Autumn

Apples ready for harvest on Winesap Road / Saturday

The pungent and delightful smell of apples envelops my car on the 10 miles drive between my house and my brother's.

Jack Frost attacked both the flower and vegetable garden last night. As for the zucchini plant - we said F.I.N.A.L.L.Y.

The hanging begonia was secured in the garage for the night because I just couldn't part with it yet.

Last Thursday's rain in the valley left termination dust on the top of the mountains. That is a good place for it. Karmyn and I talked today about her experience as Tinker Bell covered in a snow suit one Halloween when she was small.

I prepared three batches of grape jelly this afternoon. I picked them, crushed them, cooked them, and then hubby helped me fill the jars. Unfortunately, the first batch may need to be used as "syrup." Pancakes, anyone?

The birds of summer have flown to destinations south. I've noted the return of Pine Siskins and Juncos.

The familiar feathered friends help with the transition, but I'm not ready for winter.

Comments

Peter said…
Yup,Yup,Yup, pancakes and syrup sounds good to me Pamela, do you get the fall colors in your neck of the woods?
11:55 PM, October 12, 2008
karisma said…
Hey you! Glad to see you out and about in blogland again! I missed you! Those apples look lovely!
3:01 AM, October 13, 2008
Rayne said…
Now you've made me homesick....
6:40 AM, October 13, 2008
Kim said…
Your approaching autumn is making me jealous. Our highs are still near 80, and temperatures at night are staying in the low 50s. I know it sounds great, but I'm ready for sweaters and cool weather.
7:26 AM, October 13, 2008
Beckie said…
I made two batches of grape jelly and one of mine is a bit syrupy too. I've never had that happen before.
8:27 AM, October 13, 2008
Desert Songbird said…
I get most of my produce from Southern California's Imperial Valley, but in a few months, the winter citrus will be in season around here. Nothing like eating an orange directly from my friend's backyard!
8:58 AM, October 13, 2008
Anonymous said…
Did someone say pancakes? I'll be right over!
I bought Honeycrisp apples last week. My favorites. And their season's so short!
9:08 AM, October 13, 2008
Anonymous said…
Make some apple cake and curl up with a good book (like the shack great book!)

I'm waiting for the frost to come through so I can pick persimmons. I picked one yesterday and it had a spoon in it. That means lots of snow.

Do you have persimmons in your neck of the woods?
9:52 AM, October 13, 2008
Amanda said…
Love the picture. I wish I had a camera. :(

We'll see you guys this weekend for the apple festival! Curly Mop is excited.
11:22 AM, October 13, 2008
Unknown said…
Beautiful apples! We too had a nice frost a week ago, then it was 81 yesterday. Weird fall. Am looking forward to the return of the juncos. :)
12:50 PM, October 13, 2008
Susie said…
Those apples look so tempting! I can only imagine the wonderful smell.
We've yet to have frost yet, but our mornings are getting cooler every day.
Enjoy this beautiful time of year :)
xo
12:55 PM, October 13, 2008
ChrisB said…
I could just reach out and pick one of those apples. Luckily we haven't had any frost just yet.

Thank you for the picture I have been meaning to email you x
1:31 PM, October 13, 2008
The Dishes Will Wait said…
Oh, we have a batch of strawberry syrup too. And two batches of jam that turned out. The strawberry is delightful on ice cream!
4:42 PM, October 13, 2008
Masago said…
I'll take some of the syrup. :-)
6:03 PM, October 13, 2008
Anonymous said…
Your grape jelly sounds wonderful :)
7:29 PM, October 13, 2008
Hayden said…
the photo makes me homesick!

I figure fruit syrups are one of the special "extras" of the universe. Great on pancakes, often make superior rum drinks, and great drizzled on stale cake, cut in cubes and served w/ a little whip cream or ice cream! Can't go wrong!

the "trick" is to pretend you did it on purpose...
7:33 PM, October 13, 2008
Betty said…
Oh yeah, grape syrup over hot pancakes. I can handle that.

Sounds like you're keeping busy. I am weird in that I don't mind winter, but Fall is my favorite time of year.
10:40 PM, October 13, 2008
DesLily said…
wow, I can't remember the last time I had a winesap apple! I do remember when my kids were VERY young I had a winesap apple tree in the yard along with a plum tree! (wish I had them now!)
5:05 AM, October 14, 2008
Anonymous said…
You remind me of "The Little Red Hen"...I picked them, crushed them...
I just love the smell of autumn apples...sends me back to The Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, Vermont.
Taking down all my hummingbird feeders threw me into the reality that Old Man Winter is just around the corner. Not to mention that my tomato plants were hit the other night by Jack Frost.
I'll be posting a photo of some type of bird that I need you to identify...please stay tuned.
8:42 AM, October 14, 2008
Kaytabug said…
I'm not ready either!
9:16 AM, October 14, 2008
M@ said…
That sounds like something Pam would do.....
5:28 PM, October 14, 2008
sallywrites said…
What a beautifully written piece Pamela....
11:36 PM, October 14, 2008
Gaynor said…
YUM! YUM! YUM!

I'll be right over!
10:29 AM, October 15, 2008
MarmiteToasty said…
You should have scrumped yourselve and few baskets of them :)

x
2:52 PM, October 16, 2008
Debbie said…
I'm not ready for winter either.
12:00 PM, October 18, 2008
Christy Woolum said…
Very nice photos. We got the hard frost too. I am ready to move into another season. I love the gradual move into winter. ( now watch... we will have snow this week!)
10:37 PM, October 19, 2008
Susie Q said…
This post read like poetry...I loved it. We had frost on our pumpkins this morning. Down right chilly...brrr...and I love every bit of it.

I have been keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Sue
5:07 AM, October 20, 2008
Wendster said…
I find myself exhausted after scouting out the grapes at the STORE.

Great story.
10:37 PM, November 04, 2008
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