What's up with That?

Looks a lot like work

Matt and Kegan stopped over yesterday and made us six gallons of apple cider from the fruit of the Winesap tree. It is delicious. We froze most of it, but there is a gallon in the fridge awaiting enjoyment.

They used an 1869 cider press Matt bought from the family of an area dairy farmer who was a good friend of ours, which the guys rebuilt a few weeks ago.

I have participated in cider making all my life, starting on our aunt and uncle's farm, and then doing it ourselves for years, making hundreds of gallons each year to sell. However, we always gathered apples to take them to a commercial press and then bottled them there. This was very different...same principal, but more hands on and smaller scale.

I got to play too, turning the crank a bit until I ran out of steam and feeding apples, one at a time, into the hopper. Alas, I have to tell you, I can't feed apples and talk at the same time...

It was great to actually use some of those apples! The poor tree outdid itself this year!
Winter nights will be better with a glass of spicy cider to enhance our dreams and chase away the cold.