orange is the new...mandarin

You may have noticed I like orange. Major does too. But for one weekend, the whole town is in love with orange.




Specifically mandarins! These are not the mandarin "cuties" you buy in the store. These local satsuma mandarins are the most delicious things you've ever eaten. I eat them like candy. My thumb is stained orange from opening them. Major loves them too, but they are so precious, I don't like to share.




At the Mountain Mandarin Festival there are many farms selling bags of mandarins, and you can taste each farm and pick your favorite. This area is famous for these fruits, with perfect weather and elevation. There is also mandarin everything else: honey, preserves, vodka, oil, balsamic vinegar, desserts and the best of all is mandarin milkshake.




I cannot leave the festival without the delicious shake, and almost forgot a photo in my excitement over the deliciousness.

There is other standard festival stuff too that I'm never very interested in, like jewelry and scarves and cooking demos. There was an awesome cat at the animal shelter van, big friendly fluffy black kitty, but I resisted. I sure hope he finds a good home (I took no photos of his cuteness as he reached through the bars to touch me. Sadly my current cat would shred him into little kitty bits.)




I did come home with some apricot preserves (it tastes like summer, yum) and another 10 pound bag which MIGHT last till Thanksgiving. I was going to share, (tis the season etc.), but I may need to buy another bag. Luckily there are many convenient orchards right by my house!






I have a lovely tree covered with orange fruit too. But it is yucky persimmons, the variety (hachiya) which is bitter until it is squishy and you can cook with it. Or until they splat all over the patio. But the wildlife love it. The other night a huge deer with lovely antlers stood 5 feet from my front door eating the fallen fruit. Then probably munching on my other plants too. Love/hate the deer.

The mandarins are here for only a short time. So I love them while they are here, get a bit tired of them after awhile, but am still sad when they leave, and appreciate them even more when I see them again.

Like family. Happy Thanksgiving.