Can, Can, I Can

As a posted a few days ago, I love fall. Yesterday and today I did a very fall activity, even though it was 80 degrees outside. I canned food, for the first time. It was so much fun, and once I figure out how to post pictures, I'll do so.
We have an apple tree in our field that has exploded this year, and I can't keep up, just eating the apples, so last month I had some applesauce. I'd never done it and it was SUPER easy. It was tasty, and I enjoyed making it, but you can only eat so much applesauce day after day. Canning comes into play here. Gwen had canned jam earlier in the summer and although I couldn't make it that time she had plenty left to can. It was the hottest day in September, but what the hell we said, we're canning! I made about 2 quarts of apple sauce and 1 quart lemon butter, and she had cucumbers she would turn into pickles. We started with my stuff first and although I didn't be any of the canning per say, and I played more of a supporting role it was a blast! Listening for the tiny "pops" as the jars sealed themselves never got old, and I can't wait to open my first jar.
Today, I was feeling ambitious and decided I would can apple pie filling by myself! I have to admit I was also putting off paperwork :) I peeling and sliced 16 cups of apples, soaking them in a water/lime juice bath to prevent browning. All the ingredients for the sauce I had on hand, so that was no sweat, though I did forget lemon juice...oops :) The sauce came together beautiful and everything was well timed, since the jars were done boiling just as the sauce had thicken. Pouring the boiling water out of the jars was a bit of a mind trick, since I was only holding the jars by basically metal tongs, but I was successful in not burning myself. Quickly, I stuff drained, sliced apple into jars,and ladled sauce into jars. Then it was just a waiting game, since the lidded jars went back into their boiling water bath for 20 minutes.
Now they are happily and slowly cooling in a Rubbermaid storage box. I can't believe how much fun it was, and I am grateful to Gwen for taking a crazy hot weekend to show me what it do. My next canning project will involve apples I'm sure. If you have any suggestions I would take them, and if you want to take any apples, please do