Apples Anyone?

Today, Drew & I did one of my favorite Fall activities - we went to an orchard and picked apples. I've been looking forward to this all week. Recently, I discovered Fieldstone Enterprises in Overbrook, KS and I couldn't wait for a free weekend to get out there. So as soon as Drew got off the golf course this morning we hopped in the truck and drove about 30 miles to Overbrook.

It was quite an enjoyable drive through the country roads of Kansas. Drew always jokes about marrying a "city girl" so he took this opportunity to educate me about the ins and outs of farming in rural Kansas. We also tossed around the idea of having an acreage or 2 out in the country some day with horses roaming in the distance, kids on ATVs and dogs playing. Not going to happen, but it was fun to imagine. And like a GPS system, he found his way to the orchard on those gravel roads with no trouble at all. We compliment each other well. He needs me to get him around downtown Kansas City (I won't even tell you how lost he was when we went to New York City!) but put me in the country and I'm useless.

The orchard was everything I expected. A small country store with apples, cider and various gifts (all with an apple theme of course) and then rows and rows of apple trees as far as the eye could see. We were given bags, buckets and an apple picker and then chauffeured to the end of the orchard by a teenager on a golf cart. Then we were on our own to sample and pick as our hearts desired. It was unseasonably hot today and the bugs were out in full force so we didn't dilly dally too much. In about 30 minutes time we had eaten our fair share off the trees, had more apples than we could carry and headed back to the store. We picked up a gallon of cider to try and then we were off. I did manage to capture a few pictures along the way.

The drive home was just as enjoyable as the drive out. Drew treated me to stories of he & Dustin playing in the apple trees behind Dustin's house when they were boys. (By playing, he means throwing rotten apples at each other and anyone unfortunate enough to walk by.) We also agreed that Fieldstone Enterprise will be a great place to visit every Fall. We can't wait to come back with our little guy next year and make it a family tradition.

And now every spare inch of both refrigerators is full of apples. I plan to make a half dozen apple pies or so and freeze them. I'll be shipping a fair amount to my Mom for her own pie making endeavors. And the rest will be consumed in various forms and recipes.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I plan to pop into the office in the morning to get some work done since I'll be traveling Wednesday - Friday next week. We are also going to clean out the closet and move what's left of the furniture out of the nursery. We need to go to Home Depot and get the storm door ordered for the front of the house - something we've put off since the painting project but now that it's nice enough to have windows open we're really missing having a screen on that door. And I'm going to try to squeeze in a trip to Circuit City - the new camera I've had my eye on was finally released this month and they happen to have a few in stock. Since I really want to have it in time for the baby shower, this weekend might be my last chance for a quick trip to KC.

Lots on the horizon, but for now I'm headed downstairs to catch what's left of college football Saturday with my hubby. One of my other favorite Fall activities! Hmmm...I think I'll grab an apple to take with me.