I’ve skipped over about seven weeks of becoming a new parent
to go straight to apple picking in October. Why? Because I haven’t quite figured out how to write about it.
Instead, I’m going right to apple picking. Last weekend the three (3) of us
went apple picking. We found the closest place, which happens to be about forty
minutes away and pick some apples. It is one of our favorite pastimes. We also
happened to miss the annual family apple picking in September. We went to
Acushnet, which is part town-next-to-New-Bedford, and part farm country. I
associate Acushnet with winding country roads, their Country Whip, and the town
where we can apple pick and cut our own Christmas tree.
The place was surprisingly busy. It was also surprisingly
warm and sunny. The parking lot
had four long rows of muddy spaces. (It had rained the night before.) Right
away Isaac was hungry. We decided to feed him before walking to the entrance.
Two seconds later a couple cars pulled up next to ours. They looked odd and
none of the passengers were getting out of their cars. After a few moments (aka
five minutes) of seeing if the people were actually going to pick apples or
just sit in their cars I decided to kick the car in reverse and find a more
private parking spot. We found a more secluded spot after driving around to the
front again and finally we were ready.
After skipping around to avoid the mud, we reached the big
barn-like structure at the entrance. Key word being “like”. In the background
you could see the apple trees. In front of the barn were picnic tables where
people were eating the popcorn and other treats they had bought. The three of
us went on into the barn. Right up front was a lady handing out plastic bags
that you could put your apples in. Right there I should have known this wasn’t
going to be good. Everyone knows you aren’t supposed to go apple picking with
grocery store plastic bags!
Once inside - plastic bag in hand - I looked off to the left
where all the goodies were. No donuts! How can they have no donuts? The two go
hand-in-hand. Apple picking and donuts! Strike two. I walked out of the barn
discouraged but not broken. Right away were the three rows of pumpkins. Not a
spectacular display of pumpkins but I know we would find an adequate one for
the house from what was available. But that would be after the apple picking.
Walking down the dirt path to the apple orchard was the
highlight of the day. To the left was an empty field with a hand painted sign
for “Potato Land”. No digging – use your hands. Definitely never seen that
before. It was something unique. Alas, the hot sun was getting to me and I
wanted to press on to the shaded apple tree area.
The trees (or, should I say the ground) was full of apples.
It was clear that the farm had been hit hard by the hurricane that went through
at the end of August. It was hard to fill half the plastic bag. I’m not sure
how all the other families were doing it. It was disappointing, but it wasn’t
the farm’s fault. On the way out we picked out our pumpkin and got in line for
some apple turnovers and cookies. Very good.
All in all it was a good day. We learned a lot. One: try not
to nurse in the car next to weird people. Two: always try out potato land.
Three: hurricanes impact crops. Four: hot weather for apple picking is an
oxymoron. Five: always take photos even if you are hot and looking out for
those weird people from the cars.
