Late September is apple picking time around here. My brother has a small orchard that he is very generous to share with family and friends. When the call came that fruit was ready to pick, I loaded up the car with boxes and headed to his house. He has several different verities of apples. And said to help myself to whatever I wanted as he had picked all he wanted and so had the other family members.
The day was beautiful not to hot and a nice breeze blowing. We took buckets to haul them in and then transferred the apples to the boxes in the back of my car. He has a vehicle that he drives out to the orchard so we didn’t have to carry the buckets by hand back to the car. Between my brother, sister-in-law and myself we soon had all the boxes filled up.
We had a wonderful visit before I said I needed to head home. I wanted to stop in to see my other brother who lives close by. I don’t get to see them very often as I live over an hour away. My other brother gave me a huge tub of squash, which I greatly appreciated as I don’t have room at my apartment to have a garden.
On the way home I kept thinking about all the ways I was going to process the many boxes of apples. I knew I wanted to make applesauce and apple butter. The sauce I use to make cakes that I give away for Christmas as well as jars of apple butter. We were taught that gifts you made yourself were much better than those you bought. I try to make as many gifts as I can during the holidays.
All in all it was a stellar and productive day. Family is the best. There can be no one else who loves you like your siblings. If you haven’t contacted them lately do it ASAP. Make amends, whatever you need to do to keep in touch. Our heavenly father put us together for a reason. If there is strife in your family ask Him to help you to come to terms with the other, it will benefit you both more than you will ever know.
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