Apples Say Autumn

I like to mark every new season with an activity. Winter starts with a cup of hot cocoa, to celebrate the coziness of the holidays. I step into Spring with a deep breath of fresh air, to embrace a phase of nourishment and health. Summer kicks off with a trip to the farmer's market, to taste the season and bask in the rays of sunshine. For me, fall begins with apple picking. I like to spend my last weekend of September with a journey up to Sebastopol, to delight in the offerings of Gabriel Farm. They open their orchard to the public for a day of fall fun.



This weekend Heather and Alex were in town. Obviously, they were the perfect duo to accompany me on my annual autumnal kick-off. It had been raining all morning, but it cleared up for our u-pick. The sky was overcast and gray, with a hint of blue peaking out. It really felt like the first day of this wonderfully plentiful season.



Heather's red sweater perfectly blended in with the gloriously red apples. The red ones, however, weren't ready to pick. So we stuck with the Fuji's:



which perfectly matched my nails!



and Golden Delicious.



Can you see how crunchy and sweet they are?



How delicious and refreshing they taste?



Heather picks...



Alex picks...



and I pick!



Two full baskets of apples...



...makes 30 pounds at your feet!



Fall has SO begun.