The weather has turned cool here at last. The trees are finally wearing their Autumn shades of gold, crimson, deep ruby and russet orange. It is time to drag out the sweaters and place a warmer blanket on the bed. My favorite time of year, Autumn makes me happy. It brings back memories of harvest festivals of years gone by…apple picking…apple dumplings…homemade apple pies.
My daughter purchased two bushels of apples, and tomorrow I will help her turn those apples into delicious apple butter! Years ago, when we lived in Indiana, my sisters and my niece Sharon came for a visit. We traveled to Nashville, Brown County, Indiana. It’s a wonderful little town with quaint shops, resident artists and wonderful food. There, at the Nashville House Dining Room in the historic Brown County Inn, I had some of the best oven baked apple butter I have ever tasted. I came home and tried to duplicate it and actually came close. Now, years later, they actually share the recipe here!
Tonight, I will go with my daughter and her family to “The Great Pumpkin Party” at church…just as we did last year. The large church is equipped all over (indoors) with all sorts of fun events for children – including different “jumping” houses and games. There are also pony rides outside. They love it and it is so much fun!
My thanks to those of you who’ve stuck with me through this “postless” last month. Excuses? I’ve been traveling and spending time with precious grandchildren – both near and far. These days, I am also traveling back in time as I spend hours working, once again, on my family history. Yesterday, I found myself missing Dot, my late oldest sister and the one who dreamed of being able to trace our ancestors as far back as possible. We were actually “stuck” on Mama’s maternal grandmother, Mary Frances Cooper. I wrote for her death certicate. Fifteen years ago – that was how you had to do it. There were a few clues but also the wrong first initial of her father. The information about her was being given over the telephones of yesteryear. Her father’s first name was Vincent. My Dad was listed as the informant and gave the individual asking for the information the letter “V”. Over the phone, “V” can sound like “B” and that’s what they wrote down! In the old days, they used a lot of initials for first names and that can throw a curve.
Yesterday, I finally traced Mary Frances Cooper’s family all the way back to her immigrant ancestor and my 6th great-grandfather, William Cooper, who was born in 1669 in Warwickshire, England! He immigrated to America and arrived in Virginia with his wife Elizabeth Lawrence in 1718! The find was so bittersweet…for I wanted to share it with Dot. I hope she knows. There are more branches of this family tree to complete now.
I’m rather surprised to say that THIS is my one-hundredth post! I’m looking forward to sharing more of my Sweet Journey Home and I thank you for following along with me…
It’s 59 degrees with a light rain today. I love days like this. I have a Crockpot and an Instant Pot (on the slow cooker setting) full of apple butter cooking. The house smells wonderful! There are two more large pots on the stove with apples cooking to make more apple butter. As you know, you start out with a large pot of sliced apples and they cook down…way down. As the apple butter cooks, it will simmer down to a spicy goodness. I still have to prepare the jars, fill them and process them. A lot of time and work, but the apple butter will taste so good on hot biscuits this winter! 
