Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Apple Picking

My sister and niece flew out from L.A. yesterday to visit me for a whole week! The little one is currently obsessed with the Fancy Nancy book Apples Galore, so this morning we drove out to Stow to pick apples at Shelburne Farm.



You can walk through the orchards and fill up 10 or 20 pound bags with Macoun, McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, and Fuji apples. You can also pick what's left of the summer peaches, or get a jump on Halloween and buy a pumpkin instead.



We admired the farm animals, which included some donkeys and a llama, and then set out into the orchard.






We took a hay ride.



And we *had* to take a break for cider donuts!

Cider donuts rule.
So, what does 20 pounds of apples look like?

Our haul.
I tried to get my niece to do her best "Desperate Merry Wives" pose, but she went running after a dropped apple like Atalanta.


Tomorrow we head out to the Deerfield Fair in New Hampshire!

17 comments:

  1. It must be so fun to go apple picking. Those apples look so delicious. Wonder what you will make from them?

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    Replies
    1. My sister made apple sauce last night, but barely made a dent in our stockpile. I'm afraid we're going to be finding creative uses for apples over the next few days.

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  2. Dear MW,
    I love doing things like this. I remember going blackberry picking with my dad, and raspberry picking with my aunt and uncle. Such things always bring back very pleasant memories.
    My niece is a 'Fancy Nancy' fan as well. In fact sometimes I think she was the model for the book!
    Kirk

    PS
    Cider doughnuts sounds delicious!

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    1. Hi Kirk! We grew up in a very urban environment, so my sister and I have very rarely done this sort of thing. I think we enjoyed it as much as my niece did. The cider donuts were great!

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  3. Oh how I miss fall in the U.S. Ohio has lots of great apples, but when I lived in Connecticut, the Macoun apples were anxiously awaited every fall They are kind of like a super-McIntosh, although in a class by themselves. Macoun apples alone constitute a good reason for moving to New England.

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    1. We asked the lady at the ticket stand which apples were the best, and she said hands down the Macouns!

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  4. So happy to have found your blog via Miss Janice. Those apples look wonderful. Where I'm from in New Brunswick, Canada, if you can't pick your own, you can buy baskets full from Sterlings. They've been going for years and I'm happy to say, are still in business today. One of the downsides of living in England; the lack of U-Picks (among other things). Lord, I miss the Maritimes!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ali! Thanks so much for stopping by. Miss Janice is a hoot and a half, isn't she? Love her. I've heard wonderful things about the Maritimes, and hope to get up there one day.

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    2. Oh but Ali there are PYOs (Pick Your Own)s in England! Mostly summer fruit and asparagus, but don't despair!

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  5. Very bucolic, I must toddle into the garden and pick mine before the squirrels make off with them.
    I read about cider donuts yesterday I'd never heard of them before.

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    Replies
    1. I think the cider donuts might be a regional thing. I have never seen them in California, not even at the county fairs, which have every sort of fried and unhealthy food you can think of.

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  6. Apple picking - what a fun activity and I would love to try cider doughnuts too. I have never seen so many pumpkins before. So many great things about the new season!

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    1. I was pretty impressed with the number of pumpkins they had. I miss summer, but this was a nice consolation prize.

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  7. Love this! I said to husby I'm done with donuts since the last ones I had were awful but just might break that vow for cider donuts. Send some over, will ya?

    Your post makes me realize how much I miss a little bit of country, will have to make a run up to our mountain town known for apples when it's cooler, it's near 90F today!

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    Replies
    1. Tiffany Rose, you're in California, right? Are you thinking of Julian? That's a really fun day trip.

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  8. I am thinking of Julian, will have to check out conditions up there. It was 90F today here, not exactly autumn yet.

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  9. OMG this post Is beyond AMAZING:) love your blog

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    have a lovely day dear

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis - inredning it's, Swedish for decor :)

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