It's raining today, so let's think about…
…how I love going to the beautiful Berlin Orchards to get our apples. {Make sure you watch that adorable video with John Paul Beirne. He will explain it all to you.}
Even though our house is adjacent to a different beautiful apple orchard, I enjoy going to the Beirne's as well. It's just a nice homey atmosphere and you can't beat visiting friends!
One of the things that convinced me to homeschool, and you might laugh at this, is that when my kids were little, the school would plan the apple picking trips. Since we were close to the city, it was a production, unlike here, so I wasn't about to subject my family to a long car ride to do something they had already done.
I just started to resent the fact that while I was juggling a baby and all the household issues including getting each of my other four children ready for school, the school was getting to take them apple picking.
It didn't seem like the right division of labor!
I wanted to go apple picking! With my kids!
I didn't want to be cleaning up the detritus of school-going (piles of papers to be sorted, rushed breakfast dishes to do, house to be put together hastily for their return) when my kids weren't even in school, but rather jaunting and cavorting and probably not even appreciating the beauty of the apple orchard because of also being herded and corralled on a field trip.
Maybe that seems lame to you.
That's how I am. I'd rather go apple picking with my kids than not! And I'm happy that I still have a kid to go with, and a few others to “borrow” on the scene.
Fortunately I seem to be sitting pretty for grandchildren at just the right time, apple-picking wise. I probably only have a year or two more to eke out of Bridget 😉
freckledhen says
A day at the orchard is a day well spent! And it looks like it was a sunny, beautiful day.
_Leila says
It was hot! 90! But pretty…
Sarah @ ALT says
Oh my goodness, I so understand this!
I remember when my oldest was about four, we would go to the local zoo a couple of times a month (we had a membership). Sometimes we would go for hours and all my daughter would want to do is watch the belugas, so we would sit and watch them. For hours. Sometimes we be-bopped around to several different parts of the zoo– but we never rushed and we always enjoyed ourselves immensely.
On these trips I would watch the school field trips “herd and corrall” the kids around from one exhibit to another. The kids always seemed to be more interested in antagonizing each other than on looking at the animals, and they were rushed around so quickly I doubted that they really *saw* any of the animals. Then it occurred to me that if daughter went to school, these school trips would replace our leisurely enjoyable family mornings at the zoo. Sob.
So now we homeschool. 🙂 And yesterday we spent the whole morning picking apples at the orchard and the whole afternoon canning applesauce! Now that's more like it!
(Great pictures!)
Jenny says
I agree–my in-laws give us a Zoo membership (we live 2 miles away) each Christmas, and at this time of year, when the heat has finally relented a little, we go several times a week! And since it's a membership, I am totally with you on “not caring” if they see the whole Zoo… last week, we spent half our time there on the playground instead of animal-looking at all… and who cares! It's nice outside, the girls are happy, and that makes a Mama happy!
_Leila says
With my older kids, we lived in DC near the National Zoo. Since admission is free and we were so close, we'd go to see one exhibit and then go home! It was such a pleasure not to slog through…
Kalee says
There is nothing like going to an apple orchard! We picked nearly 30 lbs of apples! I made apple pies with those (along with eating nearly 20 lbs of them!). We also picked up seconds and made apple butter. Yum!
margo says
Leila, I think that is a rock-solid reason for wanting to homeschool. Seriously. And I didn't realize that you started with traditional school before switching to homeschool. What happened? Is that story somewhere on your blog that I can read? I adore stories, and this would a very pertinent one as my oldest just started preschool and I am a little horrified around the edges.
_Leila says
Yes, I will tell you about it…soon…;)
priest's wife says
If I can interrupt- I have 4 kids- been homeschooling since the beginning and my son (#3) is going to preschool 3 mornings a week! I figure, if he is ever going to school it's going to be now 🙂
margo says
I meant to also say that I adore the photos of Bridget and the sweet little dark eyed girl. I am a firm believe in borrowing children for trips and treats!
Jill F. says
Love it Leila! A Fall trip to an apple orchard speaks of sharing the seasons together and enjoying the passing of time. Childhood is too short…what better reason to homeschool? And, yes, we have several generations of children who haven't been given the time just to “be'…which is a valuable gift of a good childhood.
Linda says
It's not lame at all! I can totally identify Leila. I'm so pleased I had all those years with my children homeschooling to be able to enjoy those fun and interesting outings WITH them (and all the normal and routine times as well.)
Sue says
That looks wonderful! I have never been to an apple orchard. How deprived am I? For us down south picking peaches was the thing, and I can smell them right now just thinking about it!
_Leila says
The orchard on our hill has peaches at the bottom, which means right adjacent to our yard. In the early summer I can smell them too! 😉
Deirdre says
Mom, you can take me apple picking whenever you want, no matter how old I get. And I'm sure my friends wouldn't mind coming along. 🙂
Alice says
Or Suki's friends, you could take them, too.
Amy F says
You're right — as soon as they're old enough to be trusted in the orchard to not do anything the signs warn us against, they're in school during picking time. I've been appreciating not having any toddlers this year for berry and fruit picking — the 2 month old can't run away yet and the 4 and 6 year olds mostly stay out of trouble. Picking apples is one of the few fruits that happen fast enough for my kids' patience, but I tend to only let them pick a few, and then I bring home a bushel of pre-picked seconds for cheap.
All the orchards around here were hit by either hail in July or a late frost in May (after a warm April with early blossoming) so apple-picking is hard to come by.
sandy toe says
What fun pictures!
sandy toe
p.s. I just love visits to the farm
priest's wife says
Auntie L- Are you going to make save-a-step apple crisp???
_Leila says
Eventually! First — apple pies!
sibyl says
For me it was maple syruping. Here in Minnesota, that happens in early to mid March, and when my youngest was five and my second was three, we joined a local homeschool group at a nature center to learn about syruping. It was so cool, and such a wonderful trip. Of course, very snowy, but we tramped all around the woods and looked at trees, watched sap running into buckets, saw an outdoor boiler reducing the sap, and then talked about how it all worked. And at the end, got to taste warm maple syrup. It was almost magical, as I still felt like a new mom and was still savoring each new experience we could have together.
Well, we ended up homeschooling, although not right away, and I can say that those trips build so much family cohesiveness. It becomes a tradition!
Apple picking is another one for us, as well. We went two weekends ago and now have about 35 pounds of apples in our fridge, waiting to be made into pie. But I'm homeschooling! I don't have time to make pie! Argh!
natashamlawler says
Leila, I would love to go apple picking with you! One of these days…
Amy says
Found your blog through a list on Inspired to Action. I am your newest follower. Your photos are beautiful and I look forward to getting to know you through your writing.
Amy @ Missional Mama
priest's wife says
Off topic- I wanted to click on one of your Twitter links- do I have to have twitter to do this?
Lish says
My children are 2 1/2 and 3 1/2, and we have been apple picking together since they were born. I have also already decided to homeschool. It is a difficult and intense decision, but before being a stay at home mom I was a public school teacher. I have taught several grades including kindergarten. I know what would happen to my bright, intelligent well behaved children if I were the teacher, and no one is going to do that to my kids, so I am going to teach them at home. In fact we have already started. My older child is already reading. They are amazing, and I am so happy I get to share all their educational experiences with them. It makes me smile every day, even when it seems like an insurmountable amount of work.
Lake Effect :: Sara says
beautiful..