< 2. does any one know what apple-cuting is she refers to it like a party. i.e. " Jane Hetfield called to invite us to an apple cut. Mim and I went and we had a very good time indeed the best party I have been to this fall."> In PA Dutch Country this was called a "Schnitzing party". [Like a "corn Husking" party in the Midwest.] Folks all got together and cut up the apples into pieces to be dried for "schnitz" or dried apples. Once dried they did not spoil as easily and could be used year round. [Thus these get togethers were sometimes in the winter, since apples do not spoil right away and there was a 2-3 month window of time before they have to be used] While "working" together folks could talk/gossip and sing and the host family served refreshments plus all the apple peels you could eat [sweet food was not nearly as common as we have today and was really a treat] and sometimes, if musicians were about and the religious beliefs did not prevent it, there was dancing when the cutting up work was completed. This was a common way to get food preserved for all families. Most folks did have some apple trees, not only for the fresh fruit and schnitz/dried apples but also for the cider produced [hard and soft] and so there were several like events throughout a neighborhood every fall and winter.