When the temperatures cool, and the late day shadows lengthen, 
we find ourselves hungering for the traditional colors, smells, and flavors of fall. Last Wednesday, well after the sun had gone for the night, we sat bundled up on our deck, huddled around a smoky fire drinking hot cider. On Friday we went through our recipe box, moving all those warm weather recipes to the back and replacing them with those rich and spicy fall recipes, 
like squash dishes, and stews. Then today we made that oh so cherished seasonal trek to the apple orchard down the road. It was the opening weekend of their annual Country Fair, complete with petting farm, pony rides, play areas, apple and pumpkin picking, haunted outbuildings, and, of course, fresh cider and doughnuts. The trees and grass might still be green, and the warmer days of Indian Summer still ahead of us, but we just couldn't wait any longer to enjoy that wonderful grocery list of fall pleasures. 
For some reason Calvin doesn't seem to remember having been there last year, and he greeted the occasion with wonder and excitement. He loved the llamas and the swings, was flabbergasted by the corn, and was perhaps a little too enthusiastic about the apple picking (it was hard to explain to him that we were supposed to wait until later before eating apples we picked). An orchard, particularly this orchard, is a very pleasant place to be during the changing of the seasons, and this visit will certainly not be our last.
The classic apple picking pictures are in our Sept 15-21 photo album.
