This past week a grey cloud was suspended over us. Literally. We whiled away the gloomy, rainy days building fires in the fireplace, roasting marshmallows, playing boardgames, putting together puzzles and watching our share of Netflix movies (Veggie Tales, Pippi Longstocking and The Flintstones).
On Saturday the sun came out. I took the girls over to the Village Park while Matt scoured the house with the broom and wash bucket. It just so happened that our neighbor was riding over to the park aboard his Simplicity mower, towing his 6 yr old son and three model airplanes in a trailer. The girls and I followed them to an open field and then took a seat in the sunshine.
We watched father and son set up a wind sock, unravel flying lines and fuel up gas powered planes. One at a time, each plane was started, took off into the wind and began flying its circular path until the fuel ran out. Soon more members of the model plane club arrived and the line of planes awaiting departure grew.
It was nearing lunchtime so we headed home to pack up a picnic. I pulled down the wicker picnic basket that was a wedding gift and loaded it with clementines, nuts, string cheese, pita chips, humus and caramel pudding cups. Matt suggested we check out a nearby park, Stoney C Halquist Park. I was skeptical because the park is located right on Lisbon Rd, where cars and trucks are buzzing by at 50 mph. But we were pleasantly surprised. The parking lot is close to the road, but the park is set back and nestled in a quiet a neighborhood.
We walked across the baseball diamond to the picnic tables and playground. We unpacked our lunch and ate in the sunshine. Jo spotted only a single whisper of cloud in the otherwise crystal clear blue sky. After licking the last of the pudding off their spoons, the girls scampered off to explore the new playground. Matt and I stretched out in the grass and soaked up the sun's warm rays.
On Sunday I was bound and determined to go apple picking. Before leaving for church I tossed extra shoes and jackets in Debbie's trunk and printed out directions to The Elegant Farmer. As a kid I remember the autumn ritual of apple picking at this orchard with our cousins. I also had a new apple bread recipe I wanted to try.
Straight from mass we headed south toward the orchard. Matt wasn't thrilled because his beloved Chicago Bears were playing, so he tuned into the game on Debbie's radio. The girls pulled out their notebooks, pencils and markers and drew pictures while we drove. I acted as navigator, making sure we didn't get lost. Forty minutes later we pulled up to the familiar smiley-face yellow barn.
Unlike last weekend, this Sunday was sunny and 60 degrees. The Packers and Brewers were playing later in the afternoon. So, of course, there were SWARMS of people. We found a parking space, put on our farm shoes and took our place at the end of the Disney World-esque line. While we waited I gave away our pink slip of paper that identified the different varieties of apples to another family. I like to taste the apples before I decide what we'll bring home; the name doesn't mean much to me. Ninety minutes later we had our bushel basket and our handstamps. It was finally our turn to ride the hay wagon out to the orchard.
It was nearly 70 degrees, so we shed our jackets and set to picking and tasting the apples. I prefer firm apples that are only slightly sweet. No one else seemed to have a preference. I think CoCo devoured at least 6 entire apples as we picked. Matt helped the girls climb the trees to reach the larger apples near the top. Steadily we filled our bushel basket.
Then we got back in line to ride the hay wagon back to the parking lot. While waiting for the hay wagon, CoCo made a new friend, a little girl named Lily. They swapped apples from each others baskets, spilt a donut and held hands. Jo was a tiny bit jealous and quite overprotective.
We paid for our apples and loaded them into Debbie's trunk. Then we made our way home. Visions of apple bread, apple pie, apple pancakes, and apple crisp filled my head. Once home, we ate a much belated lunch before ushering the girls into bed for a late afternoon rest.
While the girls were down, Matt searched online for apple recipes. He found this one: Paula Deen's Apple Fried Pies. We were too tired to try it last night, but Matt wanted to give it a go this morning.
With both girls off at school I ran to the grocery store to pick up the necessary can of refrigerated flaky biscuit dough. Matt peeled, cut and cooked the apple filling, then set to rolling out the biscuits. When the oil was ready, he plopped the apple pies into the pan for just a minute. My job was sprinkling powdered sugar on top of the warm pies. Matt pulled out ice cream to make it apple pie a-la-mode. But we did not even use any. We feasted and it was Mighty Delicious.
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