Honey Day!

Today was honey extraction day; the first sunny day that we have both been off & home at midday.  Here Brian is holding a capped frame of amber coloured honey & wishing I would stop taking photos.

the hive is loaded with bees now that all the supers have been taken off

bees are not too happy to have their harvest removed, but not aggressive like last year

using the uncapping tool to remove wax cappings before placing the frame in the extractor

opening the gate on the extractor to let the honey pour into the seive

the finished product---amber coloured & a distinctive taste--almost like caramel

Adam's beautiful hand-drawn label

a visit to Jennifer's garden

a September visit to Jennifer's garden in Grafton; an amazing gardener, cook and flower arranger.  This cozy sitting area is frequented by Monarch butterflies landing on the buddleia & Japanese anemones

tomatoes growing on a bedframe

there is always a supply of healthy greens

even in fall, there is a palpable energy in the garden

Enjoying the last of the peaches....

canned peaches, off limits until the snow flies

a batch of Peach Jam with Grappa

      Peach Jam with Grappa

12 cups lightly crushed peaches (with a potato masher)—I blanch the peaches for 30 seconds in boiling water and then immerse in cold water so the skins slip off easily

14 cups sugar

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 boxes fruit pectin (I use Bernardin)

¾ cup grappa

1 ½ teaspoons butter

Bring to a steady boil, stirring frequently till jam is set.  It helps to have a couple of small plates in the freezer to drop a teaspoon full of jam upon, and check to see if it sets—wrinkles & thickens.  This batch took about 15 minutes at a soft, steady boil.

Ladle into sterilized jars, and process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Makes 11 500 ml. jars & about ½ cup left over for everyone to sample the next morning on toast.

not quite a mushroom....

After seeing my daughter, Lauren's beautiful pics of mushrooms in the forest in Sweden, (www.thehornstullstrand.blogspot.com) I thought I would post my pic of fungus growing in mulch in the garden!  Looks like it could be 'Sparassis herbstii'--actually edible, but I am not brave enough to try

Fall fruit

Elderberries ripe for the picking; usually a flock of cedar waxwings will strip the shrub in a few hours in the fall

Dahlias in my garden

dahlia 'Mary Eveline'

Dahlia 'Mick's Peppermint'

Dahlia 'Brandon James'

Dahlia 'Who Dun It'

great combo--'Mick's Peppermint' with 'Mary Eveline'

dahlia 'Blueberry Cheesecake'

Dahlia 'Windmill'

Dahlia 'Fuzzy Wuzzy'

Dahlia 'Seattle'

Dahlia 'Painted Madam'

also dahlia "Blueberry Cheesecake'

Dahlia 'Blueberry Cheesecake'

Dahlia 'Edge of Joy'

different forms of Dahlia 'Fuzzy Wuzzy'

Dahlia 'Purple Gem'

Prince Edward County

blueberry patch under bird netting

one of the many wineries in the County

Lake on the Mountain

The Glenora Ferry viewed from Lake on the Mountain

......something about an overcast, drizzly day that makes for magical photos