For the past two years Asa and I have participated in the the Anglo-Saxon tradition of wassailing our apple trees, in an attempt to scare away the evil spirits by blessing them with cider, song, and toast. However, despite singing, cheering, jeering, and yes a little dancing, we are no closer to having a bountiful crop. Well that ends today!

Despite it being Twelfth Night, there will NOT be a Wassail King and Queen, nor will we be wasting toast by hanging it on the branches or pouring perfectly good cider on the roots of our apple trees. And we definitely won’t be annoying the neighbors by banging on pots and pans, while reciting boisterous incantations. Will Asa be upset after practicing his song and dance routine for months? Of course! But maybe that’s the problem? Maybe the evil spirits and their friends are use to Asa’s caterwauling all the time and know he’s harmless. I know I’ve certainly learned to block him out over the years. Nope! I have a new plan!

This year I’m going to guard my apple trees from the evil spirits, deer, squirrels, birds, insects, and any other critters that may want to mess with my harvest!