Covid Journal, Day 247: Apple Butter Day

40, cold and drizzly this morning. Rained almost all day Saturday, or misted, and foggy. Sunday was mostly cloudy but about 60; then rain late afternoon.

What a whirlwind weekend! After months of little to no visitors, the past few days have been the complete opposite.

Oldest son George came in Thursday night, and spent Friday golfing with his brother, third son Derek. He came over for dinner afterwards, and we had a nice long visit. George had Covid in June, so I feel pretty safe around him. I had baked in the afternoon--apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and bread, and made comfort food for dinner--meatloaf, green beans and fried potatoes. He was really hungry, so it was a good choice. George is very fit, a hiker, biker, kayaker and golfer, so he can handle calories.

Larry and ran some errands Saturday morning, then granddaughter Grace arrived from Nashville with her boyfriend Bailey, who lives not far from us. We hadn't seen her, or George, for almost a year, so I was so happy to see her. Again, as safe as we can get these days--she's in law school and the students all mask up and sit long distances apart. She doesn't go out except as needed. Her boyfriend has been holed up at home since a job he expected to start in the summer was put on hold due to the pandemic. We had a great visit. Dinner was leftover meatloaf, since I always make too much, veggies and parsley potatoes.

George and daughter Grace.

Larry and I were up early to start breakfast for the apple butter crew. It was one of those events that started small but grew, so I figured to just cook a lot and see who showed up. I made tea, coffee, stacks of from-scratch waffles and a fresh berry compote, while Larry cooked up bacon and sausage. Granddaughter Haley showed up and brought granddaughter Michaela with her; then Derek and a friend of his, Hannah and her boyfriend Jacob and little boy, and my friend Tonya and her daughter Maggie. Everyone ate, so I was glad we made plenty. The doors were open most of the time, people were in and out and usually far enough apart to not have to worry.

In the beginning...

While the last arrivals ate, the guys got the fire going and started the kettle. We start with a quart or two of water in the bottom of the kettle, a few pennies. When the water boils, we add the applesauce. Then the stirring starts, and continues until the last little bit is scraped from the kettle into a jar. Maggie said that years ago she helped her grandparents make apple butter, and her grandfather made a schedule so that the grandchildren stirred in 15-minute rotations. What an organized man!

Tonya and Maggie were the champion dishwashers. They washed all the breakfast dishes, and then all the jars that still needed washing. I went outside to sit down a minute and drink a cup of coffee, then I was back in the kitchen to make potato-leek soup with fresh leeks and onions from the garden. Michaela, Tonya, and Maggie helped me peel all the potatoes and chop some green onions. I made a plate of crackers and cheese, warmed the homemade bread and that was lunch. 

A lot of the crew got involved in helping Larry split up the huge logs from that downed tree that's been waiting for him to work up all summer. Even the girls got into splitting those giant logs.  And little Ryland was there to supervise.

Almost ready. The color changes dramatically after the addition of sugar.

Derek's jar-filling contraption. It worked great.

Hannah took on the job of getting rings and lids on, with help from Poppa Larry.

Everyone hard at work for that last phase. Me? I ran for more jars, lids, rings, whatever was needed. And took a few photos.

And done--it took about 6 hours to cook down, about a half hour longer than usual but the extra sauce we added extended the time.

We ended up with about 37 quarts, more than usual because we added more sauce as the kettle cooked down. Usually we get about 30 quarts. Derek made a cool contraption for jarring up the sauce, and we had a real production line going getting it done. And just in time--the rain showers came just as Larry was washing up the kettle.

It was a great day--perhaps some risk of the virus, because there were times when we had to work closer together, but being outside and a breeze blowing mitigated the risk. It was wonderful to have the house full again, and to be able to cook for family. It was literally a balm for my mind and soul.

When everyone was gone and the house was quiet again and mostly cleaned up, I made a pot of English tea and sat. And read. My feet and legs ached, and so did my face, from smiling. A good day.

Today Larry is off deer-hunting with George, and I am roasting a turkey to pick from the bone and freeze. Turkeys are so cheap right now, I've bought 4 and will put up three of them. Then I'm off to our Ravenswood booth to restock, by myself this time. Another good day.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.