The Autumn Ritual.

The world has taken on a golden hue… And the leaves haven’t even begun to change.
There’s something different in the light of the sun.

One evening, my mom and I spotted the apple tree at the edge of the forest, heavy with fruit. We grabbed a basket plus her dog and headed down the hill with minimal hope of filling it.

In between dodging the poison oak and thorns, we successfully filled the basket to the point of overflowing.

Pooh was pleased with our haul.

And I was above and beyond pleased. Unsprayed, yummy apples! Grown in my own backyard, no less. Sure, they aren’t beautiful, blemish-free, waxy red apples. But the crispness and taste make you soon forget the not so perfect peel.

So, I decided to set about my “autumn ritual” and make apple butter with my 5 lbs. of apples.

First, I peeled… and peeled. If not for this handy, little gadget, it would’ve been a lot harder and slower.

Highly recommend one of these peelers to anyone who makes apple butter, apple sauce or dried apple chips.

Straight off the peeler… Cored, peeled and sliced into a cool spiral.

Abby, waiting and hoping I drop a bite of apple in the floor.

Waste nothing… The peels, cores and bad apples go to the chickens and goats.

I pull the spiral apart into separate pieces and toss them all in the crock pot.

Add 2 cups sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple pie spice and 1 ½ tablespoons of cinnamon.

Pop on the lid, set on high and enjoy the wonderful smell that is distinctly that of autumn that will fill your house for the next 6 hours, give or take. At about the 4 hour mark, stir to break up any stubborn apple chunks… And sneak a bite while you’re at it. Also a good time to tweak it if you want it spicier.


And here, you have the finished product. It tastes divine. On toast, waffles… Anything really. I’ve been slathering it on almost everything.

I made 5 pints in all. I put it in sterilized jars while piping hot so it is sealed/canned… but you can freeze it. I just lack space in the freezer.

So, autumn ritual completed, I’m now ready to bail out the straw, pumpkins and scarecrows. If only I had grown pumpkins this year. But at least I have the ornamental gourds my mom grew. Next year, pumpkins.

The Event Of The Year.

That time of year has rolled around. When Main Street fills with tents containing different wares and crafts; colorful kiddie rides; the smells of all different foods; The popping sound of the ice cream machine, music, people laughing and talking and occasionally, the train chugging through town, sounding it's whistle to the delight of the little ones. Most of all, what seems to be every resident and then some, fill that little street.


The South Carolina Apple Festival… An event I look forward to year to year.

The food - Oh, the glorious, artery clogging, deep fried goodness. Or should I say, badness.

This year, I braved the deep fried Oreos. It was ooey, gooey and barely tasted like an Oreo after its dip in batter and swim in oil. But it was so delicious. I could’ve eaten all 5 of them.


What is a festival without funnel cake?

And let us not forget the bloomin’ onion and mushrooms.



I didn’t consume this all on my own. Just for the record.


The parade – It is exactly what a small town parade should be.

Tractors…


Horses…

And, this year, politicians;

A replica of the Andy Griffith Sheriff’s car which seemed fitting for a very Mayberry-esque town like this.

and for some strange reason, endless fire trucks.

I really take the time to appreciate and soak in my town during the festival... this year was a bit more rushed than previous years. But I still see why I love it. And at times, why I really don't.

I do wish I had taken things a little slower… but truthfully, I just ran out of time. I’m a slow pace, soak it all in, breathe it and feel it kind of girl. But lately, I seem to get caught up in the rush of life.

But I soaked in just enough to hold me over until next year. Then maybe, I will slow down again to take in this small town and why, for some reason, it has such a hold on me.

A Taste of Autumn.

I haven't forgotten my blog... it's just the weather this week has been calling me outside like a siren’s song.

All of those projects inside… Like painting the dining room and finishing the cabinets in the kitchen; they were put on the back burner for more interesting and weather-suited projects.

The weather has been that of autumn; Crisp, cool and breezy. Not typical for early September in this area. I have a feeling it won’t stick around, this is just a teaser of what’s to come. But I’ve been sucking every last drop out of these cool days. Such as trimming overgrown bushes and trees, cutting the grass, and basically, catching up on all things that got out of hand during the wet and sweltering heat that was August. I’ve been living outside and it shows. I helped my grandmother spiffy up her yard and her happiness makes it totally worthwhile. She is thrilled with the finished look.

The chickens, ducks and Lucy have certainly enjoyed the influx of yard work. It seems wherever I’m at, they’re behind me gobbling up whatever insect I scare up, pecking at grass clippings and scratching in the newly turned dirt. They are very happy birds every evening as they slowly waddle into the hen house… Kind of how I feel about coming inside on these days myself. Dragging my feet on coming inside because I want to stay outside just one more second, suck just a bit more out of the day.

But while it feels like autumn, there are missing pieces. The vibrant yellow hues, that distinct smell in the air, the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet and the last burst of life bustling around. Squirrels hoarding their winter stash, birds that I won’t see again until next spring and frogs stretching their legs once more before going into their strange form of hibernation.

There’s something about living here… Small town, rural road. The seasons change for me in ways different from the typical person. It isn’t just a leaf changing color, turning over a calendar page or autumn holidays. I can feel it, see it, hear it… I can see it in the way the animals begin to get frisky and playful as if to have one last hurrah before the cold comes, the way my flowers dwindle and the garden dies off slowly. The birdsong changes, the wind rattles the trees a little and the crickets don’t sing as loudly.

And it reminds me why I stay… At times, small town life frustrates me. Yet at the end of the day, this little piece of earth where I am surrounded by nature, my animals, a garden that produces an abundance of food and so much more; I realize it’s worth it. I’m connected to this place in ways I cannot explain. It goes deeper than that of words can express. Perhaps someday, I’ll be able to explain this often complex and difficult relationship I have with this little world I live in… But all I know is I love it.

No pictures this week just due to drinking in the days… and forgetting the camera existed until it was too late.

Among The Full Moon Chaos.

Last week was less than normal. I’m blaming the full moon…

I should have known when the week started with the power outage, it would be a good time to hide.

All original plans went out the window. While it was chaotic, I still somehow made time to hang out with Lucy goose. She and her duck friends had been rooting about in the garden so she was dirty… but I scooped her up, anyway, and noticed for the first time, just how blue her eyes are.


Lester posed for a quick shot as well... He's a sweet, gentle, big boy.


B had a rough week… We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out on Wednesday, though. She climbed trees.

Found the first red leaf of the year. We were both excited by that little find.

And discovered the joy of hatching chicks. When I handed her the cheeping egg, her eyes lit up. She kept repeating “I hear it, Meredith! I hear it! And I can feel it, too!” It tapped, cheeped and totally made her day.

Thursday, she was less than normal… but I chalked it up to her rough week and the new schedule. She got her requested root beer float from a local little shop, though. I’d never been to the there but I’ll definitely return. It was very retro and cute.

When B left, her chicks really got to work in hatching… I wish she had seen this. I’ll always be amazed, no matter how many times I’ve witnessed chicks hatching. This little one was wide-eyed and ready to see the world.

By that night, B was a sick girl. Her mom and dad had to work, no matter what, the following day. From 5:30 am until 10:30 am, I was snuggled on the couch with a sick girly. She spiked another fever and her mom did successfully get out of work to take her to her pediatrician. Poor babe was burning up, it was the highest fever I’ve ever encountered in a little person. She was out of it and completely broke my heart.

Seeing as she left so quickly on Thursday and then, she was so sick on Friday, she hasn’t met her chicks yet. But they’re mighty cute. I’ve sent her pictures to see… she asked to name them and I’m a little terrified of what she has up her sleeve. But I told her she could.

Rosemary is a proud mama hen. 5 chicks. 3 black chicks and 2 brown striped chicks. Fairly certain the black chicks are Barred Rock mix chicks.

I discovered a golden orb spider has made her home above the hen house door… I was pleased to see her. I’ve always heard them referred to as “writing spiders” because of the cool designs they make in their webs. A real life Charlotte.

After my week, Saturday was spent coming back down to earth and chilling.

Found a patch of wildflowers at the edge of the woods.


Watched the ducks, chickens, and Lucy goose meander around…



And find some unknown treasure among the tall grass that had them all clucking, quacking and honking with glee.

Took the chicks from Rosemary long enough for pictures so B could “meet” them. I will never tire of photographing chicks. So cute.


Ended the day by picking a bouquet of zinnias for my grandmother. She placed them in her window, adding to the magic of that spot. Her picture of her best friend, a ring lying on the windowsill, her little rooster and hen and the view out that window… wow. There is much life in that spot.

As for B, she is finally on the road to recovery after a rough weekend.

And after the chaos of last week, I have a lot of catching up to do in terms of projects. One being the autumn garden… and another little project that you’ll just have to wait to see.