Cooler Weather and Fall Apples

When we moved a couple of months ago, we didn't move far up north. Actually, we just moved one state up from where we lived. About 8 hours or so north. I didn't realize what an impact that would play weather wise. Where we came from, in the Big City, we had 2 seasons: hot and not as hot. Summers could be pretty brutal and winter was....well...winter was a reprieve from the humid summer. Summer lasted through October and if we were lucky, we got a cool Thanksgiving but I can remember many Thanksgivings running the AC because it was in the 80's out. We might have a couple of freezes and fret because we left the plants out!

Well here we are in early October and it's getting a bit chilly here! In fact, with mornings in the upper 50's to mid 60's I wear a jacket to work and get teased!!! I'm sorry folks but where I'm from...this is WINTER!!!! No joke!!!

All kidding aside, it's nice to discover new seasons like Autumn and even though we are supposed to experience a warmer winter than usual, I still look forward to the experience! With cooler weather comes Harvest!

My son has been helping out with a friend and she happens to have apple trees in her back yard! Jackpot!!! I have been blessed with an abundant supply of apples straight from the tree. In fact, my son was stung by a yellow jacket picking my first delivery!

Why yes, that is a pear in there! And can I just let you know it was deliciously sweet? I don't mean to rub it in but I am ruined with store bought produce for life!

Here is my collection today. This is after I have started a batch of Apple Butter and Apple Pie! I am so afraid I'm going to lose them so I have plans to make all kinds of yummy apple concoctions! I'm going to try freezing some with a "recipe" I found on the Internet so I hope that works out!

This will be the apple butter. You can't believe how good this is and it's not even done yet. Uh...on a side note, please excuse my poor crock pot. It was a wedding gift which is going on 19 years and has seen some better days. But it does the job so therefore it stays....

Here is the apple pie! I'm sorry but it was so good! This would definitely be a hit at one of my family gatherings. I sure do miss those. Every once in a while my siblings would all gather at my mom and dad's and we'd eat and visit. Oh did we eat! Moving into the country has left us out of those but I am certainly there in spirit. Sorry--feeling a little home sick this weekend. But anywho!!!

Did I mention how good this was???? So today, I say I love apples...but I can't really promise I'd say the same thing next week!

By the way: Here's a little teaser for my next post. I don't know why but I just can't seem to get that song out of my mind...."She thinks my tractor's sexy...."