CHEERIES
A few years ago, on one of the first lovely, warm summery days in July, I saw a sign advertising "cheeries" above a basket of beautiful, black, juicy cherries. I thought "how true - cheeries". Nothing says "cheery" quite like "cherries".
Anyway, fast-forward about 5 years. We are living on our dream property. It has eight apple trees, one yellow plum tree, one peach tree, one pear tree, two hazelnut trees, one newly-purchased Italian prune plum tree, peach tree and Bing cherry tree. Two mature cherry trees that have produced some fruit and one mature cherry that produced a lot of fruit. We ate "cheeries" as we worked in our yard (and even our Chocolate Lab Rosie had some) - and tried to protect the crop from deer, starlings, crows and robins.
In order to save the fruit, my husband went out on Wednesday and picked nearly 30 pounds of "cheeries" (and still there are more "cheeries" yet to be picked from that same tree) and presented them them to me in five buckets and asked "what do you want to do with these?". Several suggestions popped to mind as I mentally pictured the jams, salsas, plum sauces, fruit juices and apple slices that I made in 2008, 2007 and 2006 and carefully preserved in Mason jars, Ziploc freezer containers and FoodSaver bags and which are still stored in the laundry room cupboard, chest freezer, upright freezer, beer fridge freezer and kitchen fridge freezer. I had already suggested that "cheeries" do not freeze well, that ours are sweet so do not make good pies, etc. and we don't eat a lot of jam and neither of us cares for bottled fruit.
Last night we made jam. FOUR hours worth (or 8-people hours) - he used the new $50 "cheery" pitter while I stood over two steaming cauldrons of bubbling jam that took a lot longer to thicken than the recipe implied. Did I mention that it was very hot here yesterday - although not the 100 plus that some of you are having, but 85 is hot for this area. I expect that there will be complaints about how sweet the jam is. There is only about 16 jars. I chose to cook and freeze about half the fruit since 11:30 pm is too late to be "cheery" over cherries.
Then I had a lovely beverage from Scotland (with ice and a splash of water) - and pictured the yet-to-ripen apples, plums, pears, peaches and hazelnuts. Oh - and in a few years, we will have even more fruit from the aforementioned newly-purchased fruit trees. And my nice new neighbour has offered me some raspberry canes. And we think we might like a veggie garden ...
CHEERS!
Anyway, fast-forward about 5 years. We are living on our dream property. It has eight apple trees, one yellow plum tree, one peach tree, one pear tree, two hazelnut trees, one newly-purchased Italian prune plum tree, peach tree and Bing cherry tree. Two mature cherry trees that have produced some fruit and one mature cherry that produced a lot of fruit. We ate "cheeries" as we worked in our yard (and even our Chocolate Lab Rosie had some) - and tried to protect the crop from deer, starlings, crows and robins.
In order to save the fruit, my husband went out on Wednesday and picked nearly 30 pounds of "cheeries" (and still there are more "cheeries" yet to be picked from that same tree) and presented them them to me in five buckets and asked "what do you want to do with these?". Several suggestions popped to mind as I mentally pictured the jams, salsas, plum sauces, fruit juices and apple slices that I made in 2008, 2007 and 2006 and carefully preserved in Mason jars, Ziploc freezer containers and FoodSaver bags and which are still stored in the laundry room cupboard, chest freezer, upright freezer, beer fridge freezer and kitchen fridge freezer. I had already suggested that "cheeries" do not freeze well, that ours are sweet so do not make good pies, etc. and we don't eat a lot of jam and neither of us cares for bottled fruit.
Last night we made jam. FOUR hours worth (or 8-people hours) - he used the new $50 "cheery" pitter while I stood over two steaming cauldrons of bubbling jam that took a lot longer to thicken than the recipe implied. Did I mention that it was very hot here yesterday - although not the 100 plus that some of you are having, but 85 is hot for this area. I expect that there will be complaints about how sweet the jam is. There is only about 16 jars. I chose to cook and freeze about half the fruit since 11:30 pm is too late to be "cheery" over cherries.
Then I had a lovely beverage from Scotland (with ice and a splash of water) - and pictured the yet-to-ripen apples, plums, pears, peaches and hazelnuts. Oh - and in a few years, we will have even more fruit from the aforementioned newly-purchased fruit trees. And my nice new neighbour has offered me some raspberry canes. And we think we might like a veggie garden ...
CHEERS!
Add a Comment
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Comment by Nanny Gayle/La. on July 24, 2009 at 10:05pm - If only you were just around the corner or 2 or 3 corners. I love fresh fruit. I think the only one you did not mention was muscadines.
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Comment by Cat Lady--MO on July 4, 2009 at 12:56pm -
Considering how much I just paid for a pound of "cheeries" I sure wish I had them in my backyard. I eat them like candy when they are in season and affordable on a budget (unless I splurge once in awhile). But I do not envy all of the canning and preserving.
By they way, I do freeze my dark Bing Cherries. Just have to remember to eat them while they are partially frozen, the same way you eat frozen grapes.
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Comment by Karen on July 4, 2009 at 10:40am - Being a city girl, it's hard to imagine your dream life, but it does sound like you are enjoying it to the fullest! Happy 4th!
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Comment by Susan B / Central Alberta on July 3, 2009 at 1:49pm - Hi Dale and it sounds like living in *Lala land*(and we are from the Island so can "use" the term, right???) and having fruit trees is lots of *fun*. Have you thought about calling your local food bank and asking if they would like some fresh fruit? Or setting up a fruit stand at the end of the driveway...manned or unmanned there are still quite a few in Saanichton and most often they are still done on the honour system. Be thankful though for nature's abundant bounty and have a very "cheery" day!! Hugs, Susan
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Comment by Barbi/ID on July 3, 2009 at 12:50pm -
This so sounds like my life!! We, too, live on acreage with one of every tree you have PLUS - we have an apple orchard on top of that. When the season is in full swing, somedays it feels like you don't have time to do much of anything else. But then again by spring we are ready for fresh fruits. I do have a large berry patch too of raspberries and blackberries with a veggie garden!
But I like knowing that I can share my abundance or find a local grocery or farmers market that I can sell in when I want to. Happy growing!!
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