Apple Picking

Upon our arrival to Rochester, we were told that apple picking is a MUST-DO.  We decided that Chel's visit would be the perfect time to head to Mazeppa's APPLE RIDGE ORCHARD.

We took a tractor ride up the hill to the orchard.

We went through a corn maze while picking some SERIOUS ears of corn that were left on the stalks. We also liked looking at all the fuzzy bear caterpillars (that is what Tol is holding).  Those things are everywhere out here!


Then on to the actual apple picking.

It's all-you-can-eat apples while you're there, then you pay for the ones you take home.  Let's just say we tried A LOT of apples that day (and bought a lot of apples that day).  There were about 5 varieties in season and all were DELISH!  Some better than others, of course.  And I LOVE this pic off Addi chillin' on the pumpkin eating her apple.  It does look like something I would stage, but it is the real thing. Addi found herself a nice little seat to enjoy the fruits of her labors.  There was (obviously) a giant pumpkin patch there, as well.  But we didn't have enough hands to carry our picked pumpkins, along with our apples, down the hill so we ended up buying the pre-picked pumpkins.  Lame, I know.

There was also a little petting zoo with baby goats and bunnies. The animals loved the dried corn on the cob.  Tol & Ad loved feeding it to them.

After we headed back down the hill, payed for our loot and ate our caramel apples (yummy!), we went home and I made a DELICIOUS, if I may say so myself, homemade apple pie.  There's nothing like making an apple pie with apples you picked yourself to make you feel like a DOMESTIC DIVA!.. which we all know I certainly AM NOT!