This year, we were able to travel again for our
semiannual trip to Asheville. We have not had the opportunity since Joshua was a month old. That was his very first trip. We also made annual trips just the two of us (Joe & I) prior to having wee ones. What a joy it was again to go there. Living in the coastal area can be a little dampering to us, as we do miss the cool Autumn air, the mountain landscapes, hiking, and taking in sights - especially waterfalls. More on that later...
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So, when we got the opportunity to go, we jumped. I was a little hesitant at going, just because I have SO much on my plate, but I knew that there would be little chance for me to go later this year, so I packed the kids and off we went on our grand adventure. Our travel day (Monday) began with breakfast at home, a bite to eat on the road, and after a little mountain roads, we arrived at
Sky Top Orchard. It was a gorgeous day overlooking the 100 acres on a mountain top - just perfect for picking apples.
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WeI had already decided that we were only going to pick a peck of apples. WHY?? Well, because we would have to have them all week long, and I wanted just enough for the boys to eat. Then, on our way to Spartanburg on Friday, we would be stopping by the
North Carolina Apple Festival. I knew that we would be picking up a bushel of apples either at the festival or at McAbee's Fruit Stand near Bloomfield's DishBarn, which is our FAVORITE place to buy apples. So we grabbed a Peck basket, loaded the boys on the cart, and headed out over the hills to where a row of Galas were.
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Unloading our wagon at our row of Gala trees. I had really wanted Honeycrisps, but they had already all been picked for the season.
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John-Michael picking his very first apple. Too bad neither of his parents realized at that moment that he was picking Black Arkansas apples (his Pa's favorite, and a breed that does not mature until late October)
And we wonder why Adam ate the fruit?? ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_94HvjxWRFD0lykC2eaEte2zmIdu2CxvPqpvdu-EZLCCdEFnlZuSVZr7mTpuh9SGbdzQCEIqo6UU0rkgVchCoKXJv4n43a9QLwfZuvNwRJVg5zvczF2LeHA260j349JMkbSf/s400/Asheville+Trip+0810+060.JPG)
The problem with taking little ones to pick apples, is trying to keep them from biting into every one they pick.
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Our full peck of apples. Mommy picked exactly ONE apple. :( Joshua and Joe picked all the rest of the apples. John-Michael was content to eat his.
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Oh My! There's a handsome man in the apple orchard! can we take him home???
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Joshua enjoying the fruits of his labor. No pun intended. We were having a hard time limiting the boys to ONE apple.
All loaded up and headed back to the barn.
Go faster daddy!! Climb that hill!!
A Mother's contented sigh at seeing the closeness of her wee ones. ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LcilXYG_pkInnpmK2CKfCkjYPVKWX-ybM3lBkos2vbnoMse7Mzw2_AVluKNJ5sSq3yWWMFq6STlUfoSLQomiX6B0BZzDILcgDmCQLCL3_ymf14a64EeqLdOh3urZL_sCPkPc/s400/Asheville+Trip+0810+253.JPG)
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One of our favorite things about Sky Top is the "How Tall This Fall?" sign. It's a great marker to use every year to show how much the kids have grown. It was easier to get John-Michael's picture in front of the sign then it was to obtain Joshua's. LOL
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Farmer Joe says, "Ya'll come back now. Ya' hear??"