How you like THEM apples?

September is apple-picking month out here.  It's also catch every gross illness that's going around your local daycare(s) month, but I wrote about that already.  If I sound bitter it's because I am now on my second round of antibiotics, thank you STREP THROAT.  Once I survived the gag-tastic torture of getting a throat swab (hey extra long pointy Q-tip, where do you think you're going?) my doctor was actually impressed that the penicillin didn't knock it out the first time.  Yep, that's me.  Keeper of EXTRA PERSISTENT GERMS.  Can I at least get a ribbon or something?

This adorable drawing is probably infested with bacteria - don't get too close to the screen

ANYWAY.  Before all the sickness came, one grey and crappy-looking Sunday we dashed out to Oka and literally went to the first orchard we saw from the highway.  Turns out it was really cute and perfect.  I may just stop planning family outings altogether actually.  

Oh and it was sunny out there.  Nicely played rural attraction, nicely played.

I have a recent resolve to stop "forgetting to include" certain pictures of myself with the kids as a result of this awesome piece.  I posted it on Facebook last week but if you didn't see it, it's a great read.  For everyone.  Just click the link.  Go ahead, I'll wait.  It's worth it.

The ladders were the highlight this year.  

Aaaaand of course Miss Breaky Neckerson over here was determined not to miss out.

It was right about here that I made peace with summer being over (fine, GO *sob*) and embraced all the great stuff about fall.  

So there you have it.  An impromptu, successful family outing.  With the added bonus of leaving with a bag of fresh produce. Everybody wins.  Except for maybe my pants because there was a LOT of good baking to be done with those apples.

It's Thanksgiving weekend and although I'm not doing a turkey this year, we had a lovely family gathering yesterday at my in-law's.  We're not having the usual Indian summer weather that we get at this time of year but the leaves are gorgeous and it's cool enough that I actually turned off the air conditioning.  I'm still a little homesick, though.  Hoping a mini pumpkin pie Blizzard from DQ (still open!) will help me feel better.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  Thank you for hanging out with me!  Enjoy your long weekend (Canadians) and don't forget to stop for a minute and be grateful.