Apples

Only there weren’t any

We went to an apple festival. It turned out to be a giant super crowded craft fair. With nothing interesting and comically, no apples. Nothing quaint or charming. So after walking past booth after booth of um..I’m not even sure what, we got back in the car to search for, you guessed it, APPLES.

Oh Autumn. The trees are starting to change. The temperature has dropped. I’m wearing a sweater! This is New England’s signature season and we are all in.

Our first stop was a cute town called Wethersfield. They were having an event there also, so we decided to go back when we had more time. It was festive, fun and very charming. Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow charming. We left after eating a home cooked breakfast in a diner that was practically Luke’s from the show. Then headed out for what we thought would be the main event of our day. The Southington town Apple Festival

Apples were not featured at this Apple Festival. There were no trees or orchards anywhere to be found. Deep fried Oreos, Twinkies Outback Steak House had a booth. I think I saw kettle corn.

No apples could mean we had something to do on a different day or we might find a place on the way home. More of our adventures exploring , the day was still young.

Googling found us an actual orchard in yet another cute town, but the picking orchard was closed.

Third time was a charm. Fifteen minutes from the house we are staying at, down a long street that looked like someone’s driveway, tucked behind a couple of out of place looking houses, there was a beautiful property with a pond, a barn and apple trees. Beauty for as far as the eye could see. A band was even playing in the barn, they were good! We were offered apple crisp and cider by a welcoming owner.

You couldn’t ask for a more perfect apple picking location. We were the only people picking apples! There was a small local crowd there for the music and maybe the cider. The store part had already picked apples and baked goods (and cider) for sale, but I wanted a little of the walking around (possibly touristy) experience of picking. I was in no mood to try to blend and neither was my east coast born husband, we happily meandered across the pond and all around the orchards. Though he did buy a bag of his favorites and a ginger cookie and some pears.

We walked. We picked . We sampled. We listened to the band. We had fun.

Sometimes , you can plan, sometimes you can’t. I guess sometimes, a little of both can turn out to be just right. I continue to be surprised by this whole particular adventure. Happy Autumn, everyone!