An Apple a Day . . .

On one of those beautiful fall days last week, we went to a local apple orchard and picked apples. Now, before we arrived, I had never been there before. I imagined large, established apple trees. I envisioned walking under a canopy of branches strewn with ripe apples. I worried that I would have to deal with Ellerie and a ladder. Much to my surprise, though, this orchard was not the orchard I imagined.

This orchard was, well, a mini orchard. The local farmer invested in hybrid apple trees that only grow to about 5 1/2 feet and that grow clusters of apples on their low branches. These were more like apple bushes rather than apple trees.

And, I have to be honest. I was a little disappointed.

That is, I was disappointed until I realized how very excited the kiddies were. They were tickled pink that they could reach each and every apple to pick exactly the one that they wanted.

So, I turned my frown upside down, and I got to picking!

Once El realize that she was actually allowed to pull the apples off of the trees, she went to town! She often pulled so hard that she toppled herself right over. This apple was particularly stubborn. (Just like El! Ha!)

Later, as we filled our apple bag, El tried in vain to carry it from one spot to another. I even had a hard time with it once it was full. It was over 25 pounds! (So, if my calculations are correct, that made a 50 plus pound carry for me back to the car . . . 25lb. apples + 30 plus lbs. of El = one tired Annie!)

The kiddies obviously had a ball, and I did too. I think that the apple picking may become an annual fall tradition.

Now . . . does anyone have any good apple recipes?