We are taking advantage of some beautiful weather to mow the orchard one more time, reducing cover for mice and voles to minimize damage to the tree trunks over the winter.

As some of you know, I had an “incidental finding” of a slow  growing non-Hodgkins lymphoma (SLL) in the CT scans after my Halloween accident last year.  The doctors said the watch and wait period is over and I have successfully completed three rounds of immunotherapy – several more weekly rounds and then six monthly rounds still to come.   The long term prognosis is good.   I am tolerating the treatment well and still able to get work done around the orchard – never a dull moment.

Hope all of you are  still enjoying some of this year’s apples.

We had great weather for our windup weekend – finished off a very good season.  Yesterday at the end of the day people were still coming out with apples, but today when we walked the entire orchard, virtually all the apples were picked – the most complete harvest in memory.

So now it is quiet again on our hilltop and we are  putting tractors and equipment back in the barn, getting the orchard ready for winter with one more mowing, taking down signs, cleaning the donut fryer, draining the pipes in the red house and more.

Thanks for making it a good season – put us on your calendars for next fall !!

Tomorrow (Friday the 11’th) we open up our late ripening varieties – Crimson Crisp, Golden Delicious, and Northern Spy – these trees are young and the crops are small,  so they will get picked out quickly.

There are still good McIntosh, Courtland, Macoun and Empire and a limited number of Galas.  Good drops at 1/2 price.

There will be cider (until it runs out) and donuts on Saturday & Sunday – picture shows granddaughter Katie, a member of the donut team.

Sunday will be our last day for the season –  help us windup the harvest. !!

Good weather this week – weekend may be more cloudy – drizzle on Sunday?  There are good Macintosh on the old trees way up in the corner – see photo.  Good Empire, Cortland and Macoun down the hill.  Cider during the week – donuts on the weekend.  Drops are 1/2 price.

Late ripening varieties – Crimson Crisp, Golden Delicious, and Nortern Spy will start on Friday – crop is small and they will pick out quickly.  Our last day will be Sunday Oct 13.  Come get your last apples for the season !!

Empires are now ready – see photo.  McIntosh, Cortland, Gala and Macoun in good supply (but not as many as earlier in the season).  Weather forecast is for good apple picking weather.  Saturday looks to be sunnier than Sunday.

The donut team will be back in action – donuts tend to run out by mid afternoon.  Last weekend they made 1500 donuts.  We will have hot and cold cider by the cup, as well 1/2 gallon and 1 gallon jugs while our supply lasts.

Next weekend ( Saturday  October 12 & Sunday October 13 ) will be the end of our harvest season.  Late ripening  varieties –  Crimson Crisp, Northern Spy & Golden Delicious will open for picking on Friday October 11 – all have fairly small crops and they will get picked out rapidly.

Come get your next round of apples !!