Fall in Sevier Valley

"When are we going to Maple Grove? I wanta see the leaves." Wayne's brother Jim has been wanting to go for a couple of years now and wouldn't go by himself. We decided to take Grandma and have a picnic supper for FHE a couple of weeks ago. Potatoes mined from the garden made a trip to the kitchen, and I made potatoes au graten which would taste good and hold the heat while we made the half hour drive. Luzell (Grandma) is never sure if she is hungry at mealtime any more, but there are two things she will ALWAYS eat: chocolate and potatoes! There didn't seem to be quite enough of it that day. The food tasted so good, eating outside in that wonderful fall air perfumed with the color-changing leaves. Ever noticed that fall tang in the air that tells you the leaves are coming down? It is just Fall!

Our garden has been about 3 weeks late this year, due to a coolish, wonderful gentle Spring. I wondered if the raspberries would ever produce. We were getting teeny little pickings, then all of a sudden the warmth of fall enveloped the the raspberry plants and they started to pop nice big, fat red berries out, a gallon bucket at a time -- plenty for cereal in the mornings and making jam for winter time.

Then the apple and pear trees generously produced several bushels of fruit a piece. About 30 years ago, Mom sent me money for Mother's Day, and when I bought a fruit tree, she said, "Would you like some more trees?" The trees that lived are a Jonathan apple, a yellow delicious apple and a Bartlett pear, and they have been gorgeous this year. I wish I had taken pictures!

The garden is gone now. We had 19 and 20-degree nights, a couple in a row, about a week ago. There are a few things left, but the more tender plants didn't survive even covered with a tarp. We are still looking for people to adopt the apples we can't use ourselves. I can heave a sigh of relief because I know the end is now in sight! I love the fall work, preserving the harvest. I love to be outside. That fall warmth makes me feel like an old cat, wanting to find a sunny spot where I can soak up the sun before wintertime comes.