Friday Five: Johnny Appleseed!

Singing Owl says at RevGals:  Raise your hand if you know that today is Johnny Appleseed Day! (I did not know this!!)

September 26, 1774 was his birthday. "Johnny Appleseed" (John Chapman) is one of America's great legends. He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania, but he was among those who were captivated by the movement west across the continent.

As Johnny traveled west (at that time, the "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois) he planted apple trees and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew. A devout Christian, he was known to preach during his travels. According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received to churches or charities. He planted hundreds of orchards, considering it his service to humankind. There is some link between Johny Appleseed and very early Arbor Day celebrations.

So, in honor of this interesting fellow, let's get on with the questions!

1. What is your favorite apple dish? (BIG BONUS points if you share the recipe.)  I don't like cooked apples...there is a story which I will not share.  Suffice it to say, childhood bad experience.  It's convenient to be able to buy my sweetie one of his favorite desserts, Dutch apple pie, which I am not even tempted to touch! 

 

So my favorite apple "dish"...must be Apple, Carrot and Raisin salad, which my mom used to make us. 

 

Recipe: 

1 lg. apple, chopped
      2 lg. carrots, shredded
      1/4 c. raisins
      2 tbsp. mayonnaise (I use Light or fat free these days)

 

Combine apple, carrots and raisins in bowl. Add mayonnaise; mix well. Chill until serving time.

2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about?

I planted a redbud tree at my first home (a duplex) here in Denton.  Denton is "The Redbud Capitol of Texas" and we have an annual Arbor Day festival sponsored by Keep Denton Beautiful called the Denton Redbud Festival.  I bought the tree there and my neighbor kindly dug the hole for its planting. 

 

Of course, I've moved away from that place, but I like to drive by and see that the tree is still doing well! 

 

3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not?  Roaming, yes, but only for brief times.  This bird likes to fly home pretty often. 

4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours?  Pope Joan, the putative female pope of the 9th century.  There's a grand novel about it by Donna Woolfolk Cross.  I participated in a reading group that read it, and the author joined our discussion by speaker phone! 

5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he traveled the roads of the west. Do you have a song that comes when you are trying to be cheerful, or is there something else that you often do?  I have a wonderful little song that I like to sing in particulary trying times.  It's a setting of the lines from Habbakuk and the music is this crazily hoppy, boppy, cheerful little ditty.  I've tried to find it on the web/Youtube and I can't, but here are the lyrics:

 

I will rejoice in the Lord alway

I will rejoice in the Lord alway

Though the fig trees are barren, and the cattle all die,

And the crops have failed and the fields empty lie,

And though He slay me, even though He slay me,

Yet I'll rejoice in the Lord alway. 

 

Repeat, using "sing to the Lord,"  "dance to the Lord," "shout to the Lord" and anything else you can think of.  Singing this out loud will cause people to think you have lost it. 

 

Comments

[hot cup]

oh my oh my... the cheerful diddy sounds not cheerful to me. but alas, i have not had any coffee yet. yummy salad, i beleive it usually has a starring role at any and ever potluck supper i've been to!

[rev honey]

Great play, MB!

[Auntie Knickers]

Boy howdy! (As they might say down your way, or not...) What a great play, a beautiful tree, a tasty and healthy recipe, and I sure wish I knew the tune to that little song, 'cause I love making people think I'm crazy. Maybe you could do your own YouTube presentation?

[Sally]

Great lyrics, and that apple carrot salad has set my moth watering!!!

[Barbara B.]

Ooh, Pope Joan! That's a good choice.

[zorra]

I thought I was the only one who really likes carrot and raisin salad! The apple sounds like a great addition.

[Mary Jane Butler]

You remember that tune fro the Fisherfolk and junior choir days. I am ordering "Hey Kids do you Love Jesus" and it should be in there. I almost have the tune in my head. Good remembering.