Today’s post could have been entitled “Fifty Shades of Red” or “The Color Red” but I don’t want to be a copycat. Red sure was on my mind this morning. Nope, nothing made me angry, but while walking out the door, I glanced at the fire bushes in my yard and they were showing the first tinges of red … sadly I know the colder weather is getting closer when they start turning from green to their eventual brilliant red color. My fire bushes in the backyard are huge and nearly five decades old and they are simply gorgeous when they are all ablaze with beautiful shades of red. I’ll have to be more attentive to their leaves because sometimes it seems a few days will pass and the next time I glance at them, the fire bush foliage will lay scattered on the ground. My smaller fire bushes are dotted along the fence, but though they are about thirty years old, they never achieve the same vibrant color. My Crimson Queen Miniature Lace-Leaf Weeping Maple, the focal point of my front garden, is slowly turning a rich burgundy hue and is striking. It is just remarkable how the maples have changed to their most-vibrant colors since the last time I made my way down tree-lined Emmons Boulevard. Today I noticed the leaves are now a beautiful mixture of cherry, gold and orange and it will be unfortunate to see them dropping and dying on the ground the next few weeks. A trip down the Boulevard is a scaled-down version of the color extravaganza in Michigan’s north country … the colors are that stunning without straying far from the neighborhood.

I snagged this photo of a plethora of candy apples, which sure beckon you to take a big bite, but somehow I see your dentist or hygienist in the background wagging a finger or a thought bubble over their head saying “NO!”. Candy apples were always off-limits to me when I was younger so I have never tasted one. Caramel apples studded with lots of peanuts were not on the no-no list and they were always a favorite Fall treat, though I’ve not had any since I gave up sweets.

When we moved to the States we were surprised to see that Americans favor their apple pie with a dab of ice cream rather than a slice of cheese. While apple pie à la mode sure was delicious, we clung to our Canadian tradition of hot apple pie topped off with a generous slice of Black Diamond sharp cheddar cheese lopped right off the block and plopped onto the hot pie to get it slightly melted on top and dripping down the crust and filling. Ahhhhh … good-eatin’ memories from the food memory bank plus a treat for the olfactory senses as well. Nothing compares to a cool Fall day and a bubbling apple pie or apple crisp baking in the oven while cinnamon is wafting though the house. Now I enjoy my apples strictly au naturel and I don’t go bobbing for them either. I’m still experimenting with different apple varieties each time I shop. I enjoy those “Sweetie” apples and will await the arrival of the tropical-tasting “Pinata” apples soon after the holidays. A tasty wedge of cheese and a sweet and crunchy apple – who could ask for more?