It's Apple Pickin' Time!

I don't know about you, but I love fall. I love feeling the humidity give way to cool, crisp air and that "good sleeping weather" when it's about 50 degrees at night. I also love taking a trip to the orchard. This year we had to seek out a new spot, and although the apples were great, the orchard made the unfortunate decision to hand us a list of orchard rules when we pulled in their driveway. Eeeew, that kinda ticked me off right off the bat.

Although I'm kind of a rule follower by nature, I can't stand being told what to do (that's my bossy side coming through) and I really hate it when people point out the obvious ("Don't let your bratty kids climb all over our trees." and "If you don't pay for those 40 bags of apples you stashed in your trunks, we'll call the cops."). Then I was really put over the top when we were told not to drive the 200 yards (from Ginger Gold to Macintosh, in our case) -- that they really prefer that their customers drive so as not to be in the way of cars. Really, what's a peaceful day at the farm without a long list of rules and some bossy bosserson doling out additional rules as you stroll the premises? I just can't imagine why, if you don't want to walk around the orchard a little, you would go to a pick-your-own apple joint? Why not just hit the supermarket? Beats me.

But enough harping, the apples were great. We made an almond apple galette, some applesauce to save for the littlest pumpkin and today I made a Caramel Apple Tart for our relatives, who are bringing the main course for dinner. Pretty nice for $17 worth of apples, and there are still quite a few left.

Have you hit the orchard yet? Whatcha pickin'? Hopefully something good!

In a Seated Position I Fall Asleep

Have you ever felt like your simple existence is tiring? Just sitting is too much, and you nod off? I'm at that point today. It's not yet 9 p.m. and I'm heading to bed, like the elderly woman I've always felt was trapped inside (ever since I realized at age 7 that I was and would always be the first to fall asleep at the slumber party).

We've been so busy the last month + that I'm ready for a vacation from my summer. Fall days that I'm inclined to throw a meal in the crock pot and play leggos all day actually sounds pretty appealing. However, it'll have to wait until another business trip is wrapped up, another weekend out of town is happily had, and preparations for Halloween (pumpkin trains, trick or treating and more!) are all entered into with vim and vigor! Oy, October is shaping up to be another duzy!

What have I got to complain about? Nothing! I'm just sayin'...if anyone figures out how to squeeze two more hours out of every day or get 8 hours of sleep into six, let me know.

I hope you had a wonderful, restful weekend! Per normal, we packed a lot in -- dinner out, a girl's outing, apple picking, some thrift stores, and more!

Animal Therapy

Last week sucked. There's no two ways about it. The day before we left for vacation, I stepped in my kid's poop, worked all day, worked until 10:30 that night and I was not happy about any of it. I was thinking, "Either I need a vacation, or I just need to run away and not tell anyone where I went." My mood was sour, I was lippy and all I really wanted to do was have a beer, make a list and pack up my stuff.

But what a difference a day makes. In the morning, I felt ready to leave town. I taught the little Pumpkin to say "hit the road" and we did just that. Of course without my handy list getting made, many things were forgotten, but in the end it really didn't matter. We headed out Highway 169 with a few hours to kill and a destination of "up north" Minnesota to eventually arrive at. Spontaneously, we made a pit stop at Kelley Farm in Elk River, Minnesota, and it was such an awesome way to start our trip. If you're local, you MUST check it out. They have animals, buildings, gardens and equipment true to the era (late 1850s). The costumed workers still work the farm as they did in the 1850s, too. I love costumed guides! It's like the Renaissance Festival, but inexpensive, and not irritating!

We pet all the animals with the exception of the pigs, which the Wee One did not want to get too close to. Oh, and the sheep somehow did not interest him. But the barn cats became his best friend and even tried to follow him out of the farm. And those cows loved him up a bit, too.

We thought about what it would be like to live on a little farm. It seems so peaceful and the animals are so cool -- except the big, fat pig that slurped around in the mud. However, I think if I lived on a farm I'd want screens on my windows. The flies! Oh, and I'd want to have plumbing. And thank God for Claritin. Geez, I was a sneezing, wheezing mess. Hmmm, guess I'm back to the realization that I'm a city slicker.

Anyway, more to share about the weekend in a bit -- I've got lots of photos to sort through. I just wanted to let anyone local know about Kelley Farm because I think it closes this coming weekend. It's so worth your time to drive up there. Plan to take a picnic, spend a few hours. Even though it's small, it's so nice to soak in the sun and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.