Annual Apple Fest

The weather wasn't great but the rain held off for the most part. Moved into the garage to keep people and food dry. I am thankful for good friends and neighbors. Credit to Kelly for the photos but more importantly being such a great friend helping me out.

Moved into the garage

Uno wanted to see what was going on

Didn't let the weather dampen the fun

Neighbors

Serious conversation

Goofy conversation

Friends

Super friend, Kelly.

Being goofy post-fest

Simple apple pie

Apple sauce

This photo looks weird but homemade applesauce is so so good.

Apple Fest - soggy but still fun

The day started with rain then the sun came out then clouds then rain and sun and clouds. All the weather in one afternoon. I was super prepared this year. It helped having the later start of 3pm. I even got the garage ready in case of rain. And we used it.

Had a really good turn out, too. Lots of apple-inspired treats. I didn't get a chance to try everything. I have to figure out a better way to host so I can talk with more guests and eat more. I was so busy and enjoying the event, I forgot to take photos.

Apple cake. I took it out of pan too soon. It broke.

Major favorite. Lil' smokees wrapped in bacon with apples and brown sugar. 

Another use for my Gorilla Cart

Homemade applesauce -- yummy

Lots of apples have been falling off the tree. Most of these are too small to do anything with. A lot are kind of a mess inside. But there are enough to do something with. I was able to make a good amount of applesauce. Fresh made applesauce is so delicious. I added a tiny bit of maple syrup, too.

The food mill that I got at Kitchen Window last year makes the whole process so much easier.

Raspberry bounty

You may not be able to see it in the photo but there is a bumper crop of raspberries on their way. Barring some catastrophe, I'm seeing more raspberries than ever.

The apple crop is definitely going to be smaller than in previous years but I think the apples will be larger. Some look like they have been sunburned. I hope that does not continue.

middle of the raspberry patch

front of the raspberry patch

sun-kissed Haralred apples

baby apples

A different kind of apple fest

There is a different apple fest than my annual last Sunday in September one. This is the backyard animal apple fest that goes on all fall.

The sparrows eat the apples on the tree and generally leave them there. The wasps eat at the ones the birds have started on.

The squirrels grab some apples from the tree or get the ones on the ground. Slugs eat the ones on the ground. The squirrels place the apples around the yard (see photos below). This year there is a chipmunk living in the backyard. It usually eats the ones on the ground.

There are plenty of apples to go around so I am not concerned with the backyard animal apple fest.

On the fence

On the ladder step

On the top of the ladder

At the front door!

There is probably a Dr. Seuss rhyme in there somewhere.

Apples and rain

We had a lot of rain this week which we needed. Now the sun is out and this weekend is forecast to be hot and humid. The apples should really start to plump up.

Garden update

The raspberries are nearly done and friends have thankfully picked most of the currants. The cauliflower was fantastic as was the spinach. I planted the beets in the wrong place. They are almost completely shaded by the Japanese peony and the tomato plants.

the ripening tomato

Speaking of tomatoes, there are a couple that are ripening. Yay! The three plants have lots of fruit on them. I haven't had much success with tomatoes in the last few years so I am super excited to get three bearing plants.

peppers - green now...waiting to ripen orange

Same with peppers. I was about to give up on trying to get any produce and this year did not start out promising. One of the plants was getting eaten up by something. Now all three plants have at least one big pepper (they are supposed to eventually turn orange) so I should have enough to freeze some.

caged strawnerries

This year I am getting strawberries. I did purchase two additional plants and the new ones along with last year's two are producing. It is kind of late for strawberries but I am certainly not complaining. I think the birds were eating everything last year so I have caged the plants.

a couple of apple branches

The apple tree is once again drooping heavily with lots of fruit. I always lose some when I hit the branches mowing and from trying to keep them propped up. I made a smoothie with a few of the green apples. Added some honey and cardamom with coconut milk and protein powder for a refreshing protein shake.

Heavy frost

There was a little frost yesterday and I hadn't covered the geraniums. Thanks to James and Rose, I got them covered last night. Just in time because this morning there was a heavy frost. The apple barrel had a skim of ice. Our first heavy frost of the season.

More apples than ever

I am certainly not complaining...the apple tree is busting out all over with apples.  They still are not quite ripe but are making good pies. I think I'm up to four not including the little mini-pies I made at first.

 

Thanksgiving

Christine and her mom, Nancy, holding my homemade apple and raspberry pie.

For the past several years I have had Thanksgiving dinner with Christine and her parents.  Tim and Nancy fly in from West Virginia and stay for a week or two.

Mrs. Peters always cooks a wonderful Thanksgiving feast.  I bring the sweet potatos and usually a pie.  This year I made the pie from apples and raspberries picked in my backyard this summer.

And for the record there was no snow on the ground.  The high temperature for the day was officially 59 very warm degrees.

Home but what happened to the rest of the apples

Just got home and noticed that there aren't any more apples on the apple tree.  Unless you count a mostly eaten little one.

When I left town Monday morning there were still several apples still on the tree.  Could the squirrels taken all of them?  It looks like there aren't even any on the ground.  I'll check better in the morning.

Apple pie #1

Okay, it may not look pretty but there is nothing like a home made apple pie.  Especially with an apple and currants from my own garden.

It's just one apple and a mess of a pie crust.  One of what could be many because there are lots of apples.

Apple update (and not about Steve Jobs)

So many apples this year I've had to figure out ways to prop the branches up.

This branch used to point straight up.

This is a haralred apple tree that is just 3 years old.  Haralreds are a redder version of a haralson and are good for fresh eating and cooking.