Well, it could only be a matter of time!
Our Miss GetFresh has a birthday today! We hope you have the loveliest of days GF and that you get all your heart's desires in the coming year, particularly as they relate to certain orange boxes!
So a little cake for you..
We had a lovely day here yesterday. It was +24, an unheard of temperature for the end of September (though with global warming, it does seem like we say that a lot, doesn't it?) and we went for a little apple picking adventure.
We picked McIntosh and Cortlands and I imagine that there will be a few pies and crisps in the coming days!
In honour of our little apple picking adventure and of GetFresh's birthday, I thought I might share the poem After Apple Picking by Robert Frost:
I hope you have a lovely day GetFresh and that the rest of you do as well! Stay safe out there!
Our Miss GetFresh has a birthday today! We hope you have the loveliest of days GF and that you get all your heart's desires in the coming year, particularly as they relate to certain orange boxes!
So a little cake for you..
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In honour of our little apple picking adventure and of GetFresh's birthday, I thought I might share the poem After Apple Picking by Robert Frost:
After Apple Picking
My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still.
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples; I am drowsing off.
I cannot shake the shimmer from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass
I skimmed this morning from the water-trough,
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
But I was well
Upon my way to sleep before it fell,
And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and reappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear.
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin
That rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
For I have had too much
Of apple-picking; I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall,
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised, or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth.
One can see what will trouble
This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.
Were he not gone,
The woodchuck could say whether it's like his
Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,
Or just some human sleep.
Toward heaven still.
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples; I am drowsing off.
I cannot shake the shimmer from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass
I skimmed this morning from the water-trough,
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
But I was well
Upon my way to sleep before it fell,
And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and reappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear.
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin
That rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
For I have had too much
Of apple-picking; I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall,
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised, or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth.
One can see what will trouble
This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.
Were he not gone,
The woodchuck could say whether it's like his
Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,
Or just some human sleep.
Robert Frost
I hope you have a lovely day GetFresh and that the rest of you do as well! Stay safe out there!
You and Merry Wife are making me long for a crisp autumn day up in the mountains but alas, it was 90F today. I asked her for cider donuts, can you send over some pies and crisps? I'll start the coffee ...
ReplyDeleteA very, very happy birthday to you, GetFresh!!! Your cake looks yummy and I've got the coffee going ...
90F! Oh my! We thought 74 was crazy!!!! a week ago I was in my woollies, now I am scrambling!
DeleteDoesn't that cake look divine????
tiffany rose, thank you, I live for coffee. Cider donuts sound yummy too.
DeleteOh and tr that's totally my kind of weather, but it does have wardrobe limitations, I know.
DeleteA very Happy Birthday to Get Fresh, that orange cake look better than the boxes!
ReplyDeleteI know - I would love to try and make that cake!
DeleteWell the ribbon is a fairly easy fix with fondant but all that lettering would do my head and hands in. Thanks for the happy B&P.
DeleteWhat a fabulous cake! I trust that the birthday was very happy indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me of the Robert Frost poem. It was read at the funeral of a good friend a few years ago and, like so much of his poetry, says far more than just the superficial description.
I love poetry read at funerals. At my dad's funeral last fall (he was a forester), my son read "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". I love it!
DeleteSo far so good Share my Garden, thank you. I contrast between daily life and dreams is very evocative in this one. I always think of Frost at the Kennedy inauguration or off in the trees.
DeleteThe not I, coffee!
DeleteHappy birthday GF! Wishing you a fab day and many orange boxes!
ReplyDeleteYour apple picking looks idyllic! V jealous... I'm unable to eat apples at the moment due to my tedious elimination diet... Grrrr.
Beautiful poem too.
I should be on an elimination diet! Everything is so tight!
DeleteOh ruth, I'd never have the long-term discipline for that kind of diet, good on you. One orange box will suffice, for now, but giggling because WMM and DBP have heard all my "dramas" about this one.
DeleteI'm sure that one good orange box is easily enough! I hope you will report if you do get one!
DeleteMy elimination diet is only for 2 weeks and isn't too drastic - it's the low FODMAP thing for IBS sufferers. I've never done any kind of diet before and I must say it's annoying, although I think it will be worth it in terms of gut well-being.
I had to chortle at Wendy's elimination diet!!!
Yes, happy tummy important. And will report when I am back in city (crossing fingers here...)
DeleteWishing you the best of birthdays, GF. May an orange box trimmed with brown ribbon turn up!
ReplyDeleteooh - that would be a nice present indeed! I have never had an orange box - must add that to the list! I second that, GF!
DeleteCheers Marie, and I hope the present powers are listening to you and WMM. May not be exactly today as I am away for work, but anticipating/ hoping/ expecting soon (I've deliberated for about a year on it.)
DeleteAPPLE FOR THE BLOGGER Well, WMM you've totally made my day already. Heritage branded cake and my first-ever birthday blog shout-out, ta darling :-)
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I haven't read that poem since around Grade 10? How's that for youthful flashback? And look forward to peeling and baking tales given yesterday's adventure. The weather has been gorgeous here too. But afraid real fall coat weather will nip me. Maybe a scarf will soften that pain?
ha! I had to google Hermes birthday when it came to you!!!!
DeleteWhat DID we do before the Google??
DeleteHappy Birthday to our darling GF! Wendy I am loving that birthday cake you found, good job!
ReplyDeleteYes Dani, agreed "my" cake is the bees knees - and calorie-free.
DeleteWell Happy Birthday GF! May you have many years of health, wealth, and wisdom.
ReplyDeleteI will take some wisdom, too, BB!
DeleteWhat a great wish BB, I'll definitely hope for that to come true, especially the wise part!
DeleteA very happy birthday, GF!!! Fun to have one in apple season. Never had The orange box either.
ReplyDeleteYes, the weather has been classic fall gorgeousness; spent the weekend out on Monhegan in the coolest house ever. Enjoy!
Sounds fun - why was it so cool?
DeleteLane, it will be a first for me - way of marking an age. And yes, do tell about this house.
DeleteOne hundred year old rustic, old kitchen ware,giant stone fireplace, old windows looking out on the sea. No paved roads. Everything made of beautiful wood with a patina. Big bookcase. Sigh.
DeleteWhen are you moving in and inviting us ;-)
Deleteyou had me at "old windows look out at the sea"!
DeleteHappy birthday, GF!
ReplyDeleteWe are still working through all our apples here. I'll be eating apples morning, noon, and night for a while...
MW - I hear you - there is a saturation point...
DeleteWhy thank you Merry Wife! I know apples and courgettes are like that, only so much crumble, sauce, salad, lunch boxes or conversely pasta, bread, pickles etc. one can consume.
DeleteHappy Birthday, GF!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go apple picking - one of my favourite autumn activities!
P.S. GF, I hope you get that certain orange box!
Deletewouldn't it be fun to find an orange box under the apple tree????
DeleteWMM, too cool! When we first came to city we used to go apple picking out near Dani, but no time this year. Louise, thanks so much, hope all is well with you!
DeleteHappy Birthday Get Fresh, and thanks to Wendy for marking it so nicely. I hope you have a lovely day, plus adding my wishes for the arrival of that orange box!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Patricia! With all the mental power of WMM's amazing clubhouse I have an inkling my wish will come true. And yes, it is lovely to get a blog shout-out, especially on a working Monday. Take care.
DeleteApparently you are the last to know. Global Warming has been renamed as Climate Change. Guess why?
ReplyDeleteHi again Wendy - hop on over to Monty Does Deutschland, you got a lovely shout-out!
ReplyDeletehttp://montydoesdeutschland.wordpress.com/
Oh thanks Patricia - hadn't been over there yet today (I am still learning how to follow some blogs - do you think I have a learning disability - wait - don't answer that!!!
DeleteWhat a funny post and such a nice shout out!
Happy Birthday Get Fresh!
ReplyDeleteHey LR - still sending a lot of love your way!
DeleteLR, it has been a very happy Monday so far, hope all is well, popping over to your corner of blogoverse...
DeleteHappy Birthday Get Fresh and wasn't that nice of Wendy to find ..that image.
ReplyDeleteHaven't apple picked for years but we love apple crisp.
Marsha - I wish I had found the real box under the apple trees!
DeleteThank you Marsha, I'm a tarte tatin or apple crumble with blackberries fan. And Wendy, the cake was just Googlicious, no substitutions.
DeleteHappy happy birthday Get Fresh!
ReplyDeleteAnd apple picking - how lovely! I'm jealous over your awesome fall activity. :)
how are the apples up your way, Laura?
DeleteThank you, thank you Laura, loving all the blog wishes. Lovely distraction on a mad workday.
DeleteWhat a fantastic cake!!! Happy Birthday Get Fresh. As you share a poem, I thought you wouldn't mind me sharing a recipe for GetFresh birthday. I propose an apple tarte with a speculos flavored crumble. You will need some pastry dough, about 1kg apple, sugar, cinnamon, butter, flour and speculos, the famous Belgian biscuit.
ReplyDeletePeel the apples and cut them in dices. Cook them in a pan with some butter, when they are golden, add some sugar and cinnamon so that the apples are well coated until caramelized. when cooked, put them aside. Put 100g speculos in a mixer and hash them fine. In a bowl, mix them with 50g butter and 50 g flour. You should end up with something that are crumbles... If too sticky add some flour, if too dry, add some butter. Lay the pastry dough in a a tarte tin, which is a bit different from a pie tin as not that high. Make some holes in the dough bottom using a fork, put the caramelized apples and add the speculos crumble... Cook it for 30 min 180 degrees Celcius. Enjoy!
I AM SOOOO making this! Thanks Steph!
DeleteMe too Steph, on the weekend! Thank you for the recipe and wishes! Is Dutch speculos similar to Dutch Speculaas cookies - a crunchy ginger biscuit. If so, I have those all the time, so your recommendation is a sign. There is actually a little shop around the corner from our DaniBP that sells them; I used to go there before I met her.
DeleteI meant Belgian speculos, think you will understand...
DeleteHappy Birthday Get Fresh!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get spoiled today:)
Yes, spoiling in progress, thank you Ina. Have been eyeing something H that is right up your street. Hope all is very well in Hot Lanta and with the girls! Too busy to comment until next month with a new job, but check your outfits whenever I can.
DeleteHappy BD get fresh! Wendy.You may think I'm crazy but you look almost like Eve in the apple orchard pic. The shadow could be a fig leaf covering your lady parts! Ha
ReplyDeleteVivid mental pic Shopping Celle, having a good giggle (that could also be wine at lunch.) And ta for the birthday wish!
DeleteHa - SC - Barry made us all do glamour shots - I had another one with my hand in ball under my chin... oh my...
DeleteI would be okay being compared to Eve - she was the original "it" girl!