Home for the Holidays, by Thomas Kincaid

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday and a Treat!

As some of you may know, my decrepit back has been giving me fits recently which has forced on me much bedrest that I have been too restless to endure. Nevertheless, today, I hobbled outside to show you the bounty that is right in my own backyard and which I didn't expect this year...

Meet our apple tree, the heart of our yard, under whose branches we have lain quilts to cuddle and have read-alouds; which has seen picnics aplenty and whose boughs have lovingly held many a child. Three years ago our landlord, a good man but not a tree lover, chopped away all the branches until the lush tree was nothing more than a stump with three protruding stumps. I cried for an entire afternoon. But nothing could be gone. Our beautiful tree was gone.

And yet, even at that moment, the ability of life to regenerate itself was working deep within what seemed lifeless to us. The following Spring, tiny shoots sprouted forth from the wounds; slender branches reaching outward. The following Spring leaves and shoots sprouted in a green frenzy. This year, the thicker branches sprouted beautiful flowers and we crossed our fingers and waited...In time, our sweet tree gave us ... apples.

You see here her fruit which she bears, upon which our neighborhood birds love to feast...

This all reminds me of the Love of God and how it manifests itself in the hearts of His children to make old things new, and to give life to that which once was dead. It is a miracle that happens everyday somewhere, all of the time.

And now, for your eating enjoyment, a recipe from my neighbor, Amy H., who goes throughout our neighborhood, delivering baskets of freshly baked goods (and love).

AMY'S APPLE CAKE

4 C. Shredded Apples (4-5)
1/2 C. Oil
2 Eggs
2 t. Soda
2 C. Sugar
1 t. Vanilla
2 C. Flour
2 t. Cinnamon
1 t. Salt
1 C. Chopped Walnuts (optional)

Mix together. Grease and flour 9x13 pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

CARAMEL SAUCE
3/4 C. Brown Sugar
3/4 C. Sugar
3/4 C. Whipping Cream
3/4 C. Butter
1 1/2 t. Vanilla

Warm until dissoved. Serve warm over cool cake.
Top with Cool Whip or ice cream.

Now, pretend that I have delivered you a warm basket of freshly baked Apple Cake (and love).

Hugs,
Elizabeth
For more Outdoor Wednesday posts visit A Southern Dreamer.


12 comments:

Jane said...

How true...God takes the "dead" and breathes new life into it.
Those are beautiful apples!

I am so sorry about your back. There is little that feels worse than a sore back...everything connects to it! I don't know what your problem is, but if it's muscular, you might find some relief with SwissJust Juniper Cream and 31 Herbal Oil...they work together to relieve tension and pain. (That's the only thing that helped my back last spring.)

Thanks for visiting me...
Jane (Artfully Graced)

claudie said...

I always said to the kids.. there is life everywhere you look, even in the sand, there comes a flower. Nothing ever wan't to die or give up.
Your apples are proof of that. I hope you get to enjoy many more seasons.
They look delish.
Happy OW
Love Claudie
xo

Martha said...

How glad that your tree survived! The birds, too, are happy, I'm sure!

Mary Bergfeld said...

So often, these trees will regenerate. We have friends who are trying to save a 100 year old tree on their property. Who knows, in a few years you may yet again sit under the tree for a picnic. I hope so.

LV said...

I truly enjoyed your apple tree story. It was meant to be y ou have that tree and the higher power took care of it. I hate to hear you are having back problems. That is not a good thing. Take care and rest.

Ms. Bake-it said...

I am glad that your tree came back to life. I would have had the same reaction you did. I am sorry to hear about your back. I hope it heals quickly.

~ Tracy

Alexandra said...

So glad your apple tree came back!

Anne said...

What a beautiful story. That apple cake sounds delicious. :)

Christensen Family said...

Your back is still hurting? Ugh, ugh, ugh. Do you know what it is? I'm so sorry. Love the beautiful fall apples!

Jeanne said...

I also had a bad tree trimming experience. The most gorgeous maple tree in my yard was molested by an evil tree trimmer. It was the only "real" climbing tree in my yard that my kids could climb - and he took off every limb within 15+ feet of the ground - rendering it unclimbable. (While we had 15+ ash trees with DEAD limbs he ignored, when he was hired to "deadhead" as many ash trees as he could butcher in 3 hours.) It still pains me to look at that tree and remember how my children will never be able to climb it. But I am lucky (blessed) to have the trees and the yard. I try to pretend God called the tree trimmer to remove those branches to prevent one of my children from falling out of the tree in the future... God does have a way of letting good come from bad. I will pray for your back injury.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post! Trees are God's blessing--cut them back and they will grow again, thicker, more lush. Sounds like you also live in a loving neighborhood. Prayers for your back.

Claudia said...

Hi my new friend and NEIGHBOR!! I have not found too many Utes but I can only imagine there are tons of us out there...

Thank you so much for stopping by my spot in the bloggosphere... and yes... heres a clink of our mugs of hot cocoa...

Though today when i got a peek at the mountains they didnt look like they got the snow they had predicted... but then Im glad I am not a weather person LOL

TTFN~~Claudia