Then and Now -- Apple Fest

    

Apple Fest is on its last day here and the changes this year a very much felt. This particular festival has always been about family and close friends for me and over the years some traditions had developed around the weekend. Friday afternoon any out of town friends and family that were coming for the weekend would begin to arrive. Depending on schedules and weather it was usually a low-key Pizza night with folks stopping in to say hi and basically 'checking in' if they weren't staying with us. The kids were out of school for the weekend and cousins were over to spend the night and hang out in the back yard around a bonfire if its wasn't raining. 

    Saturday found me finalizing that year's pot of soup and homemade bread that would stay warm on the stove while we all walked the 4 blocks into downtown for the festival. It was normally raining :-) but we all bundled up and prepared to get wet and cold - and call it fun! As a side note this was also an excellent time to find out which kids needed new winter coats, hats, mittens and boots....

 Into town we all went and wandered the stalls of every farm from here to Gaylord and then over to Traverse City. Friske's Orchards has always held the anchor spot on the corner of Bridge and Clinton Streets selling apples, cider, homemade donuts and in later years, Chili. Organic Honey, beautiful Mum's, Mike's Mustard, Cook Family Meats, Kings Orchards.. all had their reliable places as we wended our way through the throngs and dodged the aggressive mommies using strollers as battering rams. Younger members of the Orchard Families called out that year's 'IT Apple' with samples and prices for small and large bags. Head counts were taken in our group to decide who wanted apples and how many bushels should be purchased and divied up later as well as whether or not we could actually carry these items home (up State Street Hill) or would someone need to go back up to the house for a car. You would think that at some point over the the course of 6 or 8 years we would have gotten this part down but we never did! 

 Before leaving for home a stop at the Charlevoix Garden Society Booth for their famous warm Irish Apple Cake with Whipped Cream was a must-- best stuff on the planet and they guarded that recipe like pit-bulls- I have NEVER gotten my hands on it-and not for lack of trying.

 Then it was the cold and wet trek back up the hill with the youngest of whatever kids were with us caterwauling like someone had removed a limb or two. Good Times. Good Times...

 Once home and stripped of wet clothing there was warm soup, homemade bread and sliced apples of whatever variety had been our choice that year. The kids all went to do whatever they did at that point while the adults napped and watched silly Halloween shows on TV. 

  That was Apple Fest for Years -- My Mother, My Grandmother, Jack, both kids, Amy who lived across the street (and is now preparing for her first born) my dear Jenniffer and her daughter Sam. My nephew Cory... all of us all of the time. But not this year. My mother stayed home to host her sister and brother in law's visit, My daughter is married and moved further up north, Jenniffer has moved to Virginia to be with her husband and Sam is in college in Detroit. Cory is living where Lisa and her Husband are with my son soon to follow and the big house that warmed and sheltered us all now hosts another family.

 I am both sad and proud; we have all worked together to create the most amazing and unique memories for so many years- such blessings. And while I know that it is healthy for everyone to grow and move to whatever is their next 'best life' --myself included - I miss those days terribly. This year was spent in a small 'pop up shop' with my husband greeting visitors and encouraging the sale of my art work. We walked the booths with our son - knowing that next year it will be just us once he moves on to Marquette with his sister and cousin - and looked at the pumpkins, said hello to Mike at his mustard stand, and inhaled the intoxicating scents of mums, honey and cinnamon. 

  The Charlevoix Garden Society Tent with their amazing Irish Apple Cake was not there. It seemed somehow symbolic...