Chopped apples, hand issues, and other conundrums

I think it was the harvesting apples, chopping apples for cider, and making too much apple butter (more chopping) that (finally) had my right hand in revolt.

chopped apples for cider

My index finger had DEFINITELY had enough, as of a couple of weeks ago.  Harvesting veggies, trimming green beans for freezing, switching cutting techniques to avoid aggravating an arthritic thumb --- hrrmph, it said, and it protested, BIG TIME.

It's slowly settling down, but is still quite painful on and off, but is apparently overuse, with thinning cartilage in the main joint.  The nice hand doctor said my final finger issue (on my ring finger) was a mallet finger, so needs a splint for 6 weeks (24/7), after confirming my arthritic thumb.  Ha!  That's a challenge to have a splint on, and still do much of anything normal with my right hand.

Resting my index finger on my dominant hand - that's a huge challenge. Not doing much with my main hand, ditto. I'm doing my best.

Thank goodness for good voice to text apps, and Apple's dictation system (part of the latest operating system upgrade), even if I'm still typing this out on my wireless keyboard....

Urban foraging (apples)

Just a small part of the harvest

Walking towards an old apple tree that we knew was there (dripping with apples that no one harvests), a friend and I spotted first a pear tree, and then two old apple trees in a suburban landscape.

The house was for sale, and we thought the house might be empty.  My friend went up to check, but found a nice young woman at home, who, when asked about her apples, said "take all you want!"

These trees were dripping with apples -- one a Cortland/Rome like apple - the other a tart small apple.

They were in great shape, for not having had any formal care, and the Asian pears were perfect.  We happily harvested, and I've made apple sauce and an apple crisp, and my friend will be making cider tomorrow. The pears will be eaten fresh.

We didn't get up to the tree that was on up the hill (it's on one of our regular walking routes).  But we were happy with our harvest, none the less!