Tuesday, 1 November 2022

26 Blogging Days and A is for Apples

 If I don't write on a Sunday   there are 26 blogging days in November, so one for each letter of the alphabet.

I'm going to try and think of something with some sort of connection or something I've done, right through the month. 

(Thank you and apologies to Trundling Through Life blog for the A-Z idea - hope you don't mind me pinching it!)

November 1st and A is for apples


The best apples I've ever eaten were the 6 and a bit from my new Minarette tree. They are a variety called Falstaff. Juicy, crunchy - delicious. I just wish I'd bought 3 of these instead of 1. The other two Minarettes look to be a year younger and had no fruit this year, they are called Charles Ross and are earlier and can also be cooked. 
The Falstaff were so good I've ordered a bigger tree to put in the lawn - I seem to be turning my small back garden into an orchard - Must NOT move again.

I eat an apple most days - some are better than others. At least the varieties are now named and often a few different ones available. It's not so long ago that the only apples in the supermarket were Golden Delicious - bland and boring.. I tend to buy whichever are cheapest (avoiding the Golden Delicious) and it's often the small ones labelled for children or bigger packs containing more than the usual 6. It's crazy that to buy loose, IF there are any loose, they are always more expensive. 

I seem to remember many, many years ago that one of our  Family Sunday Drives (did you have to endure these?) would be out to a big orchard where we would buy a whole box of Coxes apples. Layered in a box in special shaped trays they would last for weeks although my Dad ate two or more a day - core, pips and all until nothing was left except the stalk. Colin was the same. I'm Not.

Apparently 2022 was a very good apple year, so there should be plenty around all winter.


If you have any ideas for things I could write about for each letter - please let me know. I have plans for B,C,D, F and H so I need E and G very soon  but what on earth will I do for Q, X and Z!

Back with B tomorrow
Sue


36 comments:

  1. There’s a world wide ‘Blogging from A-Z’ challenge each April…..which is almost bordering on big business. I like the idea of one in November at the other end of the year - a smaller more casual one.

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    1. I'd not heard about an April A-Z - I'll look out for it next year

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  2. I really am amazed at how many apples you managed to get on your small tree.

    God bless.

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    1. The Minarette trees are trained to fruit on short spurs but I was surprised to have 7 in the first year

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  3. It sounds like a fun challenge! We always took our children to the apple orchard each year when they were growing up. It used to be a fairly cheap afternoon outing. We always used to pick the apples and have lots to eat and cook with. Unfortunately, it has now become very commercialised and is quite expensive!

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    1. Wish there were pick-you-own orchards around here but even PYO bush fruit places have gone

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  4. I remember visiting my grandparents when they moved from Tennessee to Indiana. They had these huge apple trees that shaded the house and property. When she wanted us kids out of the house, she’d give us a old pillow case or paper sack and tell us to pick up the apples that had just fallen. Those were the best crisp and sweet apples I’ve ever had to this day.

    I’m amazed you got that many apples on that little tree in its first year. You must have the touch!

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    1. I'm sure it was good luck with the weather that produced all the apples. All I did was plant the tree!

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  5. If you ever get round to it you could do E is for Ely!

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  6. That is an amazing production from your little apple tree. E is for e-mail. G is for garden. Q is for your queen. X? Well have you ever broken a bone? Z - Zowie! You've done it! (I do love word games.)

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    1. G is for Garden - Of course! . Not sure I can think of much for emails

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  7. Yes, Q for Queen would be good (she loved East Anglia - can you find archive pics of Suffolk visits)
    X - is St Francis Xavier in your saints book?
    Z - How about a trip to the Zoo (Suffolk has "Africa Alive" doesn't it)

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  8. In my house Q would be for Quilts!

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  9. Q for Quilts here too! A good start for your little apple tree. When we went to Hay regularly, we would always buy the local Heritage apples, Falstaff being one of them (such a good apple). I have grown a couple of wee "Falstaff" trees from pips - they won't come true of course, but will be the parents, but they came with me, very rootbound, in pots, and are in my orchard and if nothing else will be pollinators. I have always eaten 2 or 3 apples a day and when they are the really tasty sort in season, it's hard to keep out of the fruit bowl!

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    1. 2 or 3 Apples are day sounds more than I can eat as I like so many other fruits too. It's conference pears at the moment in season

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  10. E for eyes or eggs. G for garden, green, grapes or gripes!

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  11. E = evergreen, everlasting, embroidery, medications in my case Earl Grey tea!

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  12. Your Falstaff apples look very tasty. Q for quizzes perhaps?

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  13. Well Z...zombie...which after thinking things from the full alphabet you may well be! x

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  14. Trundling through life (https://trundlingthroughlife.blogspot.com) is delighted to share her idea. But she won't be doing a letter a day! And I am also into pinching ideas. I feel flattered when someone shares one of mine and I hope others feel the same way.

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  15. E is for earth, everyday or energy?

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  16. E = evenings, Q = quiet life, X = Xmas, Z = Z-Cars (old TV programmes).

    Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

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  17. What a good idea for a run of blog posts, it's always nice to think of something new isn't it. Have you had an X-ray that you can blog about ... there, I was a lot of help wasn't I. ;-)

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  18. Your apples look outstanding. I did not think a tree would bear fruit the first year. Our Golden and Red Delicious apples are hard as rocks and lack flavor. I like the New England grown Macintosh apple which has been grown in North America since 1800.

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  19. Wow, those apples on such a compact tree! Some great suggestions for your November A - Z , I look forward to it.
    Alison in Wales x

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  20. It is fun to have a theme for your November posts! You are clever so I am sure you will come up with lots of great ideas to share with us. I am looking forward to it!

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  21. That is a brilliant idea and I'm looking forward very much to reading your November posts. xx

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  22. Q for QI and the brilliant Sandi Toksvig!

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  23. We seldom see Golden Delicious apples (and I've not heard of Falstaff), but yesterday I had a choice of (from memory!) Royal Gala, Granny Smith, Smitten, Rose, Braeburn, Pink Lady and Ambrosia. Unfortunately they are all held in cold store first so don't have that delicious tang of a fresh fresh apple.
    Good luck with coming up with different letters. Sounds like fun :)

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  24. My stepfather has a tree that produces monster bramleys, sadly under used

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