Apple Picking

Since Kevin works days, and I work evenings and weekend mornings, we haven't actually had a full day to spend together since August. I had to work Monday, so Kevin took Tuesday off so we could have a mini-vacation. I had had this idea in my head for several weeks to go apple picking, so we headed out of the city yesterday to a pick-your-own orchard a few hours away. We paid $14 and received a half bushel bag that we filled to the brim with 5 varieties of apples.

I started a game of trying to find the highest possible apple for Kevin to pluck off the tree:

He reached it easily every time. Show off.

While we were in the area, we visited our favorite chocolatier. We first found Shenandoah Fine Chocolates several years ago when we stayed at a bed and breakfast in Stephens City, Virginia. When we returned to the bed and breakfast in May of 2007, we eagerly anticipated another stop, only to find that they had moved to a new and larger location in Winchester. Unfortunately, it was Memorial Day weekend, and the shop was closed. So yesterday, we made sure to make this stop on our trip. We chatted with the owner for almost half an hour, before leaving with a 1/2 lb box of truffles and a carmel covered apple for me. YUM! Their website is currently down, but folks, if you are ever in the Winchester, Virginia area, we highly recommend them.
Our next mini-vacation will be Veteran's Day. We have plans to attend the National Zoo. Since it is sponsored by the Smithsonian, there is no entrance fee. Even better!

After the craziness of the last 4 or 5 days, I'm taking today to play catch-up. Laundry has been done and 2 loaves of apple bread have been baked. It's unfortunate that Blogger has not yet developed a way for y'all to smell the cinnamon and apple scent from my kitchen. I do love fall.