Ode to Orchards

              
There is a little road that goes by one of the last remaining orchards in my area. From here I parked my car and gingerly crept into the edge of the orchard not to steal any fruit, just to steal a photo or 20. Sadly all the others have faded and closed over the year, their trees in rows becoming twisted but still stubbornly creating fruit. I have long found orchards to be magical places. Perhaps it is because apples play such a part in wonder tales of our youth as disguises for poison and spells or vessels of magic and knowledge. Or perhaps they are magical spaces because many of my most favorite childhood memories are of driving down old forgotten roads to an old forgotten orchard ran by an old man and woman who sold the best apples and pressed cider. But, too, my family is from a tiny town that was once peppered with orchards, relatives once worked seasonally to harvest the ruby ripe apples, or else nicked one on the way home from school. Perhaps it is in my apple red blood. No matter the genesis of my love for apples, cider, orchards, and the fleeting season that bears such lovely fruit, they all continue to hold magical sway over me. This morning a mighty cold front has moved in after a mighty storm and it is a morning for hot mulled cider if ever there was. Autumn is on the breeze, she'll be here in no time. And I'll be ready for her, hot cuppa cider in hand.




Comments

Anonymous said…
I truly enjoy reading your blog. I feel as though I'm there with you in the long forgotten apple orchards. Have you thought about submitting your writing to magazines or newspapers? Any company that drives on well spoken words would consider this a jewel.
Abby Nolan said…
That's very encouraging to hear. Thanks! Yes, I have occasionally submitted things over the years and is something I should probably devote a little more time to. Creatively speaking, I seem to to go in a dozen different directions most of the time, from writing to painting to bookmaking, and don't forget dreaming and wandering. Writing for my blog is good practice in the meantime. So glad you enjoy it. :)