Pressing Cider

Hubby has talked about and dreamed of pressing his own cider for years now, and he finally was able to do it this past weekend.  The past few Sunday afternoons he has been in the barn building his cider press from a kit purchased on eBay a few years ago (I'm sorry I don't have a link for you.). Although he found things that he would change if he should build one again, the press turned out beautifully, and this past Sunday it was ready to go. The kids and he had picked drops from local apple trees (maybe someday we will be able to use our own), ones that would have been left on the ground to rot, and everyone was excited to see how the new press would work.  In went the apples, round and round went the crank, down went the press, and, finally, out came the sweet liquid that all had been anxiously anticipating.  Some enjoyed it cold; others drank it warm with a hint of cinnamon.  We were able to press about half of the apples collected before darkness settled in, producing about a gallon of cider, and the rest of the apples will be pressed this coming weekend.  Hubby finally accomplished his goal of pressing his own cider, and what a good feeling to, yet again, use the bounties around us that otherwise would be considered unusable (except to the deer and turkeys, of course, which we were obliged to leave some for).

I would like to thank you all for your overwhelmingly thoughtful and encouraging comments you left on my last post.  Your kind words have inspired to me keep writing, regardless of how much or how frequent (or infrequent) it may be.  I do hope, with the coming winter and many snowed-in days, I will slowly find more time for writing. Thanks so much for your faithful visits and comments.