Thursday, September 13, 2012

Apple Picking


Apple picking - how I have looked forward to you! Last year, we drove four hours one afternoon and spent the night to wake and pick apples the next morning and drive home. This year - we planned a marathon day to drive four hours, pick and then drive right back home. I think I prefer the overnight way - but my children sure were good for such a long day!

It was the perfect kind of day: overcast and not raining! And, there was a cool breeze that told me instantly I was not in the low country any more - ahhhhhhh, lovely!

Have I mentioned before that my children won't eat applesauce from the store? And, don't even bother with a kids meal at a restaurant to get them applesauce - they don't like it. Yes, homemade applesauce only for them. I have created applesauce snobs.

As much as I love the experience of picking apples, taking a hay ride and having an apple cider donut - for me, the apple picking goes beyond just fun and really extends to gracefully providing homemade applesauce for my family for the next year. It is a bonus that the experience is fun too!

The manager of the orchard wasn't exactly a people person and especially not a mama with little people person - but I am choosing to focus on the positive!

Apples picked. Work just beginning!

Enjoy the photos which show and tell of our wonderful afternoon at the orchard!







































On the drive home, we stopped at a rest area for a picnic supper - mmm, chili!

13 comments:

Mom said...

Awesome photos of this fun outing with a purpose :) -- love the memories you are creating!!
Love you, Mom

Unknown said...

Your pictures are beautiful, and it sounds as though you had a perfectly lovely time! Here in Michigan, a 15 to 30 minute drive takes us to as many apple orchards as we would like to choose from! We are looking forward to picking in the next few weeks. There's nothing like homemade applesauce!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea to make the applesauce for the whole next year! My kids are applesauce monsters!! Lol could you share your recipe?? Please?!

south girl in the west said...

Super fun Monica...you have inspired me to find an orchard nearby and hopefully have the same kind of wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

Lovely picnic! How did you keep your chili hot? Did you use a thermos or a crock pot?

Monica Wilkinson said...

Hey Kim: Recipe is coming Monday! :)

Anonymous: chili was in a thermos!

Shelby said...

Lovely looks like so much fun:) Monica what is your applesauce recipe?

Christy Stanton said...

That is a beautiful orchard and looks like you all had fun!: )

Tim and Susan said...

Looks so fun, especially with your beautiful pictures. We just picked cherries and I so wished we would have had time to dry and can some...maybe next time.
Susan

Jen said...

Eight hours for apple picking?? Now, THAT is dedication! And it looks like it was worth every mile! ;-)

Mary Ann said...

Looks like fun! My better half will only eat homemade applesauce too! Although we both agreed that some from the natural foods store was pretty close to tasting homemade; but it is expensive!

Hoping to get apples soon! We have one orchard close by and sometimes we go to the mountains like you did! The orchard you go to is only about 2 hours from here--maybe we should plan to meet there next year! :-)

*carrie* said...

Such great pictures--love the ones with you each holding apples!

And glad you're done processing the apples--know it's a lot of work!

Tina Leigh said...

Oh I love the pictures! I'm so jealous. I took my granddaughter on a similar trip to North Georgia last year.
I love our pecan orchard but if apples grew well here, I might would make a trade! Lol!
You have a beautiful mess of littles! How precious!