J.'s turn

I'm done canning apples. My totals? 

• 21 quarts apple sauce
• 4 pints apple butter
• 12 pints caramel apple pie filling
• 6 pints curried apple chutney
• 2 gallons dried apples
• 6 trays of apple fruit leather

Of course, when you suddenly have that many more jars  to store, you have to figure out where to put them. This is why I spent the afternoon cleaning out and reorganizing one of the pantries. I got everything to fit and I no longer have to avert my eyes from the chaos and grossness of that particular pantry. I have enjoyed putting canning supplies away.

J., on the other hand, is just beginning his apple adventure. This weekend he figured out how to build a functioning cider press. B. had come over yesterday to visit, so he helped with the construction. 

The basic frame as of yesterday. It looked even more guillotine like before they lowered that top cross piece.

Today J. finished it and got it working. It took several attempts before he figured out the best way to chop the apples to get the most juice.

But he did figure it out and got a gallon of cider in not too much time. Depending on how much he makes, I may be back in the canning business briefly because we don't have room in the freezer for it. We're also considering the idea of making our own hard cider. 

So all of that used about four bushels of apples. And still, the trees are loaded. It's been a good apple year and actually a very good problem to have.