Friday Five - Johnny Appleseed

(The Johnny Appleseed song is one we used to sing for grace before our meals at school in the early 60s - just the first verse).

Raise your hand if you know that today is Johnny Appleseed Day!

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 travelled 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 hundereds of orchards, considering it his sevice 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.)
My grandmother used to make a killer apple cake - and if I can find the recipe I WILL post it. 

2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about?
Yes, I have. One of the most special trees I planted was a vytex tree someone gave me in memory of my dad.  In terms of apple trees, the don't grow down here - the weather is too warm.

3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not?
I enjoy traveling down country roads to see what is there, where they lead to, trying to put the pieces together of the lay of the land.

4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours? Well, to be perfectly honest, none really come up to me other than Santa Claus, but I am not going to claim that one. That one is way too easy.

5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he travelled 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?

When I watched the Johnny Appleseed video, I couldn't help but think of this song and it DOES cheer me - and I hope it cheers you!

Comments

[Sally]

I love both of those music videos, will call back later to see if you have found that apple pie recipe

[Joanna]

I couldn't see your favorite song, because I'm doing this from work and you tube is BLOCKED! sigh. I'll have to look up a vytex tree. Later..

[Deb]

Wow. I didn't know there was more than one verse!! We sang that at Girl Scout camp!

How funny.

d

[Silent]

Only today have I learned that there is more than one verse! We use it a lot as a grace at church!

[Auntie Knickers]

I wondered how many others would think of the Johnny Appleseed grace!
Too bad about the apple trees, but at least you have peaches. Robert Frost had a poem about apple trees where he was leaving the orchard and telling the trees "Goodbye and keep cold." They do need that.
Love the Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. It is also a song that comes to mind when I am feeling cheerful. Happy memories of going to the movies with my brother and seeing that show!

[Allison]

Great post Mama :) I loved the Johnny Appleseed blessing :)

[rev honey]

Nice play! We sang the Johnny Appleseed song at camps - church and Girl Scout - too.

[rev honey]

Nice play! We sang the Johnny Appleseed song at camps - church and Girl Scout - too.

[PS]

I like the idea of "putting together the map". Thanks for the videos.

[PS]

I like the idea of "putting together the map". Thanks for the videos.

[SingingOwl]

I posted the video too! And I love following country roads, to husband's dismay. AND I am wont to sing Zippidy Doo Dah, or however you spell it. Reading your answers made me grin. Come visit, and we'll wander 'round the Wisconsin countryside. There is plenty of it.

[naomi]

I do have an apple tree in my back yard. We did not know it was there when we bought the house but knew it was a fruit tree, about 6 feet tall. It is now 4 times that high. It produces more some years than others and the squirrels and birds eat most of them. The apples are small but I was told in Master Gardening training that I need to cull the small clusters leaving just one to get larger apples. The professor from UG suggested I get a Red Delicous and plant it and then Graft a bud from my tree to the root stock since my tree is at least 25 years old. Increasing apple production has not been one of my goals so I have not been a good steward of my apple tree. Think I have made apple sauce once and Chuck baked an apple pie.
Cheers. Naomi

[Cathy]

For those of you reading the comments - Naomi lives a couple of miles from me. She grows apples because she lives further north than I do. :)

[patti]

We live in the middle of apple country. Apples are every where, just falling on the ground. It's hard to narrow down the favorite apple dish, because we put apples in EVERYTHING, even the soup.

[Linda]

I have always been fascinated by the story of Johnny Appleseed and when I heard there was a prayer, I got on the interet to find it. Thank you for your site - it nearly makes me cry to think of what a happy childhood we shared in the 50s compared to the problems with which today's children are faced. The only reason America was blessed is because America was good and America looked to God for strength and grace to help in time of need. Thank you for bringing back the good old days!!!