Apples and a Big Belly

Philip took a day off yesterday, and he and Chloe and I went apple picking. Jonamacs and Galas were ready for picking. Above is a photo of some of what we picked. (Stay tuned to find out what we do with all these apples!)

Also, I recently bought this on etsy from a really nice seller, vintagewares.

When I was little and would go to my grandmother's house, she had a little statue that she called a Laughing Buddha that she kept on the table near the greenhouse entrance. He was carved of wood and stood with his hands over his head and a big grin on his face. (I've since found out that he's not THE buddha, but Budai or, in Japanese, Hotei.)

My grandmother and I would always rub the Buddha's belly for luck. Well, she died almost 25 years ago now, and I don't know what happened to that little wooden figurine. So when I saw this statue on etsy, I had to have it.

Now Chloe and Philip and I rub our Laughing Buddha's belly for luck too!