Hi everyone,
Well, our busy weekend is over and the church’s annual Taste of America hayride and festivities are in the books. This was our 22nd year of having a hayride along with lots of other activities. We do this as an outreach for the International and American students here at our university. We had around 250 students this year, which may have been our most attended hayride ever! It was lots of work, but the students have SO much fun doing and tasting and seeing things they never have before. They love to take pictures and send them back home to their family and friends.
So here are some pictures of the night. It was a beautiful day and the evening was in the 60’s! Perfect hayride weather!!
Here they are getting some instructions for the night… with some interpreters…
It was a LONG line for the food…
We had a couple of stations for some American “treats” like S’Mores…
“Chunky Applesauce” made in a copper pot and SO good… (especially with vanilla ice cream served with the steaming hot applesauce!!)
Carla and Kevin were in charge of it…
Then we had the “Caramel Apples” station my hubby and I were in charge of.
I had the caramels melted in a glass dish, sitting in hot water, in a crockpot and the chopped peanuts, mini chocolate chips and sprinkles for them to dip their apple quarters (on a skewer) in. So many of them had never tasted a caramel apple before, but once they did, they came back several times… here are a few of my “happy” customers…
Jeb and David…
Tony…
Esther… it was her first taste of caramel apples. She liked it!!
David came back and brought his friend… Jeb’s son…
Here are 2 Freshmen students from Pakistan who LOVED the Caramel apples…
They wanted a picture with me…
Here is the HUGE burn pile…
…that turned into this!!
…and eventually settled down to some pretty embers glowing in the dark!! The students liked to sit around it…
There were several trips made by a tractor pulling a wagon filled with haybales (and students) in the dark and if that wasn’t enough, we had barn dancing for those who wanted to kick up their heels. It is SO much fun to watch because there are lots of students who don’t speak English well enough to understsnd the directions given for each dance, but “somehow” they manage to figure it out…
Well, that’s a snapshot of the fun we have each year at our “Taste of America” celebration! Hope you enjoyed it!!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
How fun, Jeanne! Everything looks like it went extrremely well, including the weather, which is always an iffy thing at this time of the year. Oh my, that chunky applesauce looks kelicious! A local town close by but still in the country has an apple butter festival, and that was also this past weekend. They get apples from miles around! I never thought of putting ice cream on warm applesauce, but might try that now!
I’m wondering how in the world are the students who can’t speak English are able to learn at the university? That must be difficult for both the students and professors!
Wow, that is a huge bonfire! What a wonderful ending to the evening! You have made a wonderful impression on the foreign students who hopefully see the “real” people of America!
We are going to vote this morning early, and hope the line isn’t like the one you had for food! 🙂
Jeanne, thank you for sharing this lovely Fall festival – so many happy faces. What a great time.
Well, I didn’t receive Jeanne’s blog this morning yet again. Am I the only one not getting the usual daily blog post? I even checked spam, and it was not there.
Looks like a very successful party for the students once again. Loved seeing the dance videos. I never could figure out how to do those western dances. I think it must be because everything we used to do in dance were in eight’s. But, I do admire those who can.
We actually had some rain yesterday. Today, is clear and not a cloud in sight. Back to the deck work, but it looks like we are supposed to get more rain later in the week. I think they had a lot of rain up north in Washington. Hope Charlotte didn’t get too much.
I think I am getting my blog daily. It seems to come to my junk mail but by the time I check that I’ve already been to the blog because I keep it up and just refresh it every day.
Hi Joy, I’m getting the blog just fine. It now comes to my Inbox again, which is great. For a few weeks it came to my Promo folder. Sorry you’re having issues again.
Happens to me sometimes Joy. I just do what you do and click on the previous one
The hayride event looks like so much fun. We used to do hayrides when I lived in PA in my church youth group. Then we would go back to the church for cider and donuts. I thought that was great but your event would definitely top that. Everything looks so delicious, and I loved the dance videos. Thanks for all the pictures. It almost feels like being there. Love that everyone is wearing warm clothing. Still summer here. Our guests from Ohio arrived last evening safe and sound and we had a lovely evening. Their plane was delayed in Atlanta due to an airshow in Houston, but they still got in on time. They flew into Hobby airport because they weren’t aware of Houston Intercontinental, which is easier and quicker to get here and what was worse they were having the air show in the area of Hobby airport so they ended up in the traffic of people leaving the air show. Their first impression of Houston was no way could I live here with all this traffic. First impressions are everything. Well at least they got to come here where there is little traffic and what there is moves quickly. Right now we are waiting for them to call and say they are on their way over. I’m sure they slept in this morning. They had a very busy day yesterday.
I always love your Halloween reports. I’m so glad the weather was nice. I really like the idea of pieces of apple instead of whole ones. Much easier to eat.
Belated comment on Ten Ping’s pink hat. I really like that style on her. You are doing very well on fall clothes. Maybe 2 more weeks before you start checking out your Christmas fabrics?
I’m having no problems getting your blog.
The hayride looks like the usual fun. I miss the similar ones we used to go on with the hayride, bonfire , and treats. The square dancing is fun. We had a “pioneer/prairie” party as the end of the year party one year in our home school group and did square dancing.
Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves!
Caramel apples are the best. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sounds as though everyone had a great time. The quarter apples sounds like a great idea, must try it sometime.
Hey, Y’all,
Recovering from the big birthday party in Atlanta area this weekend. It was for his sister’s 80th, and her 3 sons really did it up beautifully. One is a builder and it was help in a new area his company finished recently. Just gorgeous, great food, ( I ate too much) and fabulous flower arrangements on all the tables. I brought one home. It was lovely driving through the fall trees, we don’t see that here. But boy are we exhausted! That drive is one we doubt we will ever do again. Strangely to think that 27 years ago, it was so easy…the mid-80’s can get to you.
I loved the photos of the fun time for the students, once again. Keep sharing that every year, please, Jeanne!
Dear Jeanne, what fun! I always look forward to hearing about these events with the students.
What fun! Can’t believe 250 people! Wow! I’m sure the students will always remember this event. It must feel so rewarding to help with such a popular treat. Congratulations on another year of caramel apples. 🍎