Celebrating Autumn

I LOVE the fall. It reminds me of home in New England, and inevitably makes me homesick. I decided that even though I couldn't see the beautiful trees in New Hampshire, I was going to celebrate autumn. When I told Anthony that I wanted to go apple picking, he was game although a little confused. I think his exact words were, "So what exactly do you mean by 'apple picking?' Like WE are going to go pick apples off of the tree?" to which I replied "Yeah like you go to an orchard and fill a basket with apples to celebrate the autumn season." "Oh okay, that makes more sense. I was just confused because picking apples in my mind seems like work." And, apparently it seems like work to most Utahns who would just as soon leave it to the farmers as they would to pick their own. After researching and calling numerous orchards within a reasonable driving distance, there was not one that was "Pick Your Own" with the exception of one which my friend reported was 4 rows of apple trees bordering a busy street in Salt Lake. Anyhow, I resigned myself to the fact that we would be "picking our own" apples out of the country store at whichever orchard we visited. That would have to do.

I also wanted to pick a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch, and after a great referral from my sister Kelley's sister-in-law, we went to "The Red Barn" in Santaquin. I think the orchard is Southwicke's Orchard. It was a bit of a drive but well worth it. Aside from the fact that we did not get to "pick our own" it was exactly what I was imagining. After enjoying some delicious ice cream, a divine pumpkin chocolate chip cookie, and some apple cider slush from the store, we went on a hayride through the acres of orchards, to a legit pumpkin patch and picked out our own pumpkin. When we got back to the barn, we bought a few more goodies from the store, including our apples out of the cooler room :) I had a perma-smile the entire time. Sweet, sweet Anthony just smiles and lets me appease my New England desires.