an Apple Orchard & a Pumpkin Patch

Well, the good news for us about going apple picking earlier in September versus later in September like we normally do, was that we had an awful lot of mighty tasty apples to haul home.  After a couple years of going late in the season and being stuck with a picked over selection (don't ask Steve how he feels about Red Delicious...), we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at Butler's Orchard in MD, with small crowds and a bounty of the yummy fruit. 

The bad news for us... the apple cider donuts had already sold out for the weekend (a strike for going on a Sunday) and apple cider slushies weren't yet in season.  Sigh.  Ugh.  Leading up to our apple picking afternoon, I was most looking forward to a contented ride back home, sipping on my apple cider slushy and munching on some apple cider donuts.  Yeah, we were bummed.

BUT, alas, as I mentioned before with our loot, our family outing to the apple orchard was a success and both girls enjoyed the picking and the eating!!!

 

 

 

The last weekend of September, it was pumpkin picking we went!  We knew there would be plenty of fall festivals we'd visit during the season and all we wanted for this Saturday afternoon was a pick your own patch.  We found just that in the cutest little pumpkin farm in Bowie, MD.  It was an overcast day, practically empty (except for the sweetest family that we met who lived in the area and had three adorable kids who Maelee, of course, instantly became good pals with!), complete with a chicken coop, and friendly grasshoppers.  We will definitely be visiting again!

 

Maelee enjoyed painting one pumpkin that unfortunately has since bit the dust, and because of their short shelf life once carved, we are anxiously waiting until it is time to carve what we have in time for Saturday!  Such a small window of not wanting to carve too soon, but still in time to enjoy before Halloween.  With that ends the official first "fall" post, with several more to come!

Slideshow of more apples and more pumpkins!