Autumn

Yes it is true tomorrow is the first day of my favorite time of year. I laid out 50 lbs of pears in trays under my bed to ripen as soon as they are done I will be a canning fool. I also want to try making pickles for the first time. Perhaps in a few weeks I will get to go up in the hills where the apple orchards are I am looking forward to making apple butter

My grandmother showed me a short cut which almost garenteesa perfect apple butter every time. She used a crock pot with it lid lost she cooked the apples down to an applesauce then put it in the crock pot and laid a plate on top adding spices to her taste. then she left it to cook on low for a couple of days checking it every now and then till it was the consistancy nd color she wanted. I tried the same thing last fall (except I had the lid to my crockpot) it turned out tasty and thick.

I really like Autumn, sense I was small my mother and I would try to see who was the first to smell it in the air. Here is the Mojave desert there really isnt the fall ya'all enjoy in other parts of the country. There is a subtle change in the tempurature gradually the nights cool down at one point we have as much as a 50 degree difference from day to night. It is the smell of Autumn that finally does it for me. The acrid smell of smoke from chiminnies that have a coat of dust from disuse. and from the few trees that have leaves that turn bright colors. Be quick though the change and drop of leaves happen in about 24 hours if your not paying attention you will miss it.


cyn