Last year when we made our trip to the apple orchard in September, it seemed we were a little late for the harvest, so we decided to go earlier this year. We called ahead to make sure they actually had apples with the ridiculously hot and dry summer we've had, and we were assured that yes, there were plenty of apples ready for the picking! So we picked Calvin up from school and headed to Williamsburg to the Pome on the Range.
My cute little apples! (I avoided sticking my great big belly in one of the holes this year as I did while pregnant with Violet.)
Russ got the instructions inside while the boys played on their favorite slide outside.
So the only variety of apples available for picking were the akane. Ever heard of akane apples?? I didn't think so. Supposedly they are an early Japanese Jonathan. Anyway, we took off into the orchard, bags in hand, ready to fill them up!
Once we got out there to actually see the apples, I about laughed out loud at the size of them. I think "akane" is Japanese for "really tiny" -- the kids didn't seem to mind, though. Calvin immediately found his way up in the first tree and started picking.
Violet served as quality control in the wagon. The boys would put their freshly-picked apples in the bag and Violet would inspect them thoroughly, which usually involved taking a bite as well! Which was fine since these apples were pretty much bite-sized anyway.
I think she is attempting to do the sign for 'apple' with the apple itself. Such a funny girl!
This one's a keeper, Mom!
It took considerably longer to fill the bags with these micro-size apples, but we had a couple of really determined pickers on our hands!
Of course, the sampling slowed down the process as well. . .
At one point, Violet decided the boys shouldn't have all the fun and tried to climb a tree herself. This is as high as she made it.
But Daddy to the rescue! He helped his baby girl reach the apples so she could help out.
As much fun as climbing the trees can be, the boys decided using the apple-picker was pretty exciting as well. Calvin went first. . .
. . . and check out the determination on Oliver's face! He actually fell out of one of the trees and got his leg scraped up pretty good, so he stuck with the picker the rest of our visit.
Success!
And no trip to the orchard would be complete without a cider slush -- yummy!!
Violet was a bit of a cider-slush-hog, if you can believe that.
After we paid for our apples, the boys played a bit with the oh-so-friendly (aka hungry) ducks.
Time to go home and make some pie!
We actually made two, and Oliver was a big helper with cutting up the apples. Each pie took approximately 50 apples as I recall.
Because remember how annoyingly adorable these apples are. . .
But we always have fun at the apple orchard. Maybe we'll just have to go back when there are a few more varieties ripe. . .
