We have two apple and two pear trees, in what I grandly call "The
Orchard" and they are finally about ready to pick. I've no idea what
varieties they are. They are small and suffer from scab so they are
not pretty but I like them if for no other reason than they came from
our own trees - but the flavor is good, too! I mostly make apple
butter for Christmas gifts and care packages and fruit leather and
dried pears for myself and they work just fine for those purposes.
I've done some reading on scab and am going to try some preventative
(raking up fallen leaves and rotting fruit) and treatment (sulfur
spray in the spring) measures this year.

Our Concord grapes are also finally showing some purple. When they
are ready, I'll make fruit leather and a bit of Splenda grape jam for
my husband.

We are driving up to Long Beach on Sunday, too, for the cranberry
festival. I've finally gotten the hang of drying them and they are
one of my favorite snacks over the long, soggy winter.

Happy fall everyone! I've enjoyed hearing about everyone's preserving
adventures!

-Beti