There’s not a single thing not to like about picking fully tree ripened apples here in the Derwent Valley.
These are the best of the best, my favourite – Granny Smith apples picked in the early sunshine of a crisp, cool, winter morning.
So far many have been stewed, baked whole with various fillings, pickled and spiced, made into crumbles and “strudled”.
Yet there’s ample left to make a goodly amount of cider. These are currently just resting in the shed, waiting for the sugars to develop to the optimum level for this purpose.
Wonderful how nature continues on and still provides such an abundance.