Apple Picking at Clearview Orchards

Growing up on the California Coast means we only really have two seasons. It's sunny and warm/hot about seven months of the year, and then mid October it starts to get chilly. Fall is by far my favorite season, so these last few weeks of Indian Summer have not been popular with me (or my fall wardrobe.) I adore the crisp morning air in November and the smell after it rains. Basically, it's not unusual for me to get really excited about weather. Especially when it involves cooler temps and rain (come on draught, we're done with you!)

Anyway, yesterday felt like a good day to pretend it wasn't 90 degrees outside so after a morning of volunteering for the Homeless Garden Project, Linnea and I headed out to Clearview Orchards in Watsonville to pick some apples. This is actually our third year visiting this particular orchard and we love it because the prices are reasonable, they have great variety, it's certified organic and it's family owned and operated. All kinds of winning!

Last year at the orchard. Las tres amigas!

We got a little carried away and picked those apples like they were going out of style! We got plenty of Granny Smith's for a pie that we'll probably bake up tonight, plus plenty of apples for snacking. They are juicy and crisp, with just the right amount of sweetness. We walked away with about ten pounds of apples, plus a butternut squash.

Missing 1/3 of our trio

Apple picking is definitely one of my very favorite activities and I'm so glad we got to go, even though it doesn't really feel like Fall yet. Bonus: We got apple fritters on the way home AND our local grocery was having a sale on my favorite tea brand. Now if only the weather would get the memo...

I'm planning to spend the rest of the day chipping away at my 200 pages of reading for classes tomorrow. Whoever said the first week of school was low key clearly has never been on the quarter system!

Outtakes (in which I seemingly have no eyes. Ooops!)