Apple Pickin'

I thought I might include apple pickin' in the last post (with my other mini adventures) but didn't feel like I could narrow down my photos or words enough.

I've noticed: as I grow older, I become steadily more appreciative of making and keeping traditions. I love how, over time, a positive experience becomes increasingly significant because of my history with it. Apple pickin' on Carter Mountain is turning into one of those things for me. I have great memories there: not only with my children, but also with some of my closest friends. 

This was my second year in a row to travel to Carter Mountain with the Sharonly Wonder, and I have to say: it might have been my best apple-pickin' experience, yet.

Sharon likes to get after the fujis, and they're way up the mountain. Hold on; I'll show you:

Carter Mountain Orchard

Ok. Do you see that red barn? Well, we parked on the far side of it. Like I said, the fujis are way up the mountain. I don't expect you to remember, but my little Chip was born November 2, 2012. So I done waddled up to the fujis, last year. I remember thinking to myself: Sharon might just kill me, also wondering: What if my water breaks right here on the side of the mountain? But she didn't; it didn't; and later, Jim Dear wondered how in the hound dog I'd managed to climb a mountain when keeping up with dishes and laundry seemed to escape me, entirely. 

Truth is: I still have no idea how I followed the Sharonly Wonder all the way up to the fujis, last year.

Three years ago, Charleigh was less than two months old when Rachel and I went to Carter Mountain, which was a fairly frustrating experience because (being still down a bit in the back from labor/delivery) I didn't want to wear the baby, so I put her in a stroller.

Y'all. A stroller on Carter Mountain is worthless as tits on a boar hog. Charleigh and I hung out in one spot in the Granny Smith section (just beside the barn), and I thought: I ain't doing this again until this kid's big enough to walk or, better yet, pick apples.

Which is probably why I didn't go to Carter Mountain two years ago.

But, anyway, I got it together this year, Ladies and Gentlemen. 1) I wasn't pregnant. 2) I borrowed Rachel's backpack for Chip, i.e. no stroller. 3) Sharon was there to take a turn carrying Chip in the backpack. 4) My friend Christy's big kids and tons of their big-kid friends were there to help with the girls. 5) The girls were so excited to fill their bags with apples that I didn't pick the first fruit; I just played with my camera on a perfect day. Win-win-win-win-win.

Christy's daughter Abi, carrying Charleigh

My little Clementine was in big-girl heaven. Sweetest big girls in the world, too.

Fujis

Abi in a fuji tree.

Abi

Christy's son Noah, carrying Clementine.

Sharon and Chip

Granny Smiths

Apple Cider Doughnut

One more thought before I close. As I was planning this post, I remembered the Johnny Appleseed song and specifically the first stanza, which we used to sing at Girl Scout camp when we wanted it to rain. Right, wrong, or indifferent, I remember its nearly always working.

The Lord is good to me

And so I thank the Lord

For giving me the things I need
The sun and the rain and the appleseed
The Lord is good to me

I'll include a link so you can listen and learn. Just in case, you know, you're ever in a season of drought.