Under the spreading apple tree ...

On a hot summer day, our favorite spot to enjoy an outdoor meal in our backyard is at the picnic table in the cool shade of our big, old apple tree.  It was just a sprout when my dad gave it to us over 30 years ago.  I think it's the Empire variety, but not sure. The grandkids like the tire swing that hangs from one of the large branches and it's been home to several varieties of birds.

We've had some nice apples from the tree over the years, but none better than last year's crop when we picked bushels of large unblemished apples, plenty for sauce, pies, baked apples and sharing. Not one apple on it this year, though ... I guess it needs a year to recover.

2015 crop