Through the kindness of others, applesauce is made

When we moved to our dream home just over a year ago, the one thing that we had to leave behind was our beloved apple tree.  The year prior to moving, that tree produced a bumper crop of apples, so I learned how to preserve and started canning them.  Deacon finished the last jar of Apple Butter-sauce about a month ago and my cupboard has been bare and my heart has been heavy ever since (not that it was all eaten and enjoyed but rather because I had no more to offer) . But then, a very kind neighbour of ours posted some pictures on Facebook of her apple and pear trees.  They were lousy with fruit.  Seeing all those apples and pears, just waiting to be canned for later consumption actually made my heart lighter.  And it was not even my fruit (Yes, it does occur to me, rather regularly, that I have issues.  I welcome and accept them.  They keep true insanity at bay). So, I commented on the photos and this very generous neighbour invited my smalls and me over to her place to pick as much as we liked, once the fruit was ripe.  Oh. My. God.  I was almost giddy with excitement and started to take mental note of my canning supplies. While we were away on vacation this past while, this angel of fruit sent me a message through Facebook letting me know that some of the bounty was now pickable.  So, this past Friday, my smalls and I stopped over and picked a sample of apples.  The kids had a blast and didn’t want to stop, but half of a re-useable shopping bag later, I managed to drag them out of there. And on Saturday, I canned.

We are still trying to figure out where to plant some fruit trees of our own, and when we do, and if we are lucky enough to have them produce edible fruit, sharing the bounty will be a given because there are few things more satisfying than eating food that you’ve grown or picked or prepared and shared.

Well, it’s official.  I’m not a teenager any more.  Because if I were, I would totally be rolling my eyes at me right now and scoffing “that is soooooo lame” while flipping my hair back and checking my pager. *smirk*