October 4, 2011
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Out and About
So I decided to share some of my photos that I've taken over the past few weeks around my house and general area.
I have been picking apples at my house. This is just one of several boxes and I had washed about half the apples in the box.
This is my sink filled with one box of apples. I can't recall how many were there.
You see the pot in the previous photo. Well this is what was inside. Spiced pickled apples. For some reason one of my trees on a few branches produces these little apples. It's a red delicious tree but they just don't get that big so this year I decided I was going to make some pickled apples instead of cutting up others for apple rings. I've tried a few and am quite pleased.
Here are two apples on the ground.
Trees outside my house. I like when they get that golden color because in the afternoon the sun shines on them and my upstairs turns a golden hue. The downside is that my trees are usually the first to change and lose all their leaves.
In case you've paid attention to my life, I live across the street from a library. They are currently expanding. Remember last week when I wrote about the break-in? Yeah, it was that close.
That is my raspberry batch and "garden". I put all my plants in plastic totes this year. I found it much easier for weeding. It's hard to say if it worked because this year was rough with the heat.
That is one of my apple trees at sunset. I put my Blazer there because it prevents people from stealing apples and I'm also doing some work where I normally park.
This is outside of town. I just loved that contrast.
Can you find the deer?
I was driving in the country a few weekends ago and a storm rose up.
This past weekend I went to some apple orchards just to see why I should be charging people to pick my apples. I love how you can see for miles.
I know I had my camera zoomed as far as it would go for this one. All those trees in the rows are apple trees.
This orchard also sold sunflower products and in the winter sells pine trees.
This was taken on a porch at an orchard. That is the Kickapoo River valley.
The orchards were also selling squash. I don't know why but when I saw these I was reminded of @AdamsWomanFell and figured I had to take photos.
This one reminded me of myself.
Punctuation is very important especially if you are selling a product.
Remember the guard alpacas I mentioned in a pulse last night? Right there they are running around as I came down the road. Oh and notice the milk truck in the first pic. It's a milk tanker. It says "Got Milk! Need Cookies?" A couple of those buildings are just for milking.
Oh and I can't go anywhere without seeing the Amish.
By the way, I've been watching a lot of Storage Wars on A&E. Those auctions are getting quite ruthless.
Comments (69)
So this is a general view of Wisconsin?
Super nice place you've got there, nice, nice apples! Makes me want to plant a couple of apple trees. You think they would grow in Cali?
My old place had one apple tree in the middle of the yard and I eventually had to chop it down - there was a major bee/hornet/wasp situation revolving around the tree every spring/summer. I love rooms bathed in that sun golden hue.
mighty fine locale.
That's so pretty! I've always wanted to go apple picking.
Wow, you live in an absolutely beautiful part of Wisconsin! Gorgeous photos. And what a lot of apples you've been processing! I love this time of year. The leaves are not changing as much yet in Illinois...we are a few weeks behind you, because it's probably cooler up there, but it will be here soon. Next weekend we will make our annual trek to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch....my kids love it, no matter how old they get. Love me some apples! Especially the honeycrisp. Wow. Nearly orgasmic.
@DivaJyoti - Well that is my part of the state, the western portion. They call it coulee country because of all the areas cut out by glaciers. It's quite beautiful around here.
There probably are varieties of apples that would grown out there. I just don't know what they are. The tree I have there is a unique tree because my grandfather did all sorts of grafting and made his own blend of apple and they are still producing his blend. I'm thinking of trying to do my own next spring.
@Melissa___Dawn - I haven't had that big of problem with bees. I think it may be because the apples aren't that sweet but who knows.
@starmanjones - it's great, I love it here.
@heythereJOANN - I need to get a photo of my apple picking pole in action...it may sound dirty but it's not. Most of the apples I have picked this year have been windfalls so I'm bent over all the time and it gets painful after a while.
@musicmom60 - I think when I get the entire crop in, I'll have to get a photo of all I've made so far.
We've had frost a few times already so yeah we are ahead of you.
One of the orchards I went to had special honeycrisp cider. They had free samples so I just stood there filling my cup up over and over again. It was pretty tasty.
I want applesauce reallllly bad.
I had no idea you had Amish there....
It must be cool to have your own apple orchard... very cool
HA! That you thought of me when you saw that squash, makes me so honored and so happy...actually giddy!
I've been asked to leave produce aisles because I was admiring the squash! 
Beautiful apples, you got, Matty! Love the Dick sign.
Beautiful country, too! TY for sharing it with us!
HUGS!
You almost gave me a heart attack. Never in zillion years I did think you'll blogging about fruits, vegetables, greens and gardens.
I like this post very much
You should make applesauce!
nice pic
lot of apples
@opticalnoise - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVCyUwYJ-Xs :3
Had a neighbor that was so upset about kids stealing his apples. He had planted the tree some years before and was looking forward to the first good crop.
He told me that every time he felt he could pick an apple the next day or so it would disappear that night.Working 2nd shift and arriving home at 1 AM I had seen a deer we called big mama taking the apples.He felt much better about that, it struck me as strange that he was upset that a neighbor child was eating his fruit but happy that it was an animal instead.
You live in an absolutely amazing place. Not to mention you have your own apples!
I had no idea Wisconsin was so beautiful! Our trees haven't really started turning yet, although the ones up closer to my parents have.
I really like that photo of the golden tree - I love the colours of Fall.
About two years ago there was a tree on a street I used to walk on to reach my tutoring location, and it turned into a fiery red. It would look magnificent next to a golden-yellow tree.
Hint of what goes into spice pickled apples? Those look soooooo good. I'm hoping and thinking there might be cinnamon involved! I looooove cinnamon!
Awesome photos! I wish I lived across the street from a library... or even a book store! Maybe I'll just add more book shelves to my house and call it good.
Spiced apples sound nom! I like the ones you buy in the grocery store in the glass jar sliced and soaked in sweet spices and...some other type of fruit juice...cranberry I guess that gives it that red color.
you live closer to God, all that nature I envy what your eyes witness
You have a good life!
uhm, this is awkward but... CAN I BORROW YOUR SQUASH
@opticalnoise - I have at least 20 quarts I've made so far and probably could get a dozen more. I usually add cinnamon candy to my applesauce when I cook it down.
@roscoes_farm - I think this area I live in is the largest Amish community outside of Pennsylvania. They are all over the place and aren't always as good as what people make them out to be.
@AdamsWomanFell - and that is why I knew you'd like it. There was one bin filled with those massive things.
Glad you enjoyed.
@RestlessButterfly - hard to believe, right?
@ArmyWife4Life2007 - oh I have made a lot of applesauce, 20 quarts. I add cinnamon candy to it so I have cinnamon applesauce.
@dmcx2010 - @James2012 - thanks, I have to go pick more today.
@ElevenStones - I'm not happy about animals stealing my apples either. I have a rabbit hole under the tree. I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of the mongrels. Thought of getting out the old garden hose and filling up the hole.
@WondersCafe - yeah I have two trees, I feel blessed even if the one tree doesn't produce much.
@randaness - it is really nice on this side of the state in the Mississippi River valley area. They call it God's country. A few years I read a book by a guy that claims that the garden of Eden from the Bible was located in this area.
@Cestovatelka - yeah it really is beautiful around here but in about two weeks it will look ugly because they will no longer be vivid colors and just be drab.
I love those golden yellow colors on the tree, they are so bright and they glow when the sun hits them.
@spinner_mom - yes, cinnamon and allspice and cloves and vinegar amongst other things.
Yeah, I have problems when they have book sales because I try to get over there as fast as possible to see what they have. I've had a few good finds over the past couple of years. One is an altar bible from a Masonic temple.
@bluepillorredpill - I don't know what gives it the red color. I'm assuming it's the combination of spices and vinegar and pigmentation from the apple skins. Anyway, the ones I made taste just the same if not better than the ones from the store.
@passions_trapped - well I don't think I'm any closer than any other person even if this area is sometimes called God's country.
@dingus6 - yeah I am blessed
@ShimmerBodyCream - They were only $3.50 to $5 which is much cheaper than any sex toys.
@godfatherofgreenbay - When I see nature I feel God there that's why I say that. I have a deep rooted love for nature
The area you live in is spectacular. So many colors and such beautiful mountains! I've never tasted pickled apples, what are they like? Do you still taste the sweetness?
Oh and yes, punctuation is very important (lol)!
@ShimmerBodyCream - LOL. Shimmer, you're a sex machine.
My ex's grandparents owned a fairly large orchard around the Menominie area. Oh hellz, there are like three in the state right, all spelled differently. Anyway, probably the one closest to Eau Claire. Your pictures are gorgeous. I do miss Wisconsin. Sigh.
Wow that is a LOT of apples. I've never had them pickled, but I know you can pickle just about anything so I don't see why you can't do it with apples. I'm trying to imagine what it might taste like and I can't do it.
The best apples I ever had were when I was at Girl Scout camp. We cut them open, sprinkled cinnamon and sugar (and maybe something else?) on them, then wrapped them in tinfoil and threw them in the campfire. SO YUMMY. We made peaches that way, too, but the apples were better, I thought. Usually I like peaches better but these were damn good apples.
@godfatherofgreenbay - I'm allergic to fake cinnamon, otherwise I'd have you send me some. Pweaze.
@ZombieMom_Speaks - yeah they taste sweet, I think the term pickled is a misnomer. They are in fact very sweet. They are sort of spicy and sweet. Very good.
I love this area. I need to document more of it or at least share more videos. One of these days I have to get up to my uncle's farm.
@adventofreason - Menominee means rice. I have a friend that lives in that one of which you speak. I've only been up there a handful of times. Mostly when driving from my home in MN to my parents' house. I usually would stop at a Kwik Trip for gas and a brief break. I could make that drive without stopping...about 4 hours. I think that's supposed to make me manly.
@leaflesstree - you know that box is just one of three I picked that day. Today I picked two more boxes that size worth. I think that is all I'll get for the year. I'm converting some of these into canned apple pie filling. I already have 6 quarts.
You know in all my apple eating years I've never ate apples like that. I may have to try well as long as I go to a place that doesn't have a burn ban.
@godfatherofgreenbay - I think there's a way you can do it in the oven, too, but I've never tried, and I don't know if it would be as good without actual fire.
It does indeed make you manly . . . I felt the waves of testosterone issuing forth from your blog. It was, quite frankly, amazing.
Don't mind me. I'm just here admiring those squash again! They are so motivating and inspiring!
Thanks again, Matty!
Pickled apples sound tasty. Omnomnom.
I've been a terrible subscriber as of late and I'm totally out of the loop. Also, for some reason I am unable to view the pictures in posted content from my telephone. I did get to see your picture in my imagination
Thanks to your descriptions, and I enjoyed them all the same. Good post lol!
@leaflesstree - oh there probably is a way, I will have to look it up.
@emily_shannon - yes they are, I still had some brine left over so I made some more but I cut them up and made traditional apple rings.
@Blackspidertat - well two Mondays ago I was outside my house at evening and two cop cars run up outside my house and cops jump out screaming "POLICE!", turned out three kids broke into the library and stole copper wire and money and computers.
I think it's cool you're close that to the library. I wish I was that close to my library. Then I'd be able to walk to it and I'd be there every day lol
@godfatherofgreenbay - My sentiment exactly.
I love the color of those trees too. We have a tree about a mile away that turns that same color (last year though it turned a bright red for some reason).
Nice walk threw your life.
@Shining_Garnet - yeah it was really nice when I didn't have a computer because I'd be able to go over there whenever I wanted but I usually tried to get there an hour before closing time.
@LadyofWaters - I used to remember why trees turned different color but too many head traumas have left me forgetting.
@ElevenStones - He was probably planning to eat the deer. Revenge is sweet.
This is a nice change of pace. If not for the squash photos I would have wondered what the pod people had done with my godfather.
@judyrutrider - I try to be serious once in a blue moon
@godfatherofgreenbay - I think it's the amount of water and minerals in the soil.
@godfatherofgreenbay - oh and the fact that certain trees start turning at different times.