Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Apple-scented memories

(Image by artist Maureen McCarthy)

I wish I could remember more about my childhood.  I really need to write down more of the things I've assumed I would never forget.  One of the things we always did in fall was to visit a local orchard to pick up our order of "drops".

My parents had a favorite orchard, called Rockledge Orchard, which they always purchased apples from.  In our family lexicon it was abbreviated simply to "Rockledge".  Mention that and everyone knew what was meant.  To get there, one took a network of dirt roads, following signs much like the one pictured above (which is a scan of a favorite note card).

{I want to add that I've recently learned that the artist who painted the illustration at top is Maureen McCarthy, a New Hampshire girl like myself.  No wonder the painting is so evocative of my own experience!  To see more of her work, and to be completely enchanted, go here: artist Maureen McCarthy.}

We didn't ever pick up the "drops" ourselves, to the best of my knowledge.  Instead, my mother would order a bushel or two of "Macs" and Cortlands.  The orchard folks would fill these large wooden boxes with apples that had dropped to the ground.  This meant, of course, that the apples weren't perfect, but they were fine for our purposes and they were less expensive.

And what a treat it was to go to the orchard to pick up our apple order!  The boxes of apples were stored in a large room in the barn, to keep them cool and in good condition, I suppose.  Oh, the aroma inside that barn!  The scene looked a little bit like the photo below, but the boxes were much larger.
Photo from Pixabay
I've mentioned that Yankee Candle's Macintosh scent reminds me of that apple barn.  And it does.  Every single time I smell that scent, it takes me back.  But the aroma in that barn was even better!

When we got our apples home, my mother made lots of applesauce to can, and I'm sure she made some apple crisps and apple squares as well -- she wasn't much of a pie baker -- but many of the apples were just to eat out of hand.  The Cortlands, with their bright red outsides and crunchy white flesh, were my very favorites.  I think there may have been some years when my parents ordered more apples just before Thanksgiving, but I can't remember for sure (although it makes sense).

The apples and the treats made from them were marvelous -- but they just can't compare to the sweetness of that apple scented memory!

10 comments:

  1. My dear Mrs. T, what a delightful post. Your memories are simply precious and oh my, those apples look delicious!

    Thank you for sharing, dear one. Hugs to you!

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    1. Thank you, Stephanie for the visit and the sweet comment. It is apple season here for sure.

      Have a wonderful weekend!

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  2. My daddy had an apple orchard so we did not have to go far to get apples!! We dried them every year so we would have apples for pies and cakes in the winter. My daddy had a tree that had a branch from one of his grandfather's trees on it. I used to love to watch Daddy graft limbs on his trees. And like you, I probably should write down some of those memories.

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    1. How nice that your family had its very own apple orchard! Yes, grafting is such a fascinating process. And isn't it so nice that your daddy had a tree with a branch from one of his grandfather's trees on it! Does the orchard still exist and is it still in the family? If that tree is still standing, you ought to make sure your grandchildren see it. Think of the history that branch has seen!

      Yes, you probably should be writing down your memories. I have a few here on the blog, and I did an entire Christmas memory book for my grown kids and their families one time. But there is so much more I should write down before I forget it!

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  3. I declare, I can smell those apples you speak of! I will have to check out that Yankee candle fragrance, it sounds delightful! I have never ordered apples to put up, but since we live close to orchards, I am thinking about going and picking some this weekend. :)

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    1. I'm glad you can smell the apples all the way from Idaho, Marilyn! How nice that you have orchards nearby. Happy apple picking!

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  4. Hmmm, yes, I smell it! Cool, fresh, slightly sweet...hmmm... Perhaps I need to investigate the Yankee candle you mention. And I have that same graphic saved somewhere...maybe Pinterest. Perhaps pinned from you?

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    1. Vee, I'm happy you could smell the apple barn aroma. It was wonderful ... wonderful. Wish I could bottle it. The Macintosh candle comes a close second. I imagine you can find some little shop near you that carries Yankee Candles, so you can give a Macintosh votive a sniff and see what you think.

      I had to go look on your Pinterest board to find that graphic. Glad you had the name of the artist. (You didn't pin it from me.) Now I will have to see if I can find more of her art. I had bought those note cards -- I think a pack of 8 or 10 for $1 at a Christmas Tree Shop.

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  5. I will have to look for that candle!
    We have an orchard near enough to visit and every year I mean to take some of the grandchildren and every year I don't. I did take Amber and Benjamin when they were young and we homeschooled. I need to plan it an dwrite it down on the calendar and then DO it!!
    Yes, once you start writing down memories, it will probably trigger others you thought you had forgotten. That's the way it works with me!

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    1. Yes, Linda, your grands would love apple picking! (It's a brave thing you and Louis Dean have been doing, caring for the quads! You have much more energy and patience than I!)

      If you have Yankee Candles nearby (I think Cracker Barrel carries them) you will have to check out that scent. It's lovely.

      When I wrote down my Christmas memories years ago, that's just how it worked. I started writing, just jumped in with the first memory that came to mind, and before I knew it the memories came flooding back. I'm sure I will find it the same with my "everyday" memories, if only I can find time to write some down.

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