Not So Much With the Apple Picking

We had the best intentions. We wanted to go apple picking with my sister and the puddles, and thought about pushing it back a bit so we could make sure we could pick Mutsus. YUM! We did our research, and discussed the pros and cons about going this weekend versus that weekend. In some ways, it turns out it was fortunate we postponed the plans, as Kathleen ended up in the ER on the other Sunday we were considering, with an emergency appendectomy. She's doing well, by the way.

So. Having checked various orchard websites, it appeared that the U-Pick place to go was Schwallier's (we went there when Maia was a baby, too). Mutsus were due to pick the Thursday before we went, and Granny Smiths the day before. I used these reasons to convince Ray that he wanted to go with us, particularly since Kath was recovering from surgery, and it'd be nice to have more adults with all those kids, as Kath is on lifting restrictions. So we pile in the car, and head north to the orchard, looking forward to Mutsus fresh off the tree and cider donuts. So Andrew decided he would go too.
Kath and I went inside to find out where to find the Mutsus, while the guys and the kids hung out by the goats. We were directed to an elderly, hearing impaired man to ask about picking the Mutsus, which we were pronouncing "Moo-tsoo" and he could not figure out what we were talking about. He called over a young woman who turned out to be his granddaughter, and so we asked her. Oh, she said, "Muh-tsoos, grandpa!" Well, for all that hassle he could have just told us what she did: Because of the early frost and the way the growing season went... they were no longer doing U-Picks. They'd ended the week before. Did they have Mutsus in storage for sale? Nope. Not a one. Sigh.
Ah, well. We'll go have some more fun with the kids, and pick out our pumpkins. Let's go! Hard-of-hearing Grandpa stands in the gift barn and gives free apples to everyone while they stand in line for donuts. So at least Maia was pleased with her apple (which she did NOT want to let go of!) And she searched the pumpkin patch, apple in hand, and found this little green one.

Lydia thought the green ones were cool too.

And Parker was just enjoying some outdoor time.

Adrian, on his way to the tweens, had his ipod on while searching for his pumpkin.

Andrew and Ray joked around a lot.

And Ray took some lovely pictures. It was a gorgeous day. Cool, but sunny.

We got our pumpkins and loaded them up in the wagon... which Maia wanted to help with.

You could try your hand at "milking" a cow.

Emily, Parker and Kathleen.

While we were choosing our pumpkins... this "cow train" went by several times, which appeared very exciting to Maia, and she repeated (ad nauseum) "I want to go ON that!" "Whass dat mommy?"

So they went: Maia, Lydia and Adrian. A train of garbage barrels fitted with seats pulled behind a 4-wheel ATV, over bumpy orchard trails.

There was some discussion between siblings about whose cow was better.

And they were off. I'm told Maia screamed happily and laughed a lot. Then the opportunity to play in a sandbox full of field corn.

A good 1/2 a cup of which, incidentally, came home in Maia's diaper. I wondered why she was so squirmy while we were eating lunch, she doesn't usually try to reach down her diaper. While the kids were playing here, we went to go get donuts and... believe it or not, they don't use cider in their donut recipe. An orchard without Cider Donuts?!? They had "cinnamon donuts" which were good (still warm), but not cider donuts. So two major disappointments, even though it was a great day to be outside with the family and we had a good time.