Apple-Picking 2013

For the second year, we were so happy to go apple-picking with the D---- family at Sky Top Orchard. We do enjoy establishing family traditions!

Last year, we began the two-hour drive into the mountains first thing in the morning and I think that is why we faced so few crowds. This year, we left mid-morning in order to arrive at lunch time when we met with a line of stand-still traffic for the last half-mile up the mountain. We were grateful to get a parking spot and a picnic bench on which to eat our packed lunch. The children played on the playground for a time, then we began the apple pickin'!

Mr. D---- giving instructions on which apples to pick and which to leave

A big apple for my big boy!

A baby-sized apple for a baby-sized girl!

The three-year-old is not old enough to have read the above sign about not eating apples.

Our god-daughter!

Staring into the bright sun: Grampa Neil, Mama, and the children

The children played on an old tractor and a bale of hair for the hour and a half that the D----s' valiant grandmother stood in line to procure for us four dozen of Sky Top's famous apple doughnuts. And, yes, they ARE worth it!

Mrs. D---- was taking a photo of her daughter and, as she said 'smile!', John leapt into the picture for this great shot.

Thirteen months and eight months: friends!

He really is virtually always this happy.

I get to love on this baby all day and all night! 

We went on the wagon ride and were relieved when it never tipped over--always a bit of a fear of mine.

And now I prepare to process a bushel of apples: juicing, snacks, apple sauce, apple butter, apple pie, apple fritters . . .