August 6, 2007: Sean and I had stayed up so late after my busy day out with the kids that on Sunday (August 5), I was at-the-end-of-my-rope tired and just rested all afternoon after church. It's been raining hard every afternoon so the gardens are doing well.

Today I had to run errands all morning. I felt a little bad about breaking down and buying groceries. But last night I had a hard time figuring out a bedtime snack for the boys--we were out of so many staples, such as eating apples, cheese & milk. They ended up eating dried apricots and tortilla chips.

I had to go to the store to buy a birthday gift anyway. I ended up buying, after much thought: eating apples, carrots, bell peppers, potatoes, mayo, oils, nuts, rice, Chai mix for Sean, vanilla flavoring, cereals, cheeses, lunchmeat, bacon, yogurt and tortilla chips.

For supper we had Heaven & Earth--I used the cooking apples. I plan to make applesauce with the rest of them.

HEAVEN & EARTH (from The Old World Kitchen by Elizabeth Luard)

The apples represent heaven and the potatoes represent the earth. My kids love this supper.

2 pounds (6 medium-sized) potatoes; 2 pounds apples; 1 package bacon

You will need a large saucepan and a frying pan. If the potatoes are new and small, you merely need to wash them. If they are old, peel them closely and quarter them. Put them to boil in plenty of salted water. Core and cut the apples into chunks the size of the potato pieces. Add them to the potatoes after 10 minutes. Finish cooking both together. By the time the potatoes are cooked, the apples will be soft but still holding their shape.

Meanwhile, dice the bacon and fry it in its own fat. Drain the cooked apples and potatoes. Pile them into a hot dish and scatter the crisp bacon, with its cooking juices, over the top. Serve immediately.