Happenstance lead us to this cider press.

 

 It was a pristine fall 

afternoon in Vermont.  The kind that will live in your memory for a long time.  We were actually out looking for someplace to pick apples; a favorite past time of ours over the years.  

Of course, it was the house that we spotted at first.  Abandoned?  Probably not.  But so enticing that we hardly noticed the sign that said "Fresh Cider".

You can see why we were drawn to this place; seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

It was the end of the day.  A chill was in the air, making it even more appealing.  Places like this are what make "off the beaten path" a reality.

The cider makers (for lack of a better term) were just finishing up for the day but they didn't hesitate to invite us in.  

Wouldn't you be drawn in too?

The cider press was much larger than our "home" version.  Click here to see that story.

It's a labor of love; clearly there's not a lot of money to be made here.  Driven by tradition, we need to support these small farms whenever possible.

The woodshed.

Without a hard frost, things were still blooming.  Is there anything more quintessential New England than this?

 

With a quick nod to the cat and a fresh butternut squash for soup on these chilly nights, we were headed home.