Written by One thing I’ve learned over my sketching journey is that not everyone likes cider, but most can agree that apples are rather nice. So I doodlewashed both and you can take your pick as to which you prefer. I personally like the cloudy non-alcoholic cider that is made locally, but I don’t actually care for the alcoholic variety or regular apple juice. These days, I really do just want the whole apple. But as a kid, I loved apple juice and, of course, the less boozy version of cider during the autumn season. I insisted that we get some of the cider that I enjoyed in my youth a couple of years ago while Philippe and I were at the grocery. When we got home, we each had a glass, thought it was okay, but nothing noteworthy, and then forgot about it entirely. The remainder fermented and we eventually had to just pour it out. But the appearance of those cider jugs at the grocery this time of year still makes me smile. A host of childhood memories come flooding back to me. Sometimes in life, the memory that something evokes is far better than the actual thing itself.
I remember apples in my school sack lunches, and the barbaric act of bobbing for them in a barrel as a kid, but that’s all of the memories apples bring back to me. Cider, on the other hand, conjures much grander memories. Most notable is that we would have some when we went to a place called Missouri Town, a 30-acre outdoor history museum with actual houses built between 1820-1860. Volunteers would dress in the costumes of the time and, during the autumn season, pass out cups of hot apple cider from a large kettle. It was like being transported to another time and so the cider was almost magical. They created it in precisely the same fashion as it was done at that time and with no preservatives or other modern inventions to get in the way, and it was blissfully perfect. I actually went back there with Philippe around this time of year and he was able to try a cup. It was just as wonderful as I remembered, but I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or not. He spent most of the time marveling at how “new” everything was, since he grew up in Paris and things from the 1800’s are simply considered a nice antique, but not actually something one would deem as significant history.
And so I was able to marvel at both my own memories of youth and the memories of my young country. A country that wasn’t even in existence at the time many of the buildings Philippe passed by as a child were erected. Perhaps my feelings of being a kid at heart come directly from living in a place that is still quite young as countries go. While other nations are wise great grandfathers, my own is really nothing more than a rambunctious teenager, still trying to figure it all out. Yet, it’s a strangely exciting country for that very reason. So much happens here, both good and bad, from that rebellious spirit that caused it to form in the first place. And though my heritage extends to Ireland and much farther back than that, my known family tree is mostly planted in the United States. A young history by world standards, to be sure, with log cabin settlements so small that hot cider in a kettle was a significant and wonderful thing to behold. Life was only grand because of the family and friends that gathered round to celebrate it. So, in the end, met with all of these memories of the past, I’m not sure I could ever possibly choose between apples or cider.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Vermilion, and Indigo (my “Vintage” Trio!). Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Another great painting! I love apples, and sparkling cider is my favorite. We always buy a bunch of bottles for the holidays and my girls can’t get enough. Great memory about the bobbing for apples. I wonder if anyone even does that anymore. 😉
Thanks so much, Michelle! 😃💕Yeah, I love cider this time of year. As for bobbing for apples… I sort of hope not… it’s wildly unsanitary! lol But then again… I sort of hope it does still happen. So much of my youth has disappeared.
And yet here we are, grown adults, and it didn’t kill us. I’m often amazed at all the things I did as a child that nobody would dare do anymore. Lol… Feels like my children are missing out on all the good parts sometimes. 😉
I know! I feel the same! I loved the daring of our childhoods! I’m sure it made us better people in the end! 😉
Oh yes! Lol… I once dropped a hammer and on my poor friend’s head as we were making miniature houses out of old wooden fruit crates. To this day, I’ll never forget her reaction. All she said was a small little, “Ouch!” Then rubbed her head a little bit and then went right back to hammering again along with me. Even if we got hurt we just kept going. Lol… And those wooden fruit crates were always free for the taking. Now they’re considered vintage and will cost you sometimes $50 for one! Lol… 😉
I adore that story! 😃💕 Love it! What’s a little bump amongst friends creating something awesome!??
I’m just so happy it was just a little bump! We were invincible back in those days. All of us were! 😉
Umm. The cider and apple both look good to me. Your drawing makes them both look so delicious. In the midwest cider with hot cinnamon donuts is the rage. Fresh baked of course. The orchards are packed and I do believe that is where you get the best cider. Locally grown apples and fresh made cider….so good on a cool crispy day. You have great memories to share.
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕Yes! I think that apple orchards are definitely the best! Nothing like the freshest of ingredients. I have such fond memories of enjoying cider.
Fantastic job on both glass of cider and the apple. My favorite apple product is apple butter. It’s designed to be a spread, but I eat it by the spoonful!
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 hehe… I think eating apple butter by the spoonful is perfectly acceptable. There’s really no other way.
Your last paragraph was a good reminder vis a vis the current political climate.
And, when I was in school there was an apple machine. It was tucked under a stairwell between the elementary and high school. For a quarter you had your choice of a giant yellow or red delicious apple. I always got the yellow and I bought it just before school let out for the day so I could eat it on the bus. Those apples were cold and sweet and extra juicy. Maybe the best apples I ever had in my life. What a great memory.
Thanks, Lisa! 😃💕 I only ever allude to politics on my blog, but it’s certainly an interesting new climate. And I adore your story… what a wonderful moment to end the school day. I’m sure that apple was extra delicious at that point.
I loved the story n. Apple+ Cider.both are made with good colours. No idea of Cider taste but Apple is good in taste hope to try cider some time.
Thanks so much.charlie o shield.
Thanks so much, Snehlata! 😃💕 Cider is a good apple taste, but I still prefer regular apples most! 😉
Oh cider to be sure! Especially mulled cider! We have a local cultural destination called Hancock Shaker Village (which I also like to paint), you can tour it all year long, but every winter they have special weekends where they (used to at least) make mulled cider and spiced cookies, I’m drooling already. I’m in agreement on passing on the alcoholic cider, unless it’s from Burlington, VT’s Citizen Cider, but I’ll usually get a jug of local cider and make my own makeshift mulled cider. I’ll add cinnamon and cloves and heat it up. Swirled with a cinnamon stick, it feels a little special indeed!
Oh my gosh, Jill… I was perfectly drooling by the end of your comment! YUM!! 😃💕 That all sounds delicious, and mostly the experience at Hancock Shaker Village… sounds like a magical time indeed!
What an interesting journey, from apples to Paris to American roots. There’s much to explore here in the US – our monuments are our democratic vision of peace, opportunity, equality, and justice – most of which we’re still constructing. But all those European cathedrals took decades to build, so we’re doing OK.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, I think we’re doing okay in the end, albeit a bit bumpy along the way. That’s just what happens when you’re young and impulsive. 😉 I do hope we haven’t lost that vision, though… it was a rather good one.
Ccciiiiiiiiddddddeeeeerrrr, I love it! I wish I could paint glass like you paint glass!
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕 So happy you enjoyed this! And painting glass is so fun… not as hard as you think! 😉
I love cider! Love it! I have happy memories of hayrides in Pennsylvania in the crisp fall night are drinking apple cider at the end of it or hot apple cider even. I’ve always loved it.
I wish I could paint glass like you paint glass!
Thanks! Those hayrides were the best! Mine were here, of course, and not in Pennsylvania, but I have such fond memories! 😃💕
I like hot apple cider, but the rest is take it or leave it. Unless it’s in pie. Everything is better as pie!
So true!! Everything is WAY better when it comes in the form of pie! 😃💕
I’ll have both apples and cider please.
I like cider hot with a cinnamon swizzle stick,
and if I’m feeling really decadent after a snowy
night of caroling, a dab of butter and a splash
of honey. I like my apples crispy. I want juice
to splatter with each bite. What a delicious post
you have made!
Thanks so much! 😃💕 hehe… and you’ve painted a very yummy comment here… makes me want to go eat something!
Very nice doodlewash. Reminds me of the apple jam I learnt to make at my school for the first time with my batchmates. Everyone at home loved it. I have never tried cider but only apple cider vinegar with a little honey at a retreat centre.
Thanks, Anita! 😃💕 Oh wow… I love that you made jam. I’ve never attempted such a thing. But apples are kind of awesome in just about every form they come!