The tree has been stripped bare.This, not Labor Day, marks the true end of summer, Chez Crumb.
Last year the pear tree produced so much fruit, we hosted a party and forced all our guests to take home bags of pears.
This year, not so scary. Early on, I trimmed out baby fruits so there wouldn't be so much crowding.
When the survivors matured, we pulled off plump pears and snuck them over to the farmers market, where we'd give them to our favorite farmers and artisans.
We gave sacks of pears to friends. Including a pair of pear friends who brewed up a most insane pear brandy! I had my first sip of this year's vintage last night, and it's crisp, fresh, pearish. Insane. Must consume quickly, while the nectar is sparkling.
I had plans to concoct 10 recipes for pear soup, but only got around to three of them.
I will sadly confess that I am not a total pear aficionado, but I feel that we did honors to our tree this year.
And today, Cranky climbed that creaky ladder, with me holding on, and he pulled down the remainder of the crop.
We saved a few specimens in the fridge for, well, just eating out of hand. Which we should have done much more of.
There are about three or four pears up high he couldn't reach. Fine. I love it that the birdies can come and snack.
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12 comments:
do you know I have been in such a fog that I plum(!) forgot about the rest of the pear brandy. It's sitting my fridge, untouched. Must bring bottles to my favorite co-workers tomorrow.
Anita: Should I put it in the fridge? I will.
It's Awesome. I get the difference between this and last summer's slightly faded vintage. Both were good. But this one is so fresh.
I love that you leave a bit of your crop to the birdies. Enjoy the turning of the season and cooling weather.
Oh, your beautiful pear makes me thing of the coming of fall and crisp weather. Not so many changes around here, though I have noticed that the avocado tree's leaves have changed colors...but I'm trying to decide if it is the time of year or that I am somehow, with my black thumb, killing it already (it's fairly young).
I ate the last one you gave us this noon for lunch. It was, as you say, pearfection. Thanks again.
I keep forgetting to go to my mom's house and look at her pear tree. She said that it produced pears and not just leaves, this year. They might be hard as rocks, just like the gold ol' days, but that just means I can come back here and look up what you did w/ yours.
Ok, I had to go eat the pear I've been saving after reading this -- fall = pears!
From your generous bounty, I have 3 or 4 jars of pear/blackberry compote in the freezer. Each will yield a work week of breakfast when paired with St Benoit yogurt. Something to look forward to when the un-summery weather sets in.
Thanks again.
Sam
Morgan: Thank you. I think of you as you squizzle into spring.
Michelle: When I lived in Hawaii, I sometimes had to drive up the mountains for a much needed gulp of coolish air. I seemed to need that gulp around fall, as I recall.
Avocado tree! Is it producing already? Are they those huge, bacon-y ones?
Zoomie: I am honored. You are welcome. We've been devouring your peaches, cold from the fridge, out of hand. Peachfection.
Nik: Go now! If it's a Bartlett, they will ripen on their own, after you pick them.
Anna: Sorry I never got any of my pears to you.
Sam: I feel pretty! Oh so pretty! I love what you did with the pears. Happy breakfasts.
Yikes, I enjoyed your last pear for lunch today too! Juicy.
Biggles
How do you keep the birds and squirrels from eating all of your pears? Or do you not have an abundance of those pesky critters in the West? We only have one pear tree but the critters take most of the pears from us. Bummer! I love your blog by the way.
Biggles: I'm really glad you ate them instead of chucking them in some secret Dumpster somewhere.
xoxo
Rabacal: How kind of you!
I guess we're just lucky with the critters. As the pears get ripe and soft on the tree, birds definitely begin pecking holes in them, but Bartletts can ripen off the tree, so we rescue most of the fruit before it gets too bird-friendly.
I have no idea why squirrels don't feast on them, though. I saw a squirrel in the yard the other day that was bigger than a cat. (I should write Paul Bunyan stories.)
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