Mid-September

It is cloudy today and cool. We won't have many temps in the 80's any longer. More apt to be in the 60's and even 50's. No frost here in Hartford yet, came close though. I went out to clean out my garden and discovered a crop of green beans. Picked them and made 3 more jars of Dilly Beans. Then I cut the basil and made more pesto to freeze plus more tomato sauce for the freezer. I have frozen many bags of peppers, hot and sweet ones. The garden is now producing multi-colored and shaped gourds from one plant.

I was just reviewing my cooking schedule for the coming week. Speaking of cooking; I have had little opportunity in my life to cook just for me which at this stage would be very little fuss. It seems there was always someone who had to be fed. Now I am alone but I feed Pete and the neighbors and his family. We have an active community here and everywhere one goes, one is expected to bring food. I had to dig out old recipes and find new ones to keep up with the "modern palate". Whenever I find myself wishing I didn't have to cook, I think of the loneliness I felt during those times when I had no one. I much prefer the job of creating something new or an old favorite and sharing it. For instance, we have two openhouses on Sat. I have to work Sat. so that means I cook Fri. I am making a dip(spicy cheese) in my little crock pot for Pete to carry along with some chips, also making a plum kuchen which is a german plum cake with custard on top for Mary Beth's (Pete's d-i-l) b'day celebration also on Sat. I will get to that one late. Then our church has a fund raiser Pie Sale on Sunday. So I will make an apple pie for that on Friday and need to make some choc. chip pumpkin drop cookies for my neice the following Wed. She has invited us for dinner and I offered to bring dessert. So it goes -- week after week. Pete and I are invited to several people's homes often and we lament that we need to reciprocate. The question is, WHEN??? I just don't have the energy or the funds to entertain. He doesn't either since he has been working as a carpenter with another man. I do enjoy it though!

I am off to work in a little bit but wanted to update my blog. I am going to sell my gourds to Hick's Orchard as soon as someone lifts the basket into my car. Too heavy for this old lady. Sebastian and I get to work outside in the orchard checking in and out the UPick customers once a week. I dress warm and bring a book. He on the other hand, obsesses about all the cats around the yard. Today I am in the Winery. We have 6 new flavors of hard cider wine now. I like them all.

I have been called for Jury Duty next week. It is the first time in my life since I was married for nearly 30 years to a lawyer/judge, I was never eligible. I am going to try to postpone it though since the orchard is counting on me during this their busiest season.

Enjoy this harvest season ya'll,

Note: the photo of the river is a shot of the headwaters of the great Hudson River away up in the northern Adirondack MTs.