Apples

Apple Butter

I have been extremely blessed to experience a rare privilege.

In the early 1980's Randall was the "Pastor," of a church,

 in the coal mining town of  Rutland, Ohio.

 Like all churches it had a group of awesome women who had

 quilting bee's, bake sales, Bible studies, etc.

They had one yearly tradition every fall, that I haven't seen

 before or since. 

They made Apple Butter.

 Not in the way I have seen others do it, 
but in the way women of old made it

years ago, indeed, back hundreds of years.

We all met at the McGee's Farm, in the country,

 on a crisp fall morning.

The Apple Butter was done completely outdoors.

 A big table set with hand cranked apple peeler's, corer's,
 and boxes of a certain kind of apple.

Some peeled, some chopped, and some cooked.

They all knew what they were doing.

 And I couldn't wait to learn.

The focal point was the ancient giant copper pot,

 suspended on a tripod over the fire pit.

The pot would soon be bubbling with a little taste of heaven.

 Homemade by women, some who are in "Heaven," 
now as I write this.

 I want to thank them for giving me one of
 the best fall days of my life.

The hand grated cinnamon, the fresh cloves, all the spices, filling the mountain air

along with the apples, is a scent I will never forget.

By the time we filled the wide mouthed mason jars,

it was an all day affair.

I have tried many kinds of Apple Butter for years,

 but nothing knocks my nose or my tastebuds into the stratosphere like this one.

They certainly had no problem selling every single jar!

Apple Cake

Apple Pie

Caramel Apples

Apple Cider Ice Cream Float

Apple Dumplings

Candy Apples