It'll be two or three weeks, I think, until we reach "peak" color around these parts. Here's a preview!
The grape leaves are still mostly green, but there's color around if you look for it.
The warm weather continues. And it's still dry. We're having an invasion of "stink bugs," also called "shield bugs" because their bodies resemble shields. I think we've seen more of them inside and outside than we ever have. I find myself wishing for a cold winter to reduce the population of the little beasties. And some snow would be nice. I can wait, however.
Ew! I remember stink bugs. The reds in those leaves are so rich.
ReplyDeleteThe foliage here locally is ugly as sin right now. The leaves are dropping while still green and then turning a grayish color. When the lawn care workers run their mowers there is a lot of dust blown into the air. Cars are covered in this dust. Soybeans are starting to be harvested and that adds to the dust. We have had Covid cases popping up here also and mask wearing has started once again. Lots of fruit dropping from trees also but is poor in quality attracting the wasps. A dear old friend told me her Concord grape vines produced the sweetest fruit ever. The grapes ripened so fast and early that she has gallons of the juice frozen to use to make jelly all winter long. She said last year that there were hardly any grapes but an unusual amount of growth had taken place. She had the 100 year old vines severely pruned and says that this years harvest was a direct result of that severe pruning. I know that down on my old family farms they have been having bumper crops of fruit that they have been drying taking advantage of the long days of intense summer heat. One of the tenant farmers got out the old copper pot stills we stored away 20 years ago and is making pear liqueur. He said the bumper quince crop made him do it. His secret recipe is to add quince to the pear juices. I am axious to have a tipple or two or three of it. I am promised by the farm manager that for Christmas I will have a nice basket of treats including dried fruits, shelled hickory nuts and black walnuts, a nice selection of fruit leather, fruit liqueurs and sorghum molasses. Some of the older ladies like to bake and I will have some bourbon soaked cakes in tins to last me for months. They also will make a black walnut candy I especially like. They have also promised to save for me a few of the old laying hens that they will harvest and freeze. The hens average about 3 years old , three to five pounds and have fantastic amounts of rich yellow fat and make the best stewed chicken dishes like soups that are rich in flavor. An old cock as they call the old rooster makes an incredible rich broth. A good gelatinous bone broth. I hinted that I really like roasted pork belly so I might be getting some of that, too. I sure would like a nice fresh pork belly. It cost so much here locally I just can't justify the cost of buying it for myself. Okay, I am rambling way too much but hopefully someone will enjoy the report on this years harvest from these parts. I always enjoy reports from Walt and Ken and whats cooking in their kitchen. Be safe. Be very, very careful. Be happy and smile. So says Woody in Ohio Oh, gee whiz, I just checked the temperature and it 40 F . No wonder my fingers are cold typing this at 4:30 am!
ReplyDeleteHello, Woody - I enjoyed reading about your upcoming Christmas Basket of goodies! Wow! You must be highly regarded in those parts! (or perhaps the property owner?) Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed your descriptions and your last remark (I usually awake around that time, myself...but sometimes manage to return to sleep for at least another hour). And I love to read Ken's and Walt's cooking 'classes' as well.
DeleteWe’re having an abundance of stink bugs, too!
ReplyDeleteI much prefer looking at these colorful leaves.
Judy
Autumn is my favorite season. I am not sure why, but it is. Loved the photo.
ReplyDeleteStink bugs invade our house also!
ReplyDeleteEvelyn
From the recent articles on Paris and environs' bedbugs, perhaps you might accept the stink bugs a little longer - especially if you are assured after a frost they will say, "hasta lavista "(sp?)!
ReplyDelete