A lovely winter eve for this activity. Totally new to me, we wassailed the apple trees with neighbors. First we all enjoyed a potluck feast, then bundled up, took our hot cup of spiced cider from the hearth and headed out to the orchard - crisp, full moonlit and sparkling winter night. A bit of cider is sprinkled around the heartiest and oldest tree (a Gravenstein said to have been brought here from Fort Ross), then an apple cake is placed in the boughs as an offering. We chanted the following song:"Here's to thee, old apple tree!
Whence thou may'st bud, and whence thou may'st blow
And whence thou may'st bear apples enow! -
Hats full! Caps full!
Bushel - Bushel and sacks full!
And my pockets full too! Huzzah!
A bonfire was lit as we finished our cider and listened to Joe tell stories. Terry mentioned that there is a group of farmers that are propagating heirloom fruit trees - they use the tree we are wassailing for the budwood. We sang a song about Hobos - what a beautiful evening.
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