The old apple tree is probably as old as the farmhouse, it has a couple of centuries on it, it somehow seems to embody the soul of the place, it has dignity and beauty to it, and it’s long and beautiful shadow is the first thing we see in the morning. There is a great deal of myth and folklore about apple trees, they are independent and mysterious.

Two years ago, apples were raining down on us for much of the summer, this year not a single apple, they often produce apples every other year. Some farmers say an abundance of apples is nature’s way of providing animals with food in a tough winter, this theory is unproven.

I appreciate the shadow of the tree, it suggests crisis and mystery, it suggests life.