Simmons Farm

I absolutely love fall, especially our annual apple picking excursion!  We typically go to Simmons Farm, but have tried a few other places as well.  None seem to be as good as Simmons or have as good quality/quantity apples as Simmons so we usually come back for the best!  This year our friends Chad and Marnie came with us with their little boy, Caden.  It was so much fun!  The weather was perfect and we all left with a ton of apples!  I can't wait to make apple butter, apple sauce, apple crisp....yum, yum, yum!!  Here's some of the pictures from our fun day! :)

 

Apple Picking at Triple B Farms

Peter and I love to pick apples each fall.  We usually go at the end of September or beginning of October, but with our busy schedules we didn't go until today!  We kind of just squeeze it in this weekend after church because this is the last weekend available here.  We also tried a new farm.  Usually we go to Simmons, but this year we tried Triple B.  

The weather was great and the farm was packed!  

Unfortunately, the apple picking left something to be desired.  They only had one variety left.  I wish they would've told us that when we were paying for what size bag we wanted.  We went with the usually half bushel size since that's what we normally get.

The apples look nice, but neither Peter nor I really liked the taste of it.  They are cameo apples.  Neither of us even heard of this variety before.  Since we got so many, I think I'll be making lots of applesauce! Hopefully they'll taste better that way! :)

Even with the letdown of lack of apple variety, we had a good time.  

It was nice to be outside enjoying the fresh air.  :)

Peter even made a new friend!

Blue skies and open fields = good for the soul. 

This cute little butterfly landed on the tree we were picking apples from so we took a few pictures of it. This one was my favorite.  :)

Lots of cameo apples haha

:)

Might as well fill the half bushel bag since that's what we paid for!  Who knows what we'll do with them all!

I spotted these peacocks on our way out.  So pretty!

Pumpkins!  

Berkeley Springs

We took a few days off from work around the Columbus Day holiday to go to Berkeley Springs and visit with some of Peter's side of the family.  It was nice to have a few days together to hang out since we rarely get to see them.  We rented a house and were able to be low key and have lots of fun.  We played a few games, chatted lots, and went to the Apple Butter Festival.  We took turns making dinner each night and had random lunches - sometimes together, sometimes not.  I took lots of pictures so this is only some of them.  Photo overload warning, though!  I think there are like 70 in this post!

The guys (minus Andrew who didn't come until Sunday) at the Apple Butter Festival checking out a kid's police car.

Peter and his dad:

It was great to meet Wesley and Zack for the first time!  Zack is such a chill baby :)

Uncle Peter teaching Wesley how to pick up leaves with a stick.  Wesley thought it was a great trick haha.

Hanging out at the Apple Butter Festival in the park:

Mom and Dad Formica :)

Wesley and Zack love books and had plenty of people to read to them for a few days.  Matt and Mom Formica would read bedtime stories.  Somehow we all gathered around for them :)

Each morning there was a beautiful fog in the valley.  

Lonely red leaf.

A shot of the outside of our chalet:

One day we went to Cacapon State Park and had a small picnic lunch at the top of the lookout area.  This isn't the top so maybe next time we'll have a picnic here! haha

The lake area was deserted and just beautiful.

I attempted to take a picture of Andrew, Peter, and Dad Formica...

...and it turned into a chaotic slew of pictures haha.  

I believe the boys were pretending to be in a band??

These are only a few of the pictures, too!

They kept going so I just kept snapping away.

Who knows what Peter is doing behind his Dad??

Tin trash can = drum set...?

Finally!  A decent picture :)

Beautiful lake area again:

I love this bridge :)

Can you tell it was bright outside?

I love how the water was so still that the reflection came out so clearly.

We headed to the playground for a bit, too.

Peter was making silly sounds that was cracking Zack up.  

Look at those adorable faces!

I think this is when Zack had a "stinky".  Haha!

The park was beautiful will fall colors.  We drove to the top of the lookout...

The view is just wonderful!

Time for lunch!

I didn't put this here, just snapped the picture!

Group shot!

This house was on the street our rental was on.  I just love it!

We wanted everyone to try the Fairfax Coffee House for breakfast because that is a favorite spot of ours in BS so one morning we all went.

Wesley chatting with Grandma and Grandpa Formica:

Look at this kid's face!  So cute!

Everyone at breakfast:

Hubby and me :)

Andrew was showing Wesley a magic trick.  He loved it!

Grandma Formica with Wesley and Zack:

We tried to go to the little wine shop afterwards, but it was closed.  Turns out lots of things are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays :(  I love this bench outside of the shop, though.

Perfect little pergola for pictures:

I saw this sign in one of the antique shops we ventured into.  PJF = Peter Joseph Formica :)

We drove to another little lookout area (not as great as the one in the park), and of course, it was the perfect spot to check Andrew's oil...?

Me and Mom Formica :)

I guess Andrew's car needed some oil. 

There was a historic sign of some sort so of course Dad Formica had to check it out :)

Mother and son :)

Father and sons :)

Us with Peter's parents :)

All in all, it was a great trip.  Fun times were had by all.  The only thing I could've done without is the cricket invasion in the basement!