March 2024

March 2024
Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11


Thursday, July 25, 2024

Apple Report

Alternate title: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

I shall begin with the bad/ugly. Not sure of the difference. Japanese Beetles did some serious damage to the Lodi trees. Thankfully the trees are well established. Not sure how young trees survive such decimation.


The good.




The bad/ugly. Again, not sure of the difference. This old Jon-A-Red tree is the last original one that GrandpaK planted about 40 years ago. Back in the day, it was our main fall sauce tree; we would pick and sauce in late August and September. This variety also made great pies, crisps, cider, and is also good fresh - especially with caramel dip. 

Now - this is what most of these apples look like. 



And many of them turn bright red and then fall right away. Obviously they're diseased or something; but I have no idea what it is or what to do about it. They're not big, but that's easy to explain: this tree has too many apples to thin. Small apples aren't a problem. But the ugly is😕


The other 15 or so trees are doing great though, so if we don't get any Jon-A-Red it's ok. 
If you're local and like apples, lmk. We might have some to share in a few weeks. 







So we keep thinning and thinning and thinning ~ and apples keep growing and growing and growing. They look great!

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