Monday, October 22, 2012

Apples in Autumn and Pumpkin Pranks





 Before adventuring off to South Africa for two weeks, the filmmaker and I took advantage of a cool and gray day to explore a local apple farm, wander their orchards, and sample their wares. Generally, after Labor Day, these destinations are rampant with small toddlers and frantic parents, but this day was marvelously silent and serene. Unfortunately, despite being quite early in the season, ambitious and zealous pickers preceding us cleaned many of the currently ripe varieties; much of the fruit that was plump and delicious remained in sanctuary, tucked in the highest of the branches, out of our grasp. Thankfully, we were tenacious, and scoured rows far from the entrance, finding and plucking a few specimens for our bounty.



For a few moments there, we both were genuinely concerned that we would fail to find any apples left in the trees that were technically ripe and open, not roped off from the public by the farmers; I was ecstatic to finally pick a piece of fruit, complete with leaves. When apples and other produced are purchased from a large franchise grocery store, they have an almost processed color and sheen to them, sometimes appearing fabricated in some vacuum, rather than a natural, biological extension of the body of a tree, an organ essentially, critical to an ancient cycle of reproduction and destruction. Seeing these apples, fresh, with remnants of their origin, their complete bodies, in a field of wet earth, is a lovely and never tiring reminder of where our sustenance actually comes from. We left with armfuls of Golden Delicious and Cortland apples.




The ground was damp from a recent rain, and scattered across the earth was the carnage from the harvest, apples either dropped or flung or discarded, partially consumed and disintegrating to a sweet brown mush. I was glad I had decided to wear my thick rubber rain boots.



As is customary with a visit to an apple orchard, we also trudged through the pumpkin and gourd patches, turning over the large orange squashes, inspecting them for discoloration or molded imperfections. I wanted to pick up a couple of small pumpkins for display on my kitchen table for the autumn season; there is, honestly, no lazier but still festive way to decorate than to just place pumpkins haphazardly in your home. Picking pumpkins and running amok through the patch is one of those quintessential elementary school field trips; I remember bundling up in a wool sweater, then burning my tongue slightly on hot apple cider, as we rode, bouncing, in a large wagon out to the field. Clearly, years after, I have not abandoned that young childhood mentality, or sense of humor. These are both a bit small, but maybe this year I will actually make something productive with them after the season, or at least toast the seeds. Pumpkin bread, perhaps?


Manic Monday morning soundtrack: "Sheila" Memory Tapes (on repeat)

11 comments:

  1. ah i hope one day i get to go to south africa!

    www.fayelosophy.com

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  2. I've heard that it's not been a good season for apples, but it looks like you found a few goodies!

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  3. Awwww fun! I definitely felt like a child being at the apple orchard yesterday! Funny how that doesn't change when you're in an environment that reminds you of those days!

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  4. Apple picking is the best! Such cute photos, and love the layers :)

    Annie
    The Other Side of Gray

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  5. ohhh i love this time of year...mainly for apples and pumpkins ;) here in norway there are apple and plum and pear trees in almost every yard where i live! we have an apple tree out back actually :) the smells are incredible!

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  6. Nice photos!

    xxLiora
    lioraatsea.blogspot.com

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  7. how fun!! i have yet to go apple picking this year!

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  8. You look so lovely! those apples look yummy!

    http://sarassweetstyle.blogspot.com/

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  9. Those pictures of you with the pumpkins and the apples are adorable and hilarious! And I couldn't agree more. Pumpkins and gourds are the easiest and laziest way to decorate your home - I took full advantage of that lately, haha.

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  10. Love these perfect fall pictures!

    creamyclothes.blogspot.com

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  11. I have yet to visit an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch - but it's so on the list. So fun for fall + I imagine those apples must be so delicious compared to the ones at grocery stores. Yum!! Love your photos, and your outfit is so adorable for your day of fall festivities too. xo V

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