October Medley

Hope you're havin' a great fall, y'all! The weather has been really nice here in the foothills for a couple of months now. As a matter-o'-fact all our plants are doing better than back in the summer. This pineapple sage in my herb bed has gone wild. It's the first time I've grown this plant, and it really does smell like pineapples, but a tea made from it is reminiscent of weeds, for sure....bleah

These are my newest gal chickens. At the time I took this picture they were shyin' away from a li'l commotion in the chicken coop....

A swarm of three-band Italian honey bees showed up one afternoon and stayed around for several hours. There was a queen bee in the center there attached to the roof of the coop, and her subjects and were following wherever she decided to take up residence. They were gone by evening and nobody got stung so no harm. We've kept bees before so we weren't too surprised by them.

I knew when I ran across this pattern that I'd be makin' one for Goodman. He says it's toasty warm and will make workin' around the place warmer in the winter. The hat is Wool-Ease in avocado, and the beard is a strand of  gray Wool-Ease and a strand of eyelash fun fur.

These flower and leaf washcloths were loads of fun to knit...reminds me of all the flower power stuff back in the '70s. ;)

The blue potholder I showed you a few posts back was so much fun I had to make another one.

I'll leave you with a picture from our fall garden - brussel sprouts. I think I like fall gardening way better than summer. The bugs aren't nearly as thick and neither are the weeds.

See you in a week or two or three or four, y'all - the Good Lord willin'. :)

Apple Orchard Tour

One of our favorite places to visit in the fall of the year is Kyle Carver Orchard in Cosby, TN. It's a beautiful spot in the mountains and there's a restaurant where you can refresh yourself once you arrive. The food is really quite good, too. I had chicken and dumplin's again this year. 

 

This was our view from our table in the Applehouse Restaurant. Notice the horses grazin' between rows of apple trees. Gorgeous.

 

 After lunch we browsed the market.

 

 You can buy apples in 1/2 peck bags, by the peck, half-bushel or......

 

 or by the bushel.

 

 Shelves are lined with jugs of flavored ciders....

 

 Locally made jams of all flavors.....

 

 There's fresh produce to choose from, too.

 

 Pumpkins are in abundance in all shapes.

 

 Indian corn for decorating....

 

 Aren't theses gourds adorable.

 

 Mums for potting or planting in your yard.

 

 And fresh-squeezed apple cider processed on the premises.

I bought a 1/2 bushel of red delicious apples and a small bag each of these beauties for cookin'. From left to right are Pinova, Candy Crisp and Arkansas Black. They're all cookin' apples. We had fried apples at breakfast this mornin'...so good.
ETA:  They are similar to what you get at a restaurant like Cracker Barrel, only better when homemade. ;)

Fried Apples
4-5 large apples (Golden Delicious are best)
4 T. butter
sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

Peel and slice the apples. Melt butter in skillet on medium heat and add apples. Fry until tender.  Serve warm. Makes 4 servings.

Hope you're having a wonderful autumn. :)