Pages

Saturday, September 4, 2021

It's Apple-Picking Time in the Desert!



As strange as it may seem, this area -- the Mesilla Valley -- was once known in the Southwest as an apple center. There is still a local family who as a labor of love run a very old orchard that had fallen into disrepair. They offer U-Pick during a few weeks of the year. As this is a missionary family who go overseas most of the year, they are not able to keep the orchard as spruced-up as those who are living here full time. Plus, the family is just a lil' bit weird. No judgment! So it's a wild and woolly little place. 


In the desert, trees don't grow as tall as they do in less harsh areas. A
very old tree might be only 10 or 12 feet tall. 



I went apple picking yesterday. I love to pick apples or any fruit or vegetable! But the mosquitoes were fierce and it was very humid in the orchard. I had mosquitoes trying to go up my nose and light around my eyes, the only places I hadn't put Off Deep Woods! 

It was still a lovely time, though. My husband didn't come with me, as it would be too far for him to walk to get to the trees, and I was also going to go from there straight to Mass.

TIP if you're apple picking this fall: If you see a spider web on an apple's stem, pick that one! Mrs. Spider has kept the bugs off of it and it will be a pretty apple! 

A few of the photos I took reminded me of the Garden of Eden, with a veil over the apple tree, before All The Trouble!




There were big apples and very small apples. There was a row of Jonathan apples, too, maybe my favorites! Below is a big apple of unknown type, and there were even bigger ones. I got one the size of a grapefruit.


A lot of what looked like "Grandpa Ott" morning glories were twined up in the trees and garlanding the apples. It was so beautiful. I wish the photos were as vivid as it looked in real life.






The windfall apples were everywhere and footing was tricky. Stepping on an apple in the tall grass either gave me a jolt as it rolled underfoot, or the unpleasant sensation of sinking in mush. I told the owners that they might want to "run hogs" in the orchard to clean up all the fallen apples, but I don't think they understood what I meant.



"Run hogs?" "Yes, borrow some hogs, let them eat up the apples." "Hogs?" "Yes, folks raising hogs, ask them if they want to bring their hogs and let them eat up the fallen apples. Run some hogs." "Hogs, like pigs?" "Yes, pigs!"
 
I bought two peck bags to fill. Each one holds about 14 pounds, but I put so many little apples in there between the huge apples that it was quite a bit heavier! "I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck!" So I got to see first-hand a "peck!" 

I love the twin apples still connected at the stem!


I picked early so as to be able to make noon Mass. One peck was hauled into the church and put up on a table where there are free holy cards and such. 
I was early, and kept peeking over there instead of attending to my prayers, to see if anyone wanted any apples. I was getting anxious because no one took any. Oh ye of little faith! I finally settled down and looked up at Mary and stopped worrying no one wanted the apples. I always try to sit closest to a statue of Mary in any church.


After Mass, I stayed for what is called the Sacrament of Healing, where you can get blessed and annointed for maladies physical and emotional. I was nearly the last in line and when I left, there were only three little apples still in the bag! Hooray! Today I'm bringing most of the other bag, too. And I'm keeping some out for the priest. I'm keeping a few for us, to make some "fried apples" to put over ice cream, because I think that will tempt my husband to eat. If ONLY needing to be tempted to eat was my problem.


I am hoping the corn maze place will have pumpkin U-picking this year! Last year, nada, due to COVID, of course.

Do you go to any U-pick places during the fall, for apples or punkins or what have you? Or any special outings to gather things from nature for fall or winter?

[ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-   <--- cat walking on keyboard made this interesting border! ]

41 comments :

  1. what a beautiful place to visit and the plus of all those apples. wow. we grow year round here but not apples. yummmm and i like the photos of the overgrown orchard, my kind of place

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'd fit right in that little wild orchard for sure! And with your photographing talent I bet you would have gotten a lot of great shots.

      Delete
  2. I miss tree-ripened New Mexico apples. They are so good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Truly, they are the best! It's the river water, I think! And the valley soil.

      Delete
  3. It was a lot of fun to go with you picking apples, especially as I didn't have to directly experience stepping on the squishy windfalls! It's been years since I did any U-pick of anything, but I am looking forward to visiting my favorite apple ranch this month and next, and the next, and bringing home boxes of my favorites, of their 30 varieties. So far in our area we only have Gravenstein apples, but others will be ripening soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! 30 kinds! This place had 3 kinds. Are you going to make applesauce with the boxes of apples?

      Delete
  4. Sweet post. You find such joy in the simplest things. I love that about you.
    In the fall I gather black walnuts. Sometimes I just use them as bowl fillers when they turn black...and sometimes I make dye. I also gather pinecones to use during the Christmas season.
    Happy Labor Day weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh gosh, black walnuts! Gathering nuts is hard! And black walnuts are so rare. And rarer still to have the lore to make dye from them! Oh, I'm with you on the pinecone gathering!

      Delete
  5. An artful kitty!!
    Oh boy, Jonathon apples. My all time favorite (I've never been able to find them in our stores). We used to have trees if different apples at my folks house. Yum!!! You could always find me under the apple tree with my shaker of salt.

    As a teen, I used to earn extra money by picking cherries & peaches in the summers.

    Happy weekend. And please, put an extra dollop of fried apples on your dessert for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since you asked so sweetly, I will definitely have extra fried apples in your honor. Ha ha. Salt on apples! Well now, I have learned something new and I'm going to try it today!

      Delete
  6. You're right!! The sunbeams shining through the trees do make one think of the Garden of Eden.
    I love that you took most of your apples to church to share with others.
    We've always gone fruit picking, every Fall. I know DH isn't thrilled with going any more especially since apples are cheaper in the grocery store than when we pick our own. But it's just PART OF FALL. A tradition, if you will.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, GM, it's the tradition that is so delightful, aside even from the apples! I hope you will make a post each time you go fruit picking this fall! I want to see, too!

      Delete
  7. Oh, you have made me want to cry...with joy, of course! I LOVE apple orchards and picking apples, but alas, there aren't any here in Florida. I do miss that so much! I wish I could talk my hubby into a little trip up north a ways to find an apple orchard and pick some. That would be fun. Oh, you also made me cry when you sang, "I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck". I remember my mother singing that song to me as a little girl, and then I remember her Daddy, my Grandpa Tedlie, also singing that song to me on the few times we were able to visit him. He was wonderful, but we lived in Florida and he and my Grandma lived in Ohio, so we only got to see them on summer vacations. And my Grandma was kind of sickly all the time and so we couldn't spend a lot of time at their house. But the times that we could I really loved. Thank you for this post. It truly did make me cry. I'm so glad the people picked up the apples and will enjoy them. You are so kind to share them with everyone. I'm afraid I would be more selfish than that. I love fresh apples SO much! Oh, that's funny about the hogs running and the people didn't quite understand what you meant. Funny indeed. Love the sunbeams shining in the "Garden of Eden" too. And the morning glories...what a beautiful picture. I loved everything about this post. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now you've made ME cry, too! But good tears. What beautiful memories of "the old folks" now gone! To me, it can seem so recent that they were here with us, but no, it's decades sometimes. I can't wait for that Heavenly reunion, I can tell you that! I so hope you get to pick some apples soon!

      Delete
  8. Love the little orchard gone rogue....my kinda place. New Mexico is full of surprises...never would have thought you'd have apple orchards (not sure WHAT, exactly, I thought you DO have LOL). At least the shorter trees must make the picking easy. I don't believe I have ever had a Jonathan apple. My favorites are Honeycrisps. They should be ready here soon and I used to go to an orchard not far from here to pick them, but haven't in years. Like Lauren, I enjoy picking black walnuts. I'm a scavenger at heart, though, and there is no better place than a woods in fall. I will go and wander then and my pockets will be full every time I return home. ~Robin~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With your keen mind, I can only imagine the treasures you bring back from your woodland wanderings! And the things you must see, too, like little mushrooms and mosses! Is it crazy that I pretend I'm an elf wandering in some Lord of the Rings woods? Wow, I can't even imagine how delicious a Honeycrisp must be right off a tree. I have only recently tasted one from the store and it was heavenly.

      Delete
  9. Yes we try to pick apples each year with our grand daughter and then we bake something good with them. You can also make pie filling and freeze it and when you are ready for a pie you just thaw enough to get it into a pie plate put the crust on the top you are ready to bake
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  10. When I lived in MO, my friend had an apple orchard on her property. Every year I went out and got as many apples as I wanted. She didn't sell her apples, just let her friends pick as many as they wanted. She also had a pecan orchard, but those she DID sell to a company, maybe Planters. The pecans required special shaking equipment to get them from the trees. I always took enough to make some recipes at Christmas, but she would have given me as many as I wanted.

    You have really given me a wonderful memory of apple picking. How sweet of you to take the apples to the church for those who are less fortunate. Happy Labor Day on Monday, dear.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, what a wonderful post of apples, Holly. That's so nice that you have an orchard close by to pick apples. And so thoughtful of you to give a bag to the people at your church. I am familiar with the Sacrament of Healing, as I've gone up there before when I was ailing with something. The Mary statue is just beautiful. September is her birthday month. : ) We always go to a place called Apple Hill, but now that I'm living in the mountains I won't be able to go this year. It has apple everything.....apple pie, apple fritters, caramel apples, hot apple cider, etc. It looks like you got yourself a nice selection of apples, and I do like that turquoise table you placed them on. Is that in your kitchen?

    Thank you for your apple post today, Holly. Apples always say "Autumn" to me Your fried apples sound scrumptious.

    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Apple Hill" sounds like a wonderful place and it was a family tradition? I know, things change, but it's nice to remember those previous fun outings even as new traditions are made. It can be a little bitterseet to remember, though! My little turquoise table is by the front window; we cut the legs down so that the pets can sit on it and look outside. The things we do for pets!

      Delete
  12. Picking was required when I was younger. Corn, green beans, cherries, apples, apricots, peas, radishes, carrots, potatoes, beets, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkin... you name it we had to pick it. Fresh fruit was a staple. Canned goods were a must. My mother canned, made pickles, and made jams, jellies, and butters to be used during non-seasonal times. Of course they taste better but I don't want to pick them any more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I picked pecans when I was young. My father had an orchard he grew from year-old trees. It was tough work and I sold the orchard I inherited! You picked so much, no wonder you don't want to revisit all that hard work.

      Delete
  13. Your apple-picking-day pictures are wonderful! Much to our chagrin, most of the fruits in our area were killed this year by a late spring freeze. I will remember the tip about the spider's web on the stem. I should think I would sit nearest to Mary's statue too. That made me smile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How sad about the late freeze getting your fruits! Mother Nature is a stern mistress! Oh yes, I MUST sit near Mary and it's what motivates me to get to Mass early, I want that seat closest to her!

      Delete
  14. Never would have thought an apple orchard would be in your state. I use to go apple, pear and strawberry picking. Not no more though. Looks like you scored on those apples! Funny how the folks did not know what running hogs meant. Janice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was extremely surprised to find an apple orchard in our area, too. Yet there is ANOTHER one is the next county over that is even hotter and drier! Surprising!

      Delete
  15. I just love your blog and every post you write is special. The apple orchard is beautiful and I love the morning glory vine climbing the apple tree. I've picked strawberries and blueberries at a "pick your own" farm. I would love to pick apples...I love apples, especially in the fall. Think I will check around for an apple orchard so we can pick apples, like you did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I so hope you can find an orchard this fall for u-picking!

      Delete
  16. Wonderful blog via tip from Red Rose Alley
    There are places to pick your own apples here in Vermont. I think this year, I might give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sure hope you will, as I think you will enjoy it greatly! Something about fall and picking apples, I think it makes the apples taste even better!

      Delete
  17. I tried to leave a comment yesterday, hope it works today!
    When I was a student I used to go apple picking in September, it was hard because of the weather, rain, fog and cold in the early mornings.but it was nice to earn some money.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh gosh, yes, picking them for REAL and not for FUN would be very tough!

      Delete
  18. Hello thank you for your visit. The 4711 eau de Cologne is a mix of orange, lemon,bergamot, basilic and peach very fresh when it’s hot!
    Have a good day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your apple picking looks like so much fun! My parents had apple trees in their yard and dad took very good care of them. Such good care, in fact, that they had more apples than they could ever use themselves. They used to pull into my driveway with grocery bags full of apples and I couldn't let any go to waste. I made apple pie, sauce, candy.... Of course, I made extra pie filling and canned it for later in the year. Just this week I made fried apples! We like them with sausage breakfast, and, like you, over ice cream. :) Thanks for such a fun blog. Your story of apples at Mass was wonderful, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dear Holly, I so enjoyed this posting--and I felt throughout that you had enjoyed posting it and having a wonderful u-pick adventure. Thanks for the advice about the apples and spider webs. I just never knew that.

    Like you, Jonathan apples are a favorite of mine and many are grown here in Missouri. Just the other evening--despite the heat being in the eighties--I turned on the oven and baked my an apple cobbler. Made up the recipe and for once I was on target. Delicious! Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Loved the story of the weird missionary family who didn't know what a hog was, lol. That is a good idea for cleaning up those apples. What a nice idea to share them at church! I have a friend with a blueberry U-Pick. My hubby always loved to sing that little "I love you a bushel and a peck" song to our children and grandchildren. Thanks for the good memory! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi,
    Oh, I loved this story. I laughed about the hogs/pigs. You do have a fantastic idea!
    We will pick apples in the next two weeks. I do love visiting the orchard.
    Love, Carla

    ReplyDelete
  23. Crochet Windspinners, who knew? You are welcome, have fun. It is a very simple project using basic stitches...no stress. :)Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your pretty photos of the apples and the orchard made me smile, my husband and I owned a 5 acre apple orchard for some years, and had all old fashioned varieties of apples. Any apples that fell to the ground were sold to feed hogs, like you mentioned.

    ReplyDelete

Have a comment to share? I hope you do! I love hearing what others have to say.