I am, admittedly, an apple snob.
It’s not that what I eat has to be some heirloom, organically-grown, botanically-precious variety; it’s just that I have a problem when the fruit I’m eating makes a bar of soap look appealing. Those molar-shaped, wax-coated specimens in the grocery store? Whoever named them “Red Delicious” must have had a pretty healthy sense of irony. My favorite varieties are McIntosh or Braeburn, red and crisp and tart, a kiss of greenish gold streaking their outsides.
That’s why I decided that my Official Fall Activity this year was going to be apple picking. I’d never been, but I was eager to try it, lured by the promise of fresh-grown apples by the peck. I really didn’t know what to expect – was I going to have to shinny up a ladder? Throw some elbows to keep rival pickers away from my tree? Go home with something as disgusting as a bag of Red Delicious?
Fortunately, no, no and no.
Although the day was a little warmer than the cool, crisp weather that apple picking seems to call for, the orchards were big enough to have whole rows to ourselves. The heady, fermented scent of apples crushed underfoot permeated the air, and the trees – even the big ones – had low-hanging branches that made them easy to pick. There was also the simple pleasure of a sun-warmed apple fitting perfectly in the palm of my hand, going straight from where it had grown into my waiting refrigerator. We wandered among the rows, plucking apples here and there and taking artsy photos of sun flares peeking between the branches.
After loading up the bag, we loaded up at the orchard’s farm market. In my apple-induced frenzy, we purchased pie, cider, jam and apple butter (all of which, two weeks hence, are nearly gone). And the apples themselves? Delicious. (But not, you know, Red Delicious). Looking for a perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon? Find an apple u-pick orchard near you, and pick away. And if apples aren’t what you’re into, try one of these four other ways to soak in the season.
1. Bake something. I’ve been told this is weird, but I’ll hold my ground on this one: The best kind of fall day is a cloudy, cool, breezy one (i.e., my favorite line from Winnie the Pooh: “It was a blustery day in the Hundred-Acre Wood.”) And the best thing to do on a day like that is stay indoors and cozy up with something delicious from the oven. Put all your apples to good use in dumplings, pie, crisps or cobblers, or if you’re a pumpkin spice person, you won’t have any problem finding a recipe to indulge your favorite flavor.
2. Rake leaves, or help someone else rake. It’s still a chore, but the strong fall associations of this one – not to mention the smoky-sweet scent of dried leaves – make it enjoyable, doubly so if you’re doing it with someone else.
3. Take a leaf-peeping walk. When the wind blows leaves like confetti and you crunch your way down the sidewalk, you know exactly what time of year it is. Check out your neighborhood or local park for autumn’s colorful display, and see the best location for changing colors with this map.
4. Cozy up with a good book. This also pairs well with #1 above. Bonus points if you’re sipping a warm drink. Double bonus points if you’re curled up under your favorite blanket.
What’s your favorite fall activity? Have you ever been apple picking? Share with me below!
bloom. 