Cider Time

Cider Time

The days are hot, and the nights are cold. Jack Frost has even been to visit. Cider time has arrived. The apples are juicy, crisp and sweet. We collect the apple, the ones under the tree are the sweetest. But we like lots of cider so we send the kids to the very top branches to collect all of the apples that they can. The apples are hauled and dragged over to the press and then loaded into the hopper. Each kid takes a turn spinning the handle that propels the grinder into motion. They go until they think their arm is going to fall off and then pass it off to the next kid. Once the apples are ground into a mash, the kids scramble for cups. They want to be the first to catch the sweet brown nectar. The adults turn the pressing wheel and try not to trip over the kids that are underfoot. It is hard to resist the juice as it is pouring out of the press until their stomach begins to ache. The cider is transferred to jars and jugs that have been saved all year. Then stored in the freezer. Each jar that is opened transfers me back to autumn. Fall leaves, sweet apples, kids' laughter and the love of family.