A Rendezvous with Sneakers

Fall.

My favorite time of year. From the crisp, cool air to the rainbow of gold speckled foliage…From warm apple pie to pumpkin spice tea…Mmmm, I can smell the aroma of cinnamon and cloves in my kitchen already.

To commemorate the start of autumn, I thought it would be fun to go apple picking. It has been two years since I picked apples for the first time with my Aussie pal (which I wrote about here). After passing the “Pick-Your-Own” signs on my way to-and-from work, I thought it would be fun to pick pumpkins and apples….And what better way to strengthen a relationship, than to drag your man along with you?

Despite waking up with my throat killing me and my sinus’s at war with each other in my head, I decided to buck up and enjoy a weekend off, especially after working a seventeen hour shift at the hospital (read: ohh-my-goodness-I-want-to-kill-myself hour shift.) I guess it’s that time of year when I need to start consuming double the daily dose of vitamin C. Armed with packets of tissues, chap stick, and tummies full of Taste Budd’s breakfast sandwiches, we made our way to the orchards.

K and I first went to the same orchard I went to two years ago, only to find there were no apples on the trees.Bummed, we headed to the pumpkin patch before trying another orchard (Lord knows there are a zillion apple orchards in this area of Dutchess County). To my inner child’s delight, we were greeted by a field of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.

I forced my man to sit in a field of orange gourds so I could use the 10-second timer and take (possibly the cutest) pictures of us.

Christmas card 2012?

I then went on to plan the outside fall decorations of our houses…Martha Stewart, you would be proud of my pumpkin choices.

Albino pumpkin and green pumpkins are always in Martha’s magazines

I was overjoyed when in a field of orange I found my sought-after albino pumpkin (note: I have no idea of that is the correct name for these white pumpkins, but that is what I call them).

Yes, we all know I’m a dork

K had to have his share of fun too. To think he just turned thirty.

I still heart him.

My pumpkin

Our trip to Grieg Farm was a success!

After time in the pumpkin patch, we headed north towards Meads Orchard in search of apples. And apples we found.

K took some flattering pictures…And some not so flattering pictures of me.

Give a girl a beak…I mean break…

I’m starting to think there is a resemblance between Kevin the Bird from the Pixar movie “Up,” and me when I try apples.

Go pick them apples.

I wasn’t the only one overjoyed finding apples.

Ohh crap, there’s a bee…

K did some tree climbing.

Uh, Molly, could use some help please?

I did some apple crate climbing.

And then, after a sip of water (or gallon in K’s case), we went to explore the farm (not really sure if we were actually allowed to do such, but, ohh well.) We came across a different type of pumpkin, which excited me enough to run and attempt to pick up thirty (plus) pound gourds.

Never stop a man from drinking his water.

Grrr

K, I really want this one. Pleaseeeeeeeee.

Are you really going to deny this girl a pumpkin?

Seriously, she seem’s super excited about this vegetable.

I then went on to tell K to pick up a really heavy pumpkin. No joke, it was heavy.

C’mon, you can do it! Put your back in to it! (Well, lift from the legs)

After prancing in the pumpkin field, I spotted small red objects, thinking, are those strawberries? In September?

Always tell the man to try fruits to make sure they are safe to eat.

Yes, they were strawberries…In September.

It was K’s time to get excited.

Men can prance in fields too, you know.

So what if he might grow a sixth finger in a month from eating these (probably) over-sprayed pesticide drenched strawberries?

Alas, before we knew it, it was time to head home, so I could bake and fill the house with all the frangrances of fall.

Lighter-than-air pumpkin cookies

Today’s outing: a success