Sm'Apples

Since today was probably our last sunny Sunday as a family (Larry's days off are changing) we decided to head out and enjoy a fall favorite: apple picking!

Last year we picked a ton of apples and had a little incident involving an employee of the company who built our deck and his sticky fingers in our apple bin (long story, but lets just say I think he learned his lesson when the police came knocking on his door. And no, I didn't call the cops on him for stealing an apple... something else he was doing on our property prompted the call by our neighbor).

This year our first stop was Bellewood Acres where you can take golf carts out into the orchards and enjoy the farm. Larry let Brady drive once we got out of sight and in true Allred fashion he promptly drove the golf cart into the drainage ditch with the entire family in tow! If you haven't heard of the tales of Larry (and me, on occasion) and his history of golf carts... you're probably better off not knowing!

A cool shed at Bellewood. It had several coils of barbed wire, and I felt inspired. And could it get more poetic with the little bird nest perched on one of the coils?

The end of the ride. Look at what a beautiful day we had!

This goofy horse was hoping for an apple I think. I think she needs to wax her chin though.

Brady behind the wheel. Natalie says he's ready for his license. Uh, no.

After Bellewoods it was off to Sm'Apples, where the apples are 30 cents a pound compared to minimum 80 cents a pound at Bellewood.

There was a sweet antique of a man working the apple stand today, who proceeded to pass gas through our entire conversation. Maybe he figures if he can't hear it (he had aids), then neither can I. Or he figures that he's an old coot and can do whatever he damn well pleases at this age. Either way, it was amusing to try keep a conversation with a straight face.

I picked this Jonagold shortly after taking it's picture.

Brady hitching a ride with the Gala's.

We topped off the evening watching Star Wars (the one with Jabba the Hut) and enjoyed a dessert of homemade apple crisp with hand-cranked vanilla ice cream. Our bellies are happy!

I had to run down to the store for more ice (to make the ice cream) and found these. I couldn't leave without them (the wax lips and 'stache, not the kids)!