Visit To A Cider Mill

Just photos today, since my husband is going to be home tonight after being in Philly all week on business. I’ve missed him and will be so glad to see him home—and just to make it more fun, I’ve made little party hats for Ben and I to wear, and little paper bows for the cats, and a sign for the front door. If you don’t hear from me Monday, that only means the animals tried to kill me in my sleep. If you’ve seen our years of Halloween photos, you know it’s something I’ll bounce back from.

Anyhow, during a Sunday drive we happened by a little bitty cider mill, and decided to stop in for our first half-gallon of autumn’s finest nectar. I did not want to be pesty or obtrusive taking photos, so just grabbed a few snaps while we picked up our cider and a few other farm goods in the mill—but I thought you’d enjoy them anyhow.

 

Isn’t this basketful of Osage orange beautiful? The fruit is edible, but not tasty (though it’s reported to be rather cucumber-like after frosts begin to hit). Mostly it’s just fascinating to look at. The wood of the osage orange tree—which is actually a member of the mulberry, not citrus, family—is what is really valuable. Early European explorers found that the Osage and Comanche people both preferred using the wood of the Maclura pomifera for bows because of its strength and flexibility, and the wood is still used today because of its heft, density, and durability.

But you can’t quite safely put basketfuls of Osage orange wood in your house, now, can you?

 

That bright red doorframe is a warm welcome indeed!

I really do have a thing for squash. Can’t explain it, other than my affection for the variety of skin textures and of course the vibrant, often saturated, colours. They fill the house and porch this time of year, too—we brought home that vaselike green one near the top of the photo. How, after all, could I resist? I’m wondering if it can be dried, gourd-style. Does anyone know?

 

This cider mill had a marvellous variety of apples, some I’d never heard of before! As we know, different varieties are good for different things, but I was rather amazed. We may go back so I can grab some for empanadas (found a promising gluten-free empanada recipe recently) and to put some up.

 

 

That, dear reader, is the biggest apple I have ever seen. You could make a pie with just this apple. Oh, yes you could. According to the owner, it’s an old variety of apple meant meant for baking.

To wrap things up, another take on the photo at the end of the post, as I couldn’t decide which I liked best (though the first has an edge). Which do you like? And are you happy to be bringing cider and pumpkins home, too?

 

Have a beautiful weekend!