After chores, breakfast and a leisure second cup of coffee we headed up the 11 Mile to Wellsville. Again I will say, color every where I looked and if you can take the time for a country ride it is the time of the year to enjoy. From farm animals to wild animals, birds and just the beauty all around it is a relaxing few hours well spent. Seeing an old fallen in barn , shed or machinery that has turned rusty with time, it all adds to the beauty of forgotten times. At one time all of this was important to a families survival. I saw apple orchards that have grown past their prime but still trying to put forth a few apples. For thinking there wouldn't be apples this year they are proving me wrong (yes, I am frequently wrong). The apples we have stopped to get a taste test are not so good, rather dry and what I call lip stickers. That means so tart the upper lip sticks to my teeth. You would think with all the rain they would be big, juicy and plump. Worries me a little considering we like to take a couple weekends to press cider with family and friends. Everyone that wants cider brings their empty jugs and a couple bushel of wild apples for pressing. It is an all day pressing with good food provided by everyone, cool brisk fall air and usually warm sunshine. I sure hope we find some good apples soon.Dick seems to think they will sweeten up after the first couple frosts. Perfect match fresh cider and pizza from the outdoor oven! It looks like we will be firing it up next week at low temperatures for a few days to cure it. Too hot of a fire all at once could cause it to crack.....oh we will be cautious!
We saw a farmer working on his brush hog. By the look of what he was doing and the look on his face it was not a good morning for him. Dick and I know all to well he was in for some tired arms before the job was done. He was pulling on electric fence wire that he had run over with the hog. I did that once and it is a nasty, frustrating job getting it untangled. Usually wire cutters and bits and pieces at a time. The other bad thing was getting a new strand of fence up before the horses saw the passage to escape. Life on a farm, even a little one like ours can test our patience. From animal care, lawn and field care, gardening and whatever else comes up we do it because we love it. Move it, move it, is our motto ♡
We have 2 Rose of Sharon Bushes, every September when they blossom I think of a very nice husband and wife that has passed from life on Earth. Laverne and Anna Bella Sloan. They are our DIL's grandparents and grand they were. Country folk from West Virgina. In the short time we knew them and only one visit to their home they stole my heart. Mr. Sloan took Dick wild mushroom hunting which Dick had always wanted to learn and Mrs. Sloan told me of her life as a young girl, raising 10 children and her love for collecting beautiful vintage quilts. People like the Sloans had so much knowledge of everyday simple living to teach. Admiring their Rose of Sharon was all it took, we had two small bushes to take home. They are a memory of wonderful people.
This afternoon I sat on the back porch watching the leaves fall. One in particular took a crazy tumble pattern. I'm sure a little downdraft was the reason. As I was watching it made me think of the importance of that little leaf. It helped to feed the tree and give us oxygen to breathe. The life span is but a few months but it got the job done. Finally it softly settled in my flower bed. One more job, it will act as cover for the spring bulbs and mulch by next spring. No matter how small the job or reason it is a big part of "Passing it On". Like every living thing, there is a purpose. The leaf. ♡
