Apple Pickin'

Since I wasted most of my day in town I decided to limp on over to the apple tree.  I had already picked the apples that I could reach, so I  had a plan to get some of the apples that were higher up on the tree.................I needed longer arms so I got a garden fork..............you know the kind---four curved tongs, long handle.  I decided that I could grab a limb that was beyond my reach and pull the limb low enough that I could reach the apples.  I guess I didn't learn anything the last time I did this..........................don't stand beneath the limb you are grabbing or you'll get a big, hard apple in the forehead.     I got 2 Walmart bags of apples and had to quit.  Why are the biggest , best apples on the top branches?   I guess I will have to ask Jason to help me get the rest of them, although I'm not sure the apples would be worth it.  The last time Jason "helped" me get the apples he brought the loader tractor over.  Being the good son he is, I naturally assumed he would get in the bucket and I would raise him up to the top of the tree.  But, he didn't trust me to run the loader bucket..............................and I didn't trust him..................we were at an impasse.  Reason finally took over and I thought to my self,  " He wouldn't do anything to hurt me............I'll get in the bucket and let him raise me to the top of the tree. "  I stepped into the bucket, which was  still on the ground.  "Piece of cake" I thought to myself.  I looked across the hood of the tractor and realized Jason was smiling.  Suddenly, and with a jerk, the bucket was off the ground about 3 feet----------------it seemed like ten.  I kept looking at Jason, thinking he was screaming-- trying to warn me of impending disaster, but he had this smile on his face.  You can't smile and scream at the same time...............................the bucket jerked up another 3 feet and then I knew where the screaming was coming from.  I clung to the bucket hook, my knees shaking and my chest heaving.  One more jerk and I was above the apple tree.  Tell me, why would I want to bend over and pick the apples beneath me?  It took me a few minutes to calm myself and I politely asked to be lowered so I could pick the apples at arm level.  Another jerk, another look at that hideous grin on my good son's face, and I quickly picked the apples that I could reach.    By this time, I really didn't care if I picked the apples or not.  If I had been big enough I would have thrashed him with a peach switch.  So, you see,  This year, I'm not really sure I want to get the apples from the top of the tree.  But on the other hand, I could ask Andrew to help me.   If you ask Jason about this he will deny it.

Glue plus syrup equals Jelly!

When I went to club the other day, I was telling Jalie about my adventures in Jelly making and she suggested that I take the glue jelly and the syrup jelly and combine them, melt them together and re-process them.  I tried it.  I couldn't tell if it was any better, so I opened a  jar yesterday and it is much better................now it is thinner glue.  At least it is spreadable!  It has always tasted good, however.

I did get some work done today!

I made another small batch of apple jelly and this time I got 4 half pints.  I didn't boil this as long and it is not as thick as I hoped it would be.  Maybe I'll try one more time.  I did make 2 pies----one goes to  Community  Club with me.  It is Cranberry Apple Crumb Pie and you can have a piece if you come to club tomorrow.  I almost have the IQA quilt quilted................I"ll get done if I can make myself go into my studio and work on it...........hmmmmmm a piece of pie sounds good.  ( Any excuse for not finishing my a quilting works for me!)  Jason brought the kids over and we went to feed salt and mineral to the cows.  Shea jumped on the trampoline and the boys were riding their bikes at the shop(nice concrete).  Shea's bassett hound, Dixie, came to see me too.!

The Taste Test

I just had to try my apple jelly this morning and much to my surprise, it wasn't bad.  It was too thick, but it tasted really good and had a beautiful color to it. I'm going to try another batch today.  I started quilting on my IQA quilt about 6 this morning.  I think I can get some quilting done while my jelly cooks.  I hope to have the quilting done today.

apple jelly

I have never made apple jelly, but decided to make some this evening.  I wanted to make it without suregel, so I boiled it and boiled it until I thought it was gelled.....and then I boiled it some more just to make sure.  Well, it is done, and looks pretty, but it is still hot and it is NOT MOVING in the jars.  Remember the sap we used to pull off the trees and try to chew ?.......well, I made apple sap, I am afraid.  I guess I won't really know for sure until I open a jar.  Good thing I only made 3 half pints.  I used my new potato/applesauce pan and it performed really well.........didn't burn or stick.

Applesauce

My apple tree is loaded this year.  Yesterday I picked some and made 7 pints of applesauce.  I don't know if the kids will eat it or not..............it's green.  I didn't have any red food coloring to put in it.  I think I'll make some pies to freeze.  The men have been working on all the wagons, trucks, and the combine.  Harvest time is almost here and it looks like we will have a really good crop this year.  We have 175,000 bushels of storage space, but Jason told me the other day that I will probably have to sell some corn at harvest because we won't have enough room to store it all.................I guess I could have bigger problems(?)!  I talked to Mom yesterday and she is working on her 8th Lone Star Quilt.  She has made some really beautiful quilts.  I am really proud of her.