The apple has always been an important part of Celtic lore, just as the rose is. Apples can be sweet, or tart, or even sour, just like life. They give us not just tasty snack, but when pressed they give us cider. When carefully stored, they can last the entire winter and gladden the heart.
I'm a fall baby, my birthday is in October, just weeks away now.
And I've always loved the old lore about the fall and apples. I love the smell of autumn! The sound of leaves beginning to descend to replenish the nutrients of the earth. The smell of smoke from back yard fire pits, the changes in the angle of the sun and the turn of weather.
We used to go out to Long Grove, to the Apple Haus to watch the harvest apples being pressed into fresh cider. It was wonderful to watch the kids as they watched the heavy press. And then buy jugs of fresh cider to be taken home to be spiced with cinnamon sticks. To buy fresh baked apple goods, including apple cider doughnuts.
But progress, and the economy put an end to the cider press. It became to expensive to insure, and so the press was taken out of the Apple Haus. The area where people used to look down into the press operation was covered over to be forgotten. The bakery still had the fresh baked goods, and there were jugs of cider to be purchased that had been pressed some miles away. But the death knell had been sounded, even if we didn't want to hear it. Soon the Apple Haus closed altogether. Another victim of progress. The Christmas House closed, it was here we would purchase beautiful ornaments from around the world for the yule tree each year. That was followed by the Wicker Witch, a wonderful shop of baskets and brooms and chests... it closed. So did my favorite kitchen shop, and two others. Some were replaced, some were not and Long Grove began a decline. While it still has an apple festival, we don't attend.
But I sit here, on the first morning of autumn, reminiscing, and pondering the memories of a time not so long ago past. When the car was filled with the scent of apple goods, and our hearts were filled with joy, and thanks.