A brief history: I grew up on a small farm in Oregon's Willamette Valley. We had a big family, seven kids, and we lived a simple, rural life. We didn't have much money but we had what we needed, largely because of our hard work and good health.
As we kids grew older, we dispersed, and eventually four of the five of us who are surviving settled in Washington or Oregon, as have most of our own children.
As my generation began producing our flock of offspring, back on the farm Dad and Mom began the tradition of an annual October cider fest, and we gathered on the farm on an autumn weekend for working and playing and eating and visiting. Our kids, who were little then and are now in their 40's or more, remember those days.
Those kids grew up, Mom and Dad moved off the farm, and the tradition faded away. Then in 1996 my brother Hank resettled in Chehalis, Washington, and renewed the tradition of the family cider bee, or apple squeeze, or cider fest. Our grand children were little, or not even born yet, and have also grown up with the tradition. The kids of long ago are now the grandparents, our kids are now the parents, and their kids are all growing taller that all the rest of us. The family cider bee is alive and well.
Hank purchases the apples from Central Washington.
Strong backs tote the buckets of apples to the crew.
At the first station, the apples are rinsed and quartered.
The crew changes here, as various combinations rotate through. Conversation and silliness happen here.
The quartered apples go to the cider press where they are crushed and squeezed. Mostly the big guys work here.
Our temporary member of the family, a foreign exchange student from Kazakhstan, is enjoying new experiences.
The juice goes to the bottling station. Our hosts, Hank and Cindy, are our quality control.
The pulp gets hauled away and dumped.
Many hands make light work, as the apples disappear.
Some of us do more supervising than working.
Drinking coffee and eating donuts is also important.
So is catching up on the how to of our family communication technology.
Or just visiting and bonding.
These guys :-)
Then Arnold grilled.
And we all ate! And talked some more.
My sister Ilene and my niece Katie have posted photos of our cider bee on Facebook. A few of these photos are borrowed from them. Between the three of us I think we got it all covered.
And now it is recorded for history. Another Norquist Family Cider Bee is in the books. Thanks to all, and especially to our hosts, Hank and Cindy.
The progression of autumn color is happening quickly here now. The native big leaf maples have gone golden, as have other native trees. In the parks and home gardens and parking lots, the landscape trees are adding reds and oranges. Here in our garden, which is mostly in shade now, the color change is slower, which is fine with me. We get to enjoy it longer in the season.
In our neighborhood park, where we go for our walks, the color was peaking this week. Here's a peek.
More gold to come here. It's good to not have it all at once.
In the wooded area the color is much more subtle, but the path will soon be strewn with leaves.
We are heading into what might be our last warm, sunny weekend. Rain will come by Tuesday, and we may not see the 60 degree days again. We'll all have to make the most of these last good days.
Our traditional family cider bee is tomorrow. Morning fog will hopefully clear off to bright sunshine as we work and play and eat together.
Here's to hoping your weekend is great too.
We planted tulip bulbs today. For spring flowers you have to plan ahead. It may still be cold and wet when those glorious colors of orange and purple and pink burst forth. They will be most welcome.
Today the soil was dry and the sun was warm as we worked in the garden. The vegetable garden has been deconstructed, spent plants now on the compost heap. A few annuals are still adding a bit of color in the cutting garden.
Gathering material for my vase for the kitchen table is more of a scavenger hunt now.
There are faded hydrangeas, sedum heads, a few sprigs of blue nepata. I found a clump of re-blooming golden fever few and some trimmings of golden spirea for a base, and a sprig of re-blooming astrantia.
Then I jazzed it all up with bright yellow and orange marigolds.
A little summer, a little fall, and thoughts of spring.
