I have been enjoying the perfume of the apples coming from the orchard up over the hill. This weekend we received a newsletter and harvest schedule from them. One of the crops is already harvested and done. I am going to have to make a trip up there this week and pick some apples. :) I will pick more as more of the varieties come in and also pick a bag before we head over to Montana in mid September. My mother always requests a bag of apples from there and she shares with all the neighbors. Our boys actually worked at that orchard years ago. The family that owns it also have daughters who used to babysit for us when our children were little. :)
I am feeling that nudge to stock up and get ready for Fall and a long Winter. I have found that my instincts are usually right. I ordered a 50 pound bag of unbleached flour and will be splitting it with our Heather. It will be ready to pick up on Friday. Heather did not have enough food grade buckets to store her portion in so I called Safeway and they had some buckets that frosting comes in for their bakery. They gave me 5 buckets for free. On my drive home from there I notices more of the trees on the leaves changing colors.
Our day time temperatures were in the low 90's today but are dropping rapidly this week. In a few days we will be in the mid 70's for daytime highs and stay there for about a week. Our night time temperatures will be going back down into the 40's. I am so looking forward to that but am hoping that it will not harm my tomato plants.
I love Fall! My "chipmonk mode" is in full swing now and I feel the need to get things ready and put by. I'm looking forward to roasts, soups, biscuits, cornbread, chili and ham again. I want to sip hot tea at night while curled up with a good book and snuggled under the blankets in bed with my cat pressed up against me. There are leaves to be pressed and sent to friends who do not experience Fall in their part of the world. There is the pumpkin patch to take my grandsons to this year and them up to pick apples and pears at the orchard. My youngest grandson Isaiah loved doing that last year and asked about picking pears there again this year. He just turned 3 so it must have made a huge impression on him since he remembers it. :)
What are you looking forward to this Fall?
Your description of your Fall reminds me of the years I spent up at Wisconsin while going to college. We don't have much of a Fall, here, in So. Calif. Yes, you definitely need to take your grandson pear picking if he remembers it from last year!
ReplyDeleteBless, isn't Fall wonderful? I grew up in Hawaii and came to Idaho for college. I fell in love with Fall and everything it has to offer!
DeleteI can't wait to go into "chipmunk mode" too! Our 3-year old grandson was impressed with our pears too. He even made a "special" call to his Papa to ask him to bring more. I can't wait for the leaves to change and to be able to wear cozy sweaters and tights again. For fireside chats and pumpkin pie! Don't tire yourself out battening down the hatches!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jane
That is so cute about your grandson calling his Papa about the pears. :) That just made me smile. I'm trying to pace myself but have this feeling of urgency to get things done. Today I am having to force myself to slow down and take it easy. My body is wearing down and I have a full weekend ahead of birthday parties and a big family brunch with my uncle who will be in town and whom I have not seen since I was a toddler. :)
DeleteI do love summer, but fall is not far behind. I love when the leaves change color and the weather gradually starts to cool down. I love getting my boots back out. And I love pumpkin as much as the next. Cookies, breads, muffins, pies, coffee drinks- I love them all! One thing I do hate about the fall- the hummingbirds leave. I'm so sad when they leave. But I guess that's one of the things that makes spring so magical 😀
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great week Debbie!
Hi Jessica! I love getting my boots out too! ;) I'm looking forward to all the recipes that I know you will be sharing that are pumpkin related. My Heather's mother is a huge pumpkin fan and I try to bless her with pumpkin scented lotions, pumpkin flavored coffees and things like that during the Fall. She is such an amazing woman and loves our son Chris as her own. She and I have become very close and I feel so blessed to have her as family.
DeleteI was thinking that Fall was close yesterday morning. I started to take the dog out first thing and had to grab a sweatshirt before going outside. I had already noticed that the sun was coming up later. But to have to put on a sweatshirt for...the early morning fog!! A sign of Fall for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm dehydrating apples and making applesauce in my crockpot today. The apples are from my community garden where they grow along the perimeter of the gardens. Harvesting them is part of my garden membership. I used to have a source for free pears and loved to make 'pear butter' spiced with ginger. Yum. Might have to actually find a source for orchard run pears and make some.
Take care of yourself and pace yourself. Cheers, SJ in Vancouver BC
Hi SJ, I have never tried pear butter before...it does sound good. :) I am so glad you have access to all those apples. :) Be blessed my friend!
DeleteI'm noticing it here as well. And I've been in chipmunk mode as well stocking up the pantry and freezer. I would love to make some apple butter this year. Guess I'd better go get some apples. :)
ReplyDeleteI want to try my hand at that too. I have done applesauce before, but never apple butter. :)
DeleteSometimes I just feel giddy with all the fun things fall brings.
ReplyDeleteMe too Barbara! :)
DeleteHI! Forgot to mention that Safeway here has flour on sale this week. 10kg(22.2lb) for $10. So far I've already bought two bags. There hasn't been a sale like this since early spring and I was almost out. I love having a pantry with food I've bought on deep discount. SJ in Vancouver BC
ReplyDeleteThat is a great deal SJ! I'm glad you were able to stock up!
DeleteHello dear Debbie! Indeed, fall has quit knocking on the door and is just settling in and making herself at home, lol! I noticed our hummingbirds left several weeks ago, and my dad in Texas tells me they are coming by to see him, lol! He has been having quite the influx of the birds as they travel south. And the geese, oh my! There has been a huge number of them flocking south here too, incredible! And the trees turning colors, oh yes, fall is here! I am preparing my heart for the end of gardening season, with the first fall frost expected quite soon! It is always wonderful to stock up for the winter, isn't it! Hugs to you today dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet it is beautiful up on your mountain right now. :) Funny how the hummingbirds are already down in Texas at your Dad's place. I can only imagine how tired those poor little birds have got to be after their long trip...and to know that is only a small rest stop before they continue on to South America. And I think I get worn out. ;)
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