Tag: Fall

Fall: The fall season is the perfect time to turn on your oven and enjoy the fruit of the season. If you have just spent an afternoon picking apples in the cool fall air, why not go home and enjoy some special treats. One of my favorite things to bake in the fall is apple crisp. I’m not sure if it is the ease of making this delectable dessert or the lingering aroma of cinnamon, nutmet and hot buttery apples baking in the oven. The best part of all is you literally can throw it into a pan without much hassle and enjoy the fruit of your labor in no time at all. Serve it up warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have just met a small piece of heaven on earth. The combination of the sweet cinnamon sauce and the warm apples that melt in your mouth is to die for. So why not bake some homemade apple crisp tonight and treat yourself to a great fall delight.

Fall: Goldenrod Farm, situated on 70 acres in Northern Maine, over looks Mt. Katahdin and Mt. Chase. The beautiful views and gorgeous green pastures remind you of being far away. The farm is filled with a variety of farm animals and is modeled after a small homestead style of farm of yesteryear. On the farm they grow plenty of fresh vegetables along with an orchard full of old and new fruit trees, including cherry, plum, peach (a cold tolerant variety), pear and apples. In the Fall you will find them making Apple cider the old fashion way with a hand crank press that is well over 100 years old. They gather apples from more than 20 varieties trees, including crab apples to make this homemade treat. The apples are washed to be pressed and then the galllons of apple cider begin to flow. Watching them make apple cider in the fall is like watching them make maple syrup in the spring, it’s a labor of love and makes for perfect gifts and home use. So why not visit a local farm or take a ride to Goldenrod Farm and enjoy a different pace for a change.

Fall: Once Thanksgiving dinner is over the conversation quickly moves along to where and when you are going to get your Christmas tree. If you have never experienced going out and picking and cutting your own, this is the year. With so many “pick and choose” tree farms, it won’t be hard to find one close to you. The fun of course is that you get to go out into the “woods” and search until you find that perfect tree. Some of the farms offer horse and carriage rides that will bring you either out to the fields or back to the tree lodge once you have cut your tree down. No need for special tools, the farms will provide you with the perfect saw. All you need is an eye for the size you are looking for and start cutting. Monmouth happens to be tree farm haven and at either Evergreen Acre Tree Farm or Frederickson’s you are sure to find the tree that you are looking for. There is something that really puts you in the Christmas spirit when you get out in the fields amongst all those trees and realize what a wonderful time of year this really is! Don’t forget to get your wreaths, most of these farms have them all made up and ready to go.

Fall: Making your own evergreen wreath is much easier than you think. This is a perfect family activity or craft project that can be enjoyed immediately. First you need to search for some good evergreen trees. I like to use a mix which makes the wreath more interesting. Gather a large shopping bag full of 6-inch garden trimmings. Some suggested trimmings are cedar, pine, and fir. Remember to include holly or other red berries in your collection. The tip ends of the branches work best using a metal wreath form select several of the garden trimmings and place them together in a bunch with the stems at one end. Hold the bundle and wrap the florist wire around so that it is attached to the frame. Continue overlapping the bunches of foliage and wiring them to the frame until you complete the circle. Once the circle is complete tuck berries of pine cones in to the branches. This is a perfect gift to give or to keep and proudly display at your own home.

Fall: Washington County is one of the largest counties in Maine. Picturesque harbors dotted with fishing boats, the essence of New England. Join that with lazy flowing rivers and historic sites pre-Revolutionary War creates an unforgettable experience for travelers. CHRISTMAS JOY IN MACHIAS is an annual event that brings Christmas back home. Held during the last weekend of the month of November, you can enjoy caroling down Main Street and the lighting of the Machias christmas tree at the town center. The tree lighting is followed by hot chocolate and warm homemade cookies. The Christmas parade is always a hit and nothing says hometown Maine than a baked bean supper for the whole community to share. So why not travel north or if you are already there, then make sure you go check out the way Christmas should be, Joy in Machias.