The weather forecast just repeated it: Tomorrow the first snow of winter will fall here where I live, and it will be cold. The strenuous time begins when we dream of spring and fragrant fruit blossoms.

In the kitchen there are many baskets with the apples I have harvested. In the last few weeks they have matured, are bright red now! As in every year, I am curious to see how long the apple supply will last this time. Maybe into January if the mice don't nibble on everything before then.

Now the time begins when we...