renegade apple picking
We have been watching these apples grow. We've monitored and tasted them. Unsure about the variety we wondered when they turned a bit pink, and now they've started to fall.
We borrowed my mom's old apple picker and filled a big canvas bag. Sounds quaint, huh?
Now imagine the scene with carn horns and gobs of traffic, an office park to one side and a major parkway on the other.
Here's the thing. This tree? This tree is not ours (um, don't bust us, please) and it is on land that probably belongs to the city. No one maintains, sprays, prunes, or eats from this tree. Obviously. It's on an embankment at one of the busiest intersections in our neighborhood. But this family MUST NOT let this fruit go to waste.
And wouldn't you know. Right on cue, the weather today is cool and rainy and now we MUST make an apple crisp. (and when it stops raining, take a walk down for more apples.)
Maybe Fall won't be so bad.
Comments
This is totally hysterical. I may be the crazy milk lady but you are going to get a reputation for being the crazy apple lady!
Posted by: Mama Urchin | September 3, 2008 10:50 AM
i love the image of you and the kids in the middle of this intersection picking apples! (and apple crisp? yes please.)
Posted by: emily | September 3, 2008 11:10 AM
Sweet!
Posted by: Tracy | September 3, 2008 11:19 AM
Take a peak over at Sprucehill. There is something waiting for you!
Posted by: Sarah S. | September 3, 2008 11:41 AM
pick some for me.
Posted by: erin | September 3, 2008 11:56 AM
Crazy apple-picking family. hee. You're the bestest mom ever!
Apple crisp has to happen today.
It's ok, A, fall is gooooood.
Posted by: miss chris | September 3, 2008 11:58 AM
Oh, apple crisp sounds so good!
Posted by: julie | September 3, 2008 01:09 PM
oh, apple crisp...love.
kidlet and i took a walk around the block the other day and saw a peach tree in front of a house, bending under the weight of its giant peaches. i'm tempted to leave a note asking if they don't want them, i'll pick them!
Posted by: ani | September 3, 2008 01:54 PM
Oh, I can just picture you in that spot...people doing a double take as they drive by on their commutes...is that a family up there on that hill? Yes, it is! What the heck are they doing?!
Too funny. Can't wait for apple season here.
Posted by: Linn | September 3, 2008 04:20 PM
Good for you! Those apples shouldn't be left to go to waste, but to waist! :)
Posted by: Sarah | September 3, 2008 08:28 PM
well that tree was probably happy you came upon it, as it wouldn't want it's fruit to go unenjoyed. :)
Posted by: hrsj | September 3, 2008 08:47 PM
I'm just loving the image of the group of you walking along with the apple picker, trying to look casual...
Posted by: Lil' d | September 4, 2008 02:05 PM
Oh that's too good! You know what? We get a lot of weird looks when we scale the pecan tree at our neighborhood's gas station too :-) Waste not, want not. Right?
Posted by: Stefani | September 4, 2008 06:52 PM
How funny! Seems we have a lot of that around here...random wheat fields, windmills, and even apple trees. I'm glad you're not allowing all that yummy fruit to go to waste!
Posted by: Leslie | September 4, 2008 07:58 PM
Hooray for apples. This post made my night.
My girls and I waved to the people passing us by on the side of the road as we picked cherries from standing on top of the car.
We are all a little crazy when it comes to the yummy and the fresh.
Can you say fresh cherry pie and heck apple crisp is even better!
Posted by: Underthebigbluesky | September 4, 2008 08:29 PM
Too funny, our neighbors have an apple tree and I keep trying to catch them at home to ask if we can pick theirs. I don't think they have picked any yet! This makes me want to try again today.
Posted by: Regina | September 5, 2008 08:10 AM
Way to go!
I've been thinking of driving around town and leaving a business card saying "I harvest fruit and bring you some of the proceeds" on doors with unloved fruit trees.
Posted by: Meadowlark | September 5, 2008 02:47 PM
oh, i have the greatest memories of picking apples, of well, maybe trespassing and laughing with my sisters... but, laughing is good, right. Glad you are up to fun.
Posted by: mansuetude | September 7, 2008 09:34 PM
you crack me up! we asked permission to get the fruit from a neighbor's neglected fig and a plum tree at the park earlier in the summer. all perfectly good, organic, and if we didn't rescue them, no one would have!
Posted by: Angela | September 20, 2008 05:59 PM