Over the years, I have slowly made my way around o Over the years, I have slowly made my way around our house … decorating, renovating and reorganizing it into a soft place to land. The only part that I haven’t touched that much are our yards (except for a fire pit area that went in two years ago, thank you pandemic). I want our outside to be as much as a sanctuary as our inside is, so I plan to spend the next year digging in (no pun intended 😂). I don’t have a green thumb, so feel free to spam me with all your awesome, low maintenance ideas as we create a Japanese-style zen garden. 🤩 I also hate gardening, so there’s that, but am hoping that some #gardentherapy changes my mind as much as it changes the space.
✌🏻 ✌🏻
About last night … we spontaneously decided to m About last night … we spontaneously decided to make a @crumblcookies run at 8:30 and snagged a front seat to Mother Nature’s show. 😍
I took five books with me when we went on a little I took five books with me when we went on a little vacation in May, and got through two of them, one of which was The Magnolia Story. You are, no doubt, familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines, but you might not know how they became so popular or how their business exploded. This book, told by both of them, shares their journey from their dating stages to just a few years ago. It’s quite amazing how their path unfolded, with the universe seemingly guiding them every single step of the way. Every time they hit a crossroads, they received clear signs to continue to point them in the right direction. It was interesting to learn more about their story, and a great reminder that you need to trust in yourself and follow your passions, and everything really does just fall into place. Chip has his own book out too, Capital Gaines, which I added to my list after I read this one. If you’re curious about their story or just need confirmation to continue to chase your dreams, read this one. ✨ #catesbookaweek 6/52
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the w “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl ✨
We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister an We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister and her family were away. She has settled into a new routine here (ours 😂), and now doesn’t get up until after 9 am, stays up until well past midnight, eats a very late dinner, knows that the kitchen is where the magic happens and sits for a treat after her morning backyard visit. We’ve broken her in nicely but she will be returning with her continued bad habit of suffering from #fomo, playing tag with the cats, and barking every time she hears a door open or sees someone go up the street. We did our best. 😇
The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Gar The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Garlic butter and bleu cheese butter from @njgarlic (the bleu on steak! 😍), empanadas from @catalina_empanadas_2017, half sour pickles from @pickleculture and the quiche and bread were from a vendor I forgot to get the name of. This was all from the @bernardsvillefarmersmarket. Today I hit the @denvillemarket and added full sour pickles from @pickle_licious and a roasted garlic and duck fat loaf and cheese biscuit from @bobolinkdairyandbakehouse. Basically give us all the bread, cheese, butter and pickles and we’re happy campers! Did you hit up a farmers market this weekend? What’d ya get?
Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it is with the gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. Skip what their directions tell you and pan fry them in olive oil, add some of their 4-green bag of vegetables, salt, pepper, drizzles of pesto and a sprinkle of parm. So freaking good and dinner on the table faster than you can order take out. 🤤
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Apple Picking

September 24, 2007 · Narrative

Would you believe Nicholas has never been apple picking? I know, a staggering thought. For that matter, neither have I. We’ve been pumpkin picking, but that’s it. Waking up to a beautifully clear day, I thought some time spent apple picking might be a good family activity to serve as a distraction from a somber weekend. I found this really helpful website, pickyourown.org, where you can search by state to find pick-your-own places in your local area. A quick search uncovered Wightman’s Farms, a place I’ve heard of, but never visited.

Apple picking, pumpkin picking, a corn maize, a hayride through their 51 acres, a kids play area, pumpkin slingshot, homemade pies … more than enough to keep us busy and definitely a popular place. He had a blast choosing which apples to pick and was a pro at snatching them off the branches in no time. We came home with a mixed variety, some for him to snack on during the week, and some we plan to turn into applesauce (have a good recipe to share?). Nicholas already asked if we could go back, and I promised we would with my stepdaughter next weekend.














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Comments

  1. Kelly Mahoney says

    September 25, 2007 at 1:14 am

    Every kid should have a you-pick experience. I took a neighbor kid to a pick your own pumpkin patch for a video I was making in my multimedia class. It was so adorable! We also made our own candy apples.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    September 26, 2007 at 12:30 am

    I’ve never been apple picking either. Looks like loads of fun. Nicholas told me about it on Sunday afternoon.

    The Sister In-Law

    Reply
  3. katrina says

    September 30, 2007 at 1:13 am

    omg!!!how funny is this!! i just spent hours researching pick your own farms, and this one is on my final list!! how are the apples, is there a large selection, is it really crowded, what are the prices?? this is so funny how small the world is.. o yeah there is an amazing applesauce recipe on cooking light- its oven roasted in a covered baking dish. its amazing! so creamy and smooth. i never add the extra sugar and usually leave the peels on b/c its easier and they are so yummy to pick out and eat!! hope you enjoy!
    katrina

    Reply
  4. Cate says

    September 30, 2007 at 5:33 pm

    Kelly – making your own candy apples sounds like a fun time!

    The Sister-in-Law – methinks it’s time for you to go apple picking!

    Katrina – Very small world! You have to buy a family membership, which is good for the whole picking season ($11), and comes with a few $1/off coupons (towards hay ride, maize, apples, etc.). When we went, they had the seven apples listed available for picking. I think they were around $1.09/lb or thereabout, so it was reasonable. Thanks for the heads up on the CL applesauce recipe – will go track it down.

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    October 1, 2007 at 6:06 pm

    My kids are now 18 to 22, and we still go apple, peach, pear, blueberry and strawberry picking every year (at the appropriate seasons) at our local orchards. It’s a lifelong memory that I’m sure my kids will pass down to their kids. I’m glad you started this with Nicholas!

    As for the applesauce, there are a million recipes, but it really can be very simple. Just peel, core and slice your sweetest apples (so you don’t have to add too much sugar). Put them in a heavy bottomed pan with some water and a cinnamon stick. Cook slowly until the apples are broken down. You can use a masher to mash them up or put them through a food mill or sieve. When all is said and done, just taste. You can add other spices, sugar for sweetness, lemon juice or zest for tartness, it’s all up to you!

    Best way to use it — After you’ve made your applesauce, spread it in the bottom of a heavy bottomed pan. Top with gingerbread (not cookie) batter and cook over low heat. The applesauce will steam the gingerbread. Then just scoop out a big helping and top with whipped cream!

    Reply
  6. Mrs Ergül says

    May 13, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    This seems like a nice activity & experience for kids! Sadly, I doubt we have that here in Singapore

    Reply

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Over the years, I have slowly made my way around o Over the years, I have slowly made my way around our house … decorating, renovating and reorganizing it into a soft place to land. The only part that I haven’t touched that much are our yards (except for a fire pit area that went in two years ago, thank you pandemic). I want our outside to be as much as a sanctuary as our inside is, so I plan to spend the next year digging in (no pun intended 😂). I don’t have a green thumb, so feel free to spam me with all your awesome, low maintenance ideas as we create a Japanese-style zen garden. 🤩 I also hate gardening, so there’s that, but am hoping that some #gardentherapy changes my mind as much as it changes the space.
✌🏻 ✌🏻
About last night … we spontaneously decided to m About last night … we spontaneously decided to make a @crumblcookies run at 8:30 and snagged a front seat to Mother Nature’s show. 😍
I took five books with me when we went on a little I took five books with me when we went on a little vacation in May, and got through two of them, one of which was The Magnolia Story. You are, no doubt, familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines, but you might not know how they became so popular or how their business exploded. This book, told by both of them, shares their journey from their dating stages to just a few years ago. It’s quite amazing how their path unfolded, with the universe seemingly guiding them every single step of the way. Every time they hit a crossroads, they received clear signs to continue to point them in the right direction. It was interesting to learn more about their story, and a great reminder that you need to trust in yourself and follow your passions, and everything really does just fall into place. Chip has his own book out too, Capital Gaines, which I added to my list after I read this one. If you’re curious about their story or just need confirmation to continue to chase your dreams, read this one. ✨ #catesbookaweek 6/52

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Over the years, I have slowly made my way around o Over the years, I have slowly made my way around our house … decorating, renovating and reorganizing it into a soft place to land. The only part that I haven’t touched that much are our yards (except for a fire pit area that went in two years ago, thank you pandemic). I want our outside to be as much as a sanctuary as our inside is, so I plan to spend the next year digging in (no pun intended 😂). I don’t have a green thumb, so feel free to spam me with all your awesome, low maintenance ideas as we create a Japanese-style zen garden. 🤩 I also hate gardening, so there’s that, but am hoping that some #gardentherapy changes my mind as much as it changes the space.
✌🏻 ✌🏻
About last night … we spontaneously decided to m About last night … we spontaneously decided to make a @crumblcookies run at 8:30 and snagged a front seat to Mother Nature’s show. 😍
I took five books with me when we went on a little I took five books with me when we went on a little vacation in May, and got through two of them, one of which was The Magnolia Story. You are, no doubt, familiar with Chip and Joanna Gaines, but you might not know how they became so popular or how their business exploded. This book, told by both of them, shares their journey from their dating stages to just a few years ago. It’s quite amazing how their path unfolded, with the universe seemingly guiding them every single step of the way. Every time they hit a crossroads, they received clear signs to continue to point them in the right direction. It was interesting to learn more about their story, and a great reminder that you need to trust in yourself and follow your passions, and everything really does just fall into place. Chip has his own book out too, Capital Gaines, which I added to my list after I read this one. If you’re curious about their story or just need confirmation to continue to chase your dreams, read this one. ✨ #catesbookaweek 6/52
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the w “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl ✨
We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister an We’ve been dog sitting Gracie while my sister and her family were away. She has settled into a new routine here (ours 😂), and now doesn’t get up until after 9 am, stays up until well past midnight, eats a very late dinner, knows that the kitchen is where the magic happens and sits for a treat after her morning backyard visit. We’ve broken her in nicely but she will be returning with her continued bad habit of suffering from #fomo, playing tag with the cats, and barking every time she hears a door open or sees someone go up the street. We did our best. 😇
The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Gar The rewards of a weekend of farmers marketing! Garlic butter and bleu cheese butter from @njgarlic (the bleu on steak! 😍), empanadas from @catalina_empanadas_2017, half sour pickles from @pickleculture and the quiche and bread were from a vendor I forgot to get the name of. This was all from the @bernardsvillefarmersmarket. Today I hit the @denvillemarket and added full sour pickles from @pickle_licious and a roasted garlic and duck fat loaf and cheese biscuit from @bobolinkdairyandbakehouse. Basically give us all the bread, cheese, butter and pickles and we’re happy campers! Did you hit up a farmers market this weekend? What’d ya get?
Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, and so it is with the gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. Skip what their directions tell you and pan fry them in olive oil, add some of their 4-green bag of vegetables, salt, pepper, drizzles of pesto and a sprinkle of parm. So freaking good and dinner on the table faster than you can order take out. 🤤

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