Rocky Goes Pumpkin Picking

One of our favorite annual traditions is going pumpkin picking so it was only natural for us to want to include Rocky in on the festivities. Every year we go to this little pumpkin farm, although it's not really like you're picking it out in the field, they kind of line up in the pumpkins in the field but either way it works. Rocky was extremely excited as always to be joining us on our little adventure.

I think having a dog really is good practice for having a child as evidenced by bringing Rocky along this year, he was not the most cooperative. He kept pulling on his leash the entire time, it was really hard to walk him. He also doesn't understand the concept of looking at the camera, not that I'd expect him to. All of that was ok however the worst was when Rocky somehow decided it would be a good idea to eat goose poop, yes goose poop, gross. It was all in his beard and stuff, gross. Needless to say he went right in the bath the second we got back home.

We quickly went to go pick out a pumpkin so we could take Rocky home and put him in the bath, so we didn't stop and take a lot of pictures this year. But we did get a couple cute pictures of the little guy on his first pumpkin picking adventure. It was still fun even though Rocky was a bit of a pain!

And my favorite token picture that I take every year by the sign!

We'll prob do it all over again next year and let Rocky come, so long as he doesn't try to eat more goose poop!

8th Annual Apple Picking

Eight years and running we've been making the annual trek to go apple picking. Ok I think we missed a year the year we got engaged but we took pictures in the apple orchard so that has to count. But 7 out of the last 8 years we've gone all the way up to Wright's Farms to go pick the finest apples the Hudson Valley has to offer. You can read about our previous apple picking adventures, last year, the year before that, and even our first year adventure way back to 2005 here, and some pictures of the years in between here. It's kind of a big deal for us, you can say a family tradition, one I hope to share with our children one day.

 Let the picking commence!

Amy points to the one up high that she wants and John obliges

Admiring her beauty after 

 Mike is in the tree like usual

 You can make out Mike in the tree!!!

 AND then Mike LOST HIS PHONE. Yes that's right again. Only this time he lost his brand new Samsung Galaxy phone that prob would be about $600 to replace. That is until Amy came to the rescue  and FOUND it!!!! 

 Look at the size of those things!!!

 Classic Mike Shots, every year eating the apple

Yea I totally ate 3 of those cider donuts. They were freaking fantastic and worth every single calorie!!! 

Apple Picking 2011

Apple picking is an annual tradition in our household, it's practically a holiday. For the past 6 years we've made the trek up to New Paltz, New York to go to Wrights Apple Farm. Last year the six of us crammed into Mike's car, which was not very comfortable as well all remember. So this year I got to ride in the trunk of Chris' car which was surprisingly comfortable. They always stick the little person in the trunk, I'm used to it by now, they almost left me in there a couple times but I got out!

When we arrived this year we were shocked to see it so packed. In the six years we've been going there we've never seen so many people there at once. Of course it was probably because we've had some bad weather and this was the first real nice day to go apple picking so everyone wanted to take advantage. Once we waited in the long line to get our bag we were off to the orchard. Unfortunately the bad weather also resulted in some muddy apple fields which then also lead to there being mosquitos. We got eaten alive out there, Mike got one right on his forehead.

 Christ & Mike looking for the perfect apples

 I had some trouble reaching

One we got past the muddy fields, which stunk so bad, the mosquitos, and the heat, we were all sweating, we were able to pick some great apples, and have fun doing so. After all the picking and we had stopped at the farm stand to stock up on goodies, like delicious cider donuts, apple cider and maybe even a small pie we headed into town to go to dinner. I think though next year we'll be trying a new restaurant after two years of bad service at this place. But it was another successful and fun apple picking adventure!

Back to The Original Plan

Scratch the caramel apple idea, although I really liked them, we're back to the jars of apple butter. I don't know how we got back to them, I think it was Mike's idea, in any case we ended up purchasing 90 jars of apple butter from our favorite apple orchard when we went apple picking. We really weren't going to do them but for whatever reason Mike wanted to change his mind and go back to giving those out. Although everyone won't know the apple butter jars are significant to us. They represent one of our very first dates and it's a piece of the place that we go to every year for our annual tradition and it's always been one of my favorite things to get when we've gone. I think it's symbolic and a piece of us so I'm happy we decided to go back to them. I hope everyone enjoys the jars as much as we do and they can spread it on their favorite A&S bagel.

Apple Picking 2010

After a brief one year hiatus we resumed our annual apple picking festitives in full force. We picked a perfect, beautiful, sunny, fall day for the event and were joined by 4 of our best friends, John & Amy, and Michelle & Chris. We literally all crammed into the back of Mike's car and were off for our journey. Of course it wasn't exactly the most comfortable ride all six of us riding in Mike's Acura, but we made it work and was more of adventure, there was some lost feeling in some limbs and such but we survived.

We pulled up to our favorite farm stand, Wright's Apple Farm, which is located just outside New Paltz. We've been going to this very same farmstand for the past 6 years now and look forward to it every year, it hasn't let us down yet. When you pull up to the farm, there is a big farm market down on the street with all kinds of delicious goodies, and then you head behind it up to the orchards where it seems to go on forever.

We had a beautiful day to pick all kinds of apples. Amy looked to picked the perfect apple every time, she wouldn't settle for any apples that were less than perfect. Every time she picked one she made the announcement she found the perfect apple. Michelle on the other hand had high hopes of reaching all the best apples on top and strategized with Chris on how to get them down. Mike and I just soaked up the beautiful fall day with our favorite people and favorite fall activity!