Apple Picking

On the very same note left for me with the Pile of 8, was another one-word message scribbled into the corner that made me laugh…”APPLES!”

On that morning I went apple-picking with my family -that is, my mom, sisters and their husbands, my niece and nephew, and their nannies (the nannies are sisters too) and their family (one brought her husband and daughter, the other isn’t married). We’d done this the previous year, and despite it being 80 degrees outside, we did it again this year, making it sort of a Fall tradition.

If you haven’t been apple picking in a while, go right away! It’s alotta fun, especially with little kids or with family. This can be surprising, since it sounds like a cheesy activity, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I was surprised at how much fun I had again this year even after I remembered it being a good time a year ago.

We headed up to Davies Farm on Rt. 304 in Congers, NY. It was pretty packed, but still manageable and they run a good operation. The farmhouse is really pretty and the whole scene is picturesque, so bring a camera. In the backdrop is the water (Rockland County reservoir) and matched with the rolling hills and the nice fall weather, it’s really hard to beat this slice of Americana. I guess I’m just a sucker for this stuff.

Be sure to get an apple picking pole (a what?!) while you’re there cause the best apples will be out of your reach. You’ll be spoiled and won’t want to eat the apples off the ground even though this is probably what we’re eating all year round. The apples are so damn delicious that you’ll tell yourself that you’re gonna start eating healthier. My favorite part is eating apple after apple while picking and then throwing them into the woods, finished or not -theres so many!

Some interesting notes…

-Apple trees are not attractive trees.

-A bag costs $24 bucks and you fill it as much as you can. We stuff extra apples in our pockets and in the baby carriage, but they’re not dumb there and they’ve seen it all before (damn city-slickers), so just be humble cause you’re not outsmarting them.

-Though this isn’t gawker, there was, not one, but two minor celebrity sightings that day: Max Casella aka Vinnie Delpino from Doogie Howser (and The Sopranos (the former being the more superior)), and Cynthia Nixon aka Miranda from Sex and the City.

-We ate dinner at Ricks Club American just around the corner from the farm. This place is very good and their ribs are great so stop by there if you can. (This is a good alternative to McDonalds as well)

-“APPLES” was the note left for me by my roommate, a lover of apples and one witty son of a bitch.