I have fond memories of growing up on a small farm that hosted a little of everything, from cows, chickens and pigs, a large vegetable garden, a raspberry patch, a field of oats and an orchard filled with diversity. The orchard boasted a huge yellow plum tree big enough to climb for those who were nimble, Damson plums and Italian prune plums, hazelnut and cherry trees, and apple trees of species we rarely encounter these days. There were Transparent apples, Melba, Northern Spy, Gravenstein, and King apple trees that produced an abundant summer and winter supply. Apples were an available, free snack and my best memory is taking a small apple to bed most nights, rubbing it clean on the blankets and in the dark munching the crisp, juicy sweetness till all was gone including the core, and then tossing the stem over the edge of the bed. Somehow I never thought too much of the protein that might be lurking in the core!
These days I enjoy selecting my apples from wooden bins at the packing house. They are stored in controlled atmosphere chambers so that they remain crisp till the new crops are almost harvested. My choice the other day was Ambrosia apples, a name that makes me think of a salad with coconut and whipping cream. YUM.
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."
Proverbs 25:11
"A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible."
Welsh Proverb
An apple is my all time favourite snack, full of antioxidants, fiber, and free of sodium, fat and cholesterol. Just have to believe the age old saying: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
Johnny Apple Seed Prayer
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me
The things I need
The sun, the rain and the apple seed.
The lord is good to me.
2 comments:
Oh how I'd love a trip back in time to spend time in your old farmyard! Sounds so enticing!
Unfortunately, now I might have the Johnny Appleseed SONG in my head all week. (Maybe not such a bad thing!)
We're still enjoying the apples you lugged over the mountains and fiels in your suitcase!
Apples are sooo good. I am always amazed at all the fruit available in this wonderful valley.
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