That sound you just heard was me taking my first bite of my first apple of the season. A Honey Crisp, to be exact…just like I remembered…solid, juicy and spicy sweet. And I’ve gotta say, it didn’t hurt a bit.
That isn’t to say that there aren’t a few peaches on the tree still waiting for me…and BTW, the end of the season samplings are gi-NOR-mous! but they and I both know it’s time to say goodbye. Like all summer romances, it was swell while it lasted. We’ll always have August.
To be sure, there’s still corn to be had, and maybe a week or three more of melons. But get ready…tell yourself that apples are your reward for making it through the heat of summer…especially this one! And if, like me, you enjoy them in season, get ready…get set…get educated! There’s always something new in the world of apples; an ever-expanding variety of colors and textures and flavors. Even Snow White would be tempted to try them all. Red, yellow, green. Sweet, spicy, tart. Out-of-hand eaters or baked-in-a-pie cookers. I’m lookin’ at you, LFM Bake Off contestants!
On that subject, we’ve gotten a lot of interest…even more than we expected. So if all goes well, this may become an annual tradition. If you didn’t get a slot this time around, keep those secret family recipe cards handy.
And while apples get most of the ink, don’t overlook the possibilities of pears…Asian, Bartlett, Seckel and those tall brown Boscs are all heading your way…more on them in another issue.
Cheers to ya! As the weather cools…did we think it ever would???…the way we think about beverage intake changes, too. And we can’t talk about this without a bow to Jimmy Buffett, (may his flip-flops flap forever) who re-ignited our taste for the pineapple tropics…but today there’s a trend toward the herbal/floral flavors that can be found in your own backyard. Those sprigs of lavender, basil, and mint may be phasing out, but sage and rosemary, and even maple syrup will take your fireside Old Fashioned or Mule into November with a new depth. Stop by the Pennsylvania Distilling tent to get yourself started. Also, Conshohocken Brewery and Succession Fermentory have figured out how to put the passing seasons in those itty bitty cans*. NOTE: if you know that* reference, stop by the manager tent for a Market buck!
Speaking of the weather…do whatever it is you do at your house to beseech the gods for fair skies here on October 1st, the day of Lansdowne’s Annual-When-There-Isn’t-a-Hurricane Arts on the Avenue. This is one of our town’s chances to open its borders to visitors from near and far, and show off what Lansdowne is and can still be. It takes a LOT of work and expense to make it happen. If you haven’t already volunteered an hour or two of your time in some capacity, you can sign up here and be a card-carrying member of your community. And even if you can’t, you can come to shop and see how lucky you are to live here. That’s Sunday, October 1…be there!
This week in the Music Tent: the Lansdowne String Quartet. Four talented members of the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. Just another classic example of what makes this town what it is.
Stay tuned! We have some great music lined up for the rest of the season:
9/30: Jimmy Shoe & the Shine
10/7: Rita Miller (so nice she’s here twice)
10/14: Gray Dog Down with Kim Robson & Russell Ferrara
10/21: Minas…Patricia King & Orlando Haddad
10/28: Auld String Theory….some of our very favorite auld citizens to close out our season.
Stay up to date by reading ALL of the Lansdowne Links newsletter on this thread. We’ve got a lot to say.
See you soon.
Terry B.