Apple Pressing Party

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I hosted an old-fashioned cider pressing party for family and friends. We had two cider presses set up...a hand crank model from the late 1800's, and an old electric model (which had been given to us the day before the party by an elderly lady. We stopped to ask her if we could pick the apples from her tree, and she said, "sure, and you can have my old apple press too." It was such a generous thing for her to do!).

Besides making lots of apple cider and some grape juice, we also had a potluck with lots of yummy food. Everyone enjoyed tasting all the different foods friends and family had brought.

There were activities for the kids including fall coloring sheets, bobbing for apples, making homemade butter, using an old-fashioned washboard to "wash" clothes, and good old gunny sack races. At the end of the party, the (brave) adults got to take a trip down our 150' long zip line. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the zip line, but I hope you enjoy the other pictures of the party activities.

Everyone had so much fun, we plan on doing this every year.

Daughter Stephanie and her boyfriend Geoff were the first to try out the hand-crank press. Friends Cynthia & Dave are looking on



Stephanioe got to be quite a pro at pressing the cider.



Cider pressing takes great team work.




Friend Dave, husband Regan, neighbor Coralee and grandsons Gabriel & Gideon got in on the action


The kids LOVED throwing the apples in the press.



Granddaughter Loralei enjoying some of that great potluck food...great Grandmother Lois' filled buns



All the children gathered around for apple bobbing



Grandson Gideon getting ready to bob for apples


More bobbing for apples


Grandson Micah enjoying the apple he got from bobbing for apples


There's nothing like a sweet, juicy apple. I love this picture of Grandson Gabriel



Micah with Grandpa Regan (my husband) working together at the electric press



All the kids enjoyed turning the crank on the 1800's press


Grandson Gideon turning the crank




Daughter Stephanie with my grandson Micah (her nephew). I love grandson Gideon's expresssion (lower right corner)


Everyone working together



Neighbor Lana enjoying her apple. Notice the heart-shaped bite out of the apple.



Granddaughter Loralei is eyeing Lana's apple


"Nope, ya can't have my apple."


Grandson Micah turning the crank


Grandson Gabriel is a two-fisted eater


Granddaughter Loralei helping herself to the apples


Our neighbors working together as a family to make cider


Grandson Gabriel using the old washboard that once belonged to my grandma, his great, great grandmother


Grandson Gideon takes a turn with the washboard


Husband Regan cleaning up the presses at the end of the day


The big pile of apple pulp was evidence of a successful apple pressing party.