Apple Orchard Tradition

Some of my favourite childhood memories are from activities I did on a regular basis. Every year, for example, my family would head up north at the crack of dawn to Awenda, a provincial park on the shores of Georgian Bay. We would always have Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch. We would always go to the farthest beach to get away from the crowds. We ate. We swam. We drove home. Every year followed the same pattern.

Routine...but something I really looked forward to: a tradition!

I am actively trying to give Margot a similar sense of familiarity, comfort and tradition. There are some things we do as a family every year. Every season has its own events to look forward to but at this time of year (late summer/early fall) the thing to do is...apple picking! The Silkens are ripe, the Lobos are crisp and it's time to get out into the orchards and harvest them.

We've tried a few different orchards over the years and sometimes we go later in the harvest season but no matter what, without fail, Glosette Girl, Margot and I find some time for some pickins, munchins and crunchins.

Oh you sweet sweet pomme

This year we went to Mountain Orchards. It's a pretty slick operation as pick-your-own-apples operations go, with corn mazes, a playground and lots of apples of course. The weather, quite frankly, was tolerable at best (think grey no-sky day) and Margot was in a bit of a grumpy mood at first but all was well once we hopped on the tractor ride out to the field where you pick the apples. It was all jostling and bumping around (seriously, can anyone stay grumpy on a tractor ride?!)

Grumpy: 0 Happy: 1

 
We even found some time for the corn maze and a deep-fried apple donut (kids - they are the best excuse to try stuff that probably isn't good for you but tastes AWESOME!).

To the left: the exit. To the right: certain death!

Glosette Girl taking her frustrations in getting out of the maze out on the corn

Another year, another strengthening of our lil' tradition.