click title for article on how it became a “global hit”) – Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting
I heard about this book when I visited Norway last fall. I sent it to my brother in Okanogan. He heats with a woodstove, too.
Saturday night after the anniversary party, we spent the night at the farm in Crestline. There was blowing snow, drifting across the roads. The roads too bad to drive back to the city in the dark.
Sunday morning we had a nice breakfast and watched Chuck blow and plow the quarter mile drive to the main road. Charlie has fun watching and the dogs were in and out.
Then Charlie bundled up and went outside-tried his hand at shoveling- but not for long.
It was too cold.
My camera lens fogged up with condensation from the temperature change, outdoors to indoors. 
A few days ago I posted Erika and two of the grandkids walking in the apple orchard.
Then Steve’s art on the mantel with the Granny Smith apple.
Just for fun I did a google search – Apple and rutheh. Quite a few photos of apples or some form of apples appeared in the results. Many apple photos over the years of blogging. Some other fruit appeared and even some tomatoes as I scrolled down. Here are a few examples of apple photos from previous posts.
There is the Before they Get to the Store post showing how Honey Crisps are grown in Washington.
An early blog post from August 2009 Anna is 15 now
Like a science experiment. Drastic temperature change. Anna (5) said “Get your camera and take a picture. You could win a prize!”
So this is what it looks like when “the bottom falls out”!
Cider making in North Carolina in the first photo and a Cider Press in Pennsylvania in second. 
Apple Butter Annie Oakley’s Kitchen Southside Farmer’s Market
https://rutheh.com/2013/11/08/half-apples-baked-in-balsamic-with-a-dot-of-butter/
Olive Oil Apple Juice and Tiki Torch Fuel
There is a guest blog from Wildflour Bakery in Alaska
My sister in law’s Apple Pie in Washington
Real fruit and Fake fruit in Hardy Virginia. 
https://rutheh.com/2017/09/09/apple-picking-and-farm-market-checkout-line/
Three short videos from the heartland.
Driving by cornfields on the way to Fremont, Nebraska. That’s Maura’s voice on the WAZE app, she recorded all the commands/ directives when visiting.
Waiting at the railroad crossing for the soybeans train cars to cross. Patiently.
The soybeans processing plant in Fremont
Driving down the middle of Main Street, Fremont Nebraska
An Eagle Scout Project. St. Joseph Rosary Garden. Fremont Nebraska.
Thursday I arrived in Omaha. After lunch my friend Joanne took me to a couple of local yarn shops. I like to buy souvenir yarn from places I visit, usually a single skein of local sock yarn.
I got in the peacock pen to photograph the skein of Acid Peacock yarn by One Twisted Tree at ImagiKnit.
Today at her friend’s farm and I tried to take a photo of the yarn AND the peacock. You can see the focusing issues I experienced.
Joanne took the next four photos. A trunkful of yarn. Hotel morning selfie she took with her timer on. Me coming out of the peacock pen.
Photo by Joanne
Erica V. at WordPress writes about the photo challenge she created- elemental
“For this week’s challenge, explore the classical elements of earth, air, water, and fire. How do you capture something invisible like air, or the movement of water?”
Denali from the train
Rainy windshield
The wind captured by the flag in Florida
Snow and ice Highland Park Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Falls in Washington with my sister-in-law
Homer Alaska
St. George Island Sunrise
Rushing water in Alaska
Train ride to Denali
Burning Basket in Homer Alaska
Maura running across a field at the farm in Crestline, Ohio
Hard to feel the heat of the desert in a photograph- Arizona
and one of my favorite songs Fantasy by Earth Wind and Fire
And a few other pics for the second ATOP gallery.
I was talking with my friend today and said I don’t think I use the word atop in my everyday vocabulary. But I seem to have a few photos from the archives that illustrate it.
At Chuck and Sharon’s farm in Crestline, OH
Grandkids atop the playhouse in the backyard, a few years ago.
People ready to scream atop Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood
A former student posting for the nutritional food posters
Duquesne Incline atop Mt. Washington Pittsburgh PA
Lawn ball atop stand in Joan’s Garden
Wonder Bread sign in Columbus OH
Christmas Tree atop fence post on Arlington Avenue
St. Mary of the Mount atop Mt. Washington Pittsburgh
Meet Laura Hayner. And Shadow. What a sweet doggie. She follows Laura everywhere.
She is spinning fleece of some local sheep.
Here’s a skein of some of her handspun yarn from a spinning workshop. It was a grab bag of different fibers and has a really cool and varied look to it.
Spoiler Alert for Christmas Gifts- Made in the U.S.A.- World’s Warmest Socks for Winter. I’m sure she’d be happy to send you some. They are thick and cushy. Perfect in a big boot or to wear around a drafty house.
Thanks Laura for welcoming us to your lovely shop. Love the name of your store.
Thanks for showing us your logo. My sister likes the buttons she bought, too.
I enjoyed seeing your spinning and will enjoy knitting all the yarn I bought and shipped to myself. It’s great you get your fiber from local ranches and farms- 4R Ranch in Tonasket and Good Farms in Okanogan for two.
