In ambition, as in love,
the successful can afford to be
indulgent toward their rivals.
The prize our own,
it is graceful to recognize the
merit that vainly aspired to it.
Christian
Nestell Bovee
Once I got
it backed into and then parked under a spot that looked plentiful with huge red
apples I stepped out of the truck and listened to the crunching of those half
eaten apples already lying on the ground under my Pink Cadillac Boots. The
apples that on Thanksgiving Day I had noticed were ripe and ready but decided
to wait to go pick them to make that applesauce for the winter to fill my
freezer. High winds and heavy rain had dropped 70% of those apples to the
ground in one night, I was too late. Drat.
This teetering
all started when I dragged the ladder out of the basement with a recycle box
and two cardboard boxes with high expectations, I knew there were still apples
in that tree and also knew that I may be able to salvage some of the grounders
that did not get bruised that hopefully landed softly in the hay field that
still had tall soft hay growing under the tree. I had not seen those Taunting
Turkeys the week before Thanksgiving and thought the whole idea of “Turkey Day”
had made them nervous so I knew the apples had not been pecked or tainted.
Today was the day, now or never. Oh I could smell and taste that applesauce
that would be cooking on my stove.
The cows
were standing at the gate I wanted to go through in the barnyard they probably
knew of the plan too and they love apples I wondered how they always knew my
every move. I went through the other gate and left them standing there with sad
hopeful faces. I wondered if Annie has ever eaten an apple.
As soon as
I parked under the best looking part of the tree, then tucked it under the red
luscious bounty above and stepped out of that truck I knew this was not going
to be an easy task finding the good apples. Those apples littered all over the
ground were bruised and not only that there were bites out of them. I knew now
those smart Taunting Turkeys were coming out under cover of darkness or at
least when I was not looking and possibly roosting in that apple tree then
feasting and running to hide before day break, I could also see apples had been
dragged off and half eaten not pecked meaning some other night creature had
been having a feast, possibly the deer, raccoons or maybe even a bear I had no
idea but wished I had a trail cam like some other smart bloggers have in there
forest. I am pretty sure there is a whole lot of partying going on while I
sleep and apples seem to be the party favour of choice. Drat.
After all
the up and down the ladder, moving of the truck and stretching to my limit I
was just about to give up when I saw the most beautiful rosy red delectable
looking apple just above my head, it looked slightly misshapen I reached out to
grab it when a wasp flew out of it, I pulled my hand back quickly. I grabbed my
camera and took a shot. The competition for apples this year is indeed fierce.
I could not believe what I saw.
Lady bugs
eat apples; this I did not know. Turkeys, cows, deer, bears, raccoons, wasps,
bees, flies and now ladybugs I could not believe that I had ended up with any apples at all. With the job done I just had to get that ladder back to the basement
and get to work on that small box of perfectly picked apples. Annie will probably
love the grounders I had picked for her. I cannot wait to see my Taunting
Turkeys smiling faces when they see just how many beautiful slightly bruised
apples I left for them on the ground. I am pretty sure they will be a little
disappointed that there will be no more jumping games to reach the ones hanging close to
the ground, I got those. Take that my friends.
Later.
Well I hope you got a few good apples after all of your hard work. Happy Monday don't work too hard.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a girl I had a seasonal job sorting through the blechy apples on the ground to find the few good ones, so I definitely feel your pain. :-) I'm so glad you were able to get a few treasures for your trouble!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post with nice photos!!
ReplyDeleteOh those taunting turkeys :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that ladybugs ate apples either? Interesting.
I didn't know ladybugs liked them either. Our apple trees didn't produce very well this year.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels (and wasps) are fond of my apples. Squirrels have a bad habit of knocking an apple out of tree and then taking just one bite. Hmmm. Then they climb the tree to knock another one down. Wasps continue the job on the now-bitten-into apples.
ReplyDeleteDown here in NTX it was always the rats and the mockingbirds that stole my few apples. Apples do not grow well here due to the cotton fungus that is endemic in the soil. It causes root rot and eventually kills the tree.
ReplyDeleteLadybugs like apples who would have thought...and the Wasp share that I wouldn't have thought either...Apple harvest has finished here, but the pickers always seem to leave a few on the tree for us bikers or strollers..nothing better than a fruit off its tree.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have apple trees down here, and I so loved reading your lovely account here. I didn't know lady bugs ate apples, either! The cow pic made me smile. I've seen that look at the gate many times. I want to go munch on an apple now!
ReplyDeleteYou know how to make even the most "normal" chores fun! :) I hope you got some good applesauce...or apple pie filling out of those apples. The turkeys will keep hanging around, that's for sure, with all those tasty treats on the ground.
ReplyDeleteWell at least you got some of them. I can smell the apple pie now, and the apple sauce and the apple butter and.....
ReplyDeleteYum. That last apple looks so appetizing. Extra protein. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThe island I live on is known as the Apple Isle, but not so much these days due to cheaper imports.
ReplyDeleteHowever, many here grow apples still, and it's good to know you can grow them too. I do like apple sauces but not apple pie - now there is a turn up for the books..a saying if you haven't heard of it :) Hugs M xoxo
We are being invaded by ladybugs as the temps had been warmer then normal and are now cooling down ! I hope you got some apples after all . Great post and photos ! Thanks for sharing ! Have a good week !
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your apples and have fun making applesauce, Miss B.
ReplyDeleteI made Apple Pie Squares and Snickers Bar Apple Salad on Saturday. I wish I had some little farm apples to bake with. Granny Smith's were on sale last week.
I LOVE apple stuffed turkey!!! :-}}
ReplyDeleteLol at Ian!
ReplyDeletePicking apples is on my agenda today too. I want to try drying them in my big dehydrator- and make some apple sauce or my favorite, apple butter. Mmmmm!
My horses get the bruised apples.
We have tons of ladybugs here this year! The squirrels did the same thing with my tomatoes, one bite, and onto the next! I hope you got enough apples to make a pie or two!
ReplyDeleteB,
ReplyDeleteI hope you were able to get enough apples to make the applesauce you were talking about.
Did Annie like the apples you picked up for her?
I had no idea lady bugs like apples.
Stay warm!!!
Such a good post, Buttons! I hope you have enough apples for what you plan for them. I love homemade applesauce!
ReplyDeleteThose are some beautiful apples! They will make some delicious applesauce. Yum, I can smell it cooking now. :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know ladybugs ate apples either. That's interesting. I guess all kinds of creatures enjoy the good healthy foods.
stolen sweets are always sweeter
ReplyDeletestolen kisses much completer
stolen looks are nice in chapels
stolen, stolen be your apples
at least you got some good ones. and the cows will get some bad ones. :)
ReplyDeleteYou got some great apples and hope they made some delicious applesauce! If it were me I would not be climbing up the ladder in the back of the pickup! You did good.
ReplyDeleteMarcy would be picking all from the ground and cutting them for that one good bite!
ReplyDeleteMy horses loved apples.
Glad you got some choice picking done and glad that ladder was steady.
Such a plethora of apples for everyone. Loved the photos. Do be careful out there : )
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't know that lady bugs ate apples either. Crazy! Scary seeing you on that ladder - be careful!
ReplyDeleteA great apple-picking story. Now I just wish I could taste a bowl of that applesauce. If I had an apple tree, I'd have lots of big critters here at the banquet.
ReplyDeleteeasy pickin's for the cows!!
ReplyDeletei had no idea about those lady bugs, smart little buggers!!
Taunting turkeys, and turkey day makes them nervous...lol.
ReplyDeleteGood one, and a beautiful description of life among the apple trees.
Jen
I shook the last red delicious off of our tree this weekend -- it looked like a keeper from afar, but not so much up close. :)
ReplyDeleteTons of apples. Hope you got some good ones. Love the cows. We have an old apple tree in a pasture, the cows stretch their tongues out to try to reach them. Its cute and funny. Have a beautiful day.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that overnight it can be suddenly too late to harvest... years ago I moved into an old house that was sheltered under a huge tree (later I knew it was a black walnut). Come the first fall strong wind the house sounded like it was under fire, a thunderous rapping on the roof. It was a bit of a scare until the next day I found all the walnut in their green hulls, oh and I found out the hard way you don't want to peel them with your bare hands, I'm sure that's where Old English Furniture Polish comes from... my hands were black for weeks!
ReplyDeleteBeing a prairie boy where we don't grow apples your story and account on the apples was very informative. I could smell and feel the apples.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the birds are fond of the apples here. I need to pick a few more soon, to make more apple sauce. You shots are wonderful and did not know that ladybugs like apples.
ReplyDeleteSounds like everyone is enjoying your apples. Even the Ladybugs. I had no idea they even liked apples. I always enjoy my visit here.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
I hope Annie liked her apple. Out 'SI' the apple eater has been calling to me every morning when she sees me in the yard and doesn't stop until I toss her an apple.
ReplyDeletelove to pick apples, looks like you did some good one and the animals got the others!!
ReplyDeleteMichael
Hilton Head Large Birds
Your post brought a smile to my face. My husband and I love picking apples. I am like you teetering on the top of a ladder, reaching for that perfect apple. Yours look perfect. I'm glad we left several on the trees, as our birds and other critters need them with all of this snow. Enjoyed the post. You captured the essence of the job (if you call having fun a job).
ReplyDeleteIt's so crazy how a blink of an eye and the apples can be down *just like that*. At my dad's place, the deer come and gobble them up as soon as they drop. Hopefully you'll get something good made in a jiffy!: )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful are your photos!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, RW & SK
You got a good haul!!! Happy applesauce making!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are wonderful, the things you do and climbing ladders. Oh do be careful. You didn't say what type of apples you grow. I wondered if they were MacIntosh?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realised there were so many predators for apples but I don't blame them as they are delicious.
I did not realize that ladybugs liked apples. Glad you didn't hurt yourself and those pretty Cadillac boots. Be careful on those ladders!
ReplyDeleteWell, you are energetic! Picking apples on your own sounds like a big job. Reading this reminded me of the year there was a freak storm in October and the apple crop froze. High school kids were given a couple of days off to help the farmers try to salvage their harvest. While the older kids climbed ladders into trees to shake the branches, younger kids picked up the 'drops' for juice.
ReplyDeleteI can just smell the applesauce cooking now. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteI noticed we had yellow jackets eating ours! When I asked the gentleman at the apple orchard about it he said yes, and lady bugs -or the lady bug imposters.
ReplyDeleteI never knew this either!
Good luck with your sauce!!
YUM!
You do have a lot of competition for your luscious apples. I had to laugh at the picture you painted of the party animals munching by the light of the moon. Enjoy your applesauce, you worked hard for it!
ReplyDeleteI congratulate you with this great crop B.!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings to you from the Netherlands,
dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com
This is my first year to have apples from my trees...I didn't expect them, so it was a welcome surprise. I had thinned them quite a bit so that they didn't overproduce (they're young trees), but still ended up with a lovely batch of apples. I'm starting to learn how many challenges there are with the weather, fungus, birds, etc. So much can go wrong! And yet the ones we get are soooo gooood!
ReplyDeleteI've canned a lot of apples this year, canned a batch of applesauce, made several pies and crisps and last Sunday picked three more bushels. We've had a lot of critters eating them too, including wasps and ladybugs! I was so glad I didn't get stung when I stuck my hand right on a wasp! And you need to get one of those apple picking baskets and attach it to a pole with an extension. Honestly Buttons! A ladder in the back of a truck!!! Now I'm scolding!
ReplyDeleteI need to get picking here. Sigh. What a (too) busy fall we've had.
ReplyDelete