BLOOM IS FINALLY STARTING

After weeks of cold damp weather, bloom is finally starting.  The photo shows a strong bloom just opened up on the Zestars – the earliest to bloom and the earliest to ripen – usually Labor Day weekend.

MacIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp etc. are still at pink but will open soon with the warm days.  Overall the number of flowers gives us the potential for a good crop – but after the heavy crop last year, Honeycrisp will be very light.  The bumble bees are out looking for open blossoms.

So we are well started on growing another crop.

 

Zestars in bloom

 

 

SPRING IS ACTUALLY COMING

The snow out in the orchard is finally melted and we are busy chipping brush.  Pruning is almost complete.

I am mostly recovered from my Halloween mishap.  Once the brush is chipped, some mowing, fertilizer spreading etc. that did not get done last fall is on the to do list.

We will get green tip showing on the buds by the end of the month.   Maple syrup makers have had a short season so far and we hope they get a few more days.

MAKING HEADWAY

Yesterday I got the wires off – we had to check in at 5:30 AM at Albany Med, so we went over Sunday afternoon and stayed at the hotel across the street from the hospital.

Short procedure and we were out by 10:00.  Picture shows breakfast at MacDonald’s afterwards.  The next challenge is getting my jaws to open more and get my double vision reduced (eliminated?) so I can drive, but we are moving forward.

I appreciate  the many sympathetic comments – more than I am able to respond to.  Christmas is coming and I plan to eat turkey.  Wishing everyone a great holiday.

A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR

Also thankful that I am able to write this post.  Our usual post harvest trip to Maine was replaced with multiple trips to Albany Medical Center.

On Halloween afternoon I had an accident while cutting up one of the old Cortland trees that had been blown over onto the deer fence.  I did not see that a branch was under tension from the fence and it hit the right side of my face when I cut it loose.

Fortunately, I was wearing a hard hat, but the impact broke essentially all the bones on the right side of my face and my jaw. There were major cuts around my right eye, but the vision should be ok.

So now I am three weeks post surgery –  supposed to get the wires holding my jaw shut removed in a week.  It has been fine dining thru a straw – Sylvia is now expert with a blender.  Both our daughters from Massachusetts have been up lending support and friends have brought lots of great soup.

This has been quite a speed bump, but I expect to make a full recovery. I have been making good use of our woodstove in this cold weather and hope to be out in the orchard soon.

Next year we plan on celebrating Halloween differently and having a full Thanksgiving dinner.  Best wishes for a safe holiday season to all.