Apple Annie's Orchards

We took a roadtrip on Friday to Willcox, Arizona. We thought it was going to take a long time to get there, so we packed a bag in case we didn't feel like making the drive home on the same day. Much to our delight, it took us just two and a half hours, each way, to experience something not too common in the desert southwest! Apple orchards, u-pick produce farms and an incredible pumpkin patch. No, I'm not talking about a pumpkin patch common to us desert rats..the ones where they (even the big one that shall remain nameless!) throw loads of pumpkins into a big dirt field. No, this pumpkin patch was acres and acres and we actually picked the pumpkins off the stems! We had such a great day!

We started out at Apple Annie's apple orchard. We took a picking stick-thingie that has some pokers on the end with a basket, a bucket and a wagon and hit the Granny Smith orchard. I nearly had a heart attack (and broke into tears) when we rounded the dirt road on the very beginning of our foot journey, as I found a snake skin. I'm not kidding, I FREAKED! After I regrouped, we set foot down the road on a qwest for yumminess! Conal thinks he missed his calling (after sports broadcasting, of course) and should own apple orchards! He was really into it...we practically had to drag him away! The girls had a lot of fun picking the apples themselves, throwing the bad ones as far as they could, and of course..mini-Becca (aka Hayden) was freaking over the humongous multi-colored grasshoppers. That's my girl :o)Twelve pounds of tart, crisp, juicy Granny Smith apples later, we decided to visit the bakery and pick up an apple pie. OH MY GOODNESS, it was by far, the BEST apple pie either of us have ever had! We also bought some apple bread, pumpkin bread and homemade raspberry preserves. Obviously, we weren't too conscious about our waist lines this weekend!

Next, we decided to follow the signs to the Apple Annie's produce and pumpkin patch. What a find! I loaded up on delicious tomatoes (of multiple varieties and colors), eggplant, a 4 lb zuchinni, some chile peppers, jalepenos, and the list goes on!

Before we left we wanted to take the girls out to pick out a pumpkin each. It was SO fun! I have never picked pumpkins off of the vine before, this was a first for me. We couldn't narrow our selection down, so we each got a pumpkin (pictures to be posted of the pumpkins later!) of a different variety, shape and color. What a great, spontaneous day...on our own schedule, or no schedule at that! We all deserve those once in awhile, I think it helps to keep us connected, young and healthy!

To view our photo album in it's entirety, click here.