End of Summer

Although summer doesn't officially end until a few weeks after Labor Day, this weekend is considered the end of summer. Many schools opened at the end of August and the rest will open after Labor Day. 

For quite a few years now we have gone to my sister on Labor Day to make apple butter in a copper kettle over a wood fire. The crowd is different every year with a combination of my siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews gather for the event. For some reason, this year we had the smallest crowd ever. Even some of those who always come had other things today. So those of us who could kept up the tradition and made a small batch of apple butter. A few more were there than are shown here. It was the first year Gene and his family were there.

We start with applesauce and each quart cooks down to three cups. By noon it was finished cooking and we took it off the fire to cool while we ate lunch. Then we each took our share.

We capped the day by crossing the Susquehanna River on the Millersburg ferry on the way home.

The Millersburg Ferry is the last operating ferry on the Susquehanna River. It crosses the river between Millersburg in Dauphin County and Buffalo Township in Perry County. The ferry was established in the early 19th century. The Millersburg Ferry crossing was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. It is believed to be the last wooden double stern-wheel paddle boat to be operating in the United States. It is owned by the Millersburg Chamber of Commerce and operated by the Millersburg Ferryboat Association from May until October when water levels permit.

It was fully loaded with four cars. 

It was a beautiful day and a smooth ride. Grayson wished it would have been a wider river and a longer ride. 

When we got to the other side there was a line of cars waiting to cross. So we drove off to make room for them and went home taking the memories with us. It was a lovely end to a good summer.