(My niece, Victoria, nagged me about sweetly mentioned to me how long it had been since I last posted on my blog. I guess the prodding must have worked.)
This is one of today's blessings. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit I didn't pick a single one of them.
We have a neighbor who has a couple of apple trees growing by the ditch of his field. He always graciously allows us to pick however many we want and I make him a pie to thank him.
We try to pick them a little green (because they get mealy fast) peel, slice, and stick them in the freezer to use all winter. Allison often ends up doing the bulk of the prep and also uses most of them when she makes little canning jar pies for Clarence for every gift-giving occasion. It's a sweet tradition I know he hopes won't end anytime soon.
If you look closely, you'll see spots on some apples and apples that are oddly shaped. I guess they aren't very pretty, are they?
What I see when I look at them is free, organically grown apples, generously shared with us by a kindhearted neighbor we barely know, that will be a tasty addition to many things in the months ahead. I am very thankful for these ugly (but I think beautiful) apples...and the man who thinks we're a little strange to want his ditch apples but shares them with us anyhow.
