Its Cooler in Catalina.

 Over this long weekend, a friend and I decided to venture up to Howard's Orchard in Catalina, Arizona to pick peaches. An experience that had been postponed several times due to the heat, we finally decided we better go this weekend before the peaches were gone.It was too late for the first crop of peaches but we got some of the second, smaller crop and also scored some tomatoes and some early apples. It is a lovely spot, several degrees cooler than Tucson right now.  There is plenty of shade, wagons for hauling fruit and helpful staff.The produce is advertised as pesticide-free. Here are a few pictures...

Pipsqueak in size, but delicious white flesh peaches.

Both of our mothers have always been great canners, so we tried our hand at this lost but returning art....Here is our peach- mango chutney cooking.....

While it simmered we visited with my friend's chickens...

And gathered some eggs....

 Canned mango chutney! I feel like Martha, it was great fun. If you are interested in canning, check out the Ball jar website for tips and recipes. There are many blogs and websites that offer step by step instructions with great pictures and ideas. I will certainly be heading back to Catalina in the next few weeks to take advantage of the apple and pear crops at their peak. If you have time to visit to Willcox, Arizona you may take advantage of many other organic orchards and farms that allow you to pick your own produce. Take the kids!