Every fall we make a trip to a local apple orchard. It was busier this year than ever before, a hustle of bustle, so maybe next year we will hunt for someplace more obscure. The introvert in me was a bit bewildered. I barely pulled myself together to get out the door that morning, having had a night of insomnia and only a few hours sleep. But my sweet nephew E was in town, and I wanted to take him and my kids to do something fun, so we pulled ourselves together. No pretty outfits and not much fanfare, but I did manage to grab a library book we had called “Apple Pie Tree” and coloring sheets/crayons. Why not squeeze in a bit of school (said every homeschooling mom ever)?
The kids hunted for apples, we sat in a quiet place between rows of trees after picking a few and learned about the parts of an apple. We looked around for a few more apples, only picking enough for the children to be able to carry. I have no hopes of canning up applesauce as I have done in years past. We explored the orchard, visiting the ducks and sheep and goats, the peacocks and playgrounds. Rainey treated them to a tractor hayride, which was the delight of all. Then we spread out our blanket again and had a picnic before heading home. I read to them from our apple tree book, and as always, little munchers are rapt listeners. After we were home and children were resting/napping, I peeled and cored and sliced and made a gluten-free apple pie using the recipe from the back of the library book. Simple ingredients and a heavenly smell.
You can read about our visit to the apple orchard with friends last year here.
everything He gives 