“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
This weekend, we were invited by our friends, Rachel & David Trichler, to spend a harvest weekend with them in Charlottesville, VA. There were plans to go apple picking, putt putt-ing, lots of baked apple treats, and Trivial Pursuit. How could we refuse?
Our Friday night combined a fun road trip to Charlottesville with the Trichlers, and an inaugural stop at Wegmans (Aaron and I had never been to Wegmans before – it is a glorious grocery store). After having my car towed in DC, then going into the sketchy part of DC to retrieve my car, cooking some Indian food for 20 people for a church event, packing our small suitcase, and finally getting on the road, I was happy to arrive at Rachel’s childhood home. We spent some time socializing with her lovely parents, Sam and Joleen Bodily, and a fun couple, Evan and Madison Fitzpatrick, and their gorgeous baby, Holland.
On Saturday, our whole group went out for some physical activity—running, biking, walking, and playing in the playground with Holland. Rachel and I went on a little walk along the river on meandering path in the forest.
Isn’t it just beautiful? I love the fall season!
Our next activity was Carter Mountain Orchard. I looked forward to this event with great excitement as it was my very first time picking apples. We drove up there in a sweet little Saab convertible which was almost 21 years old while Aaron and David did some light reading on our way up there. It seemed like everyone had decided to go apple picking this weekend, so we had some extra time to take in the sights 🙂
Carter Mountain was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Gorgeous views of the fall colors everywhere you turned. The weather was lovely, and the company, enjoyable.
We had some lunch, ate the best apple cider donuts, drank the sweet nectar of apples, and equipped with bags to carry our apples, we set off to pick to our hearts content. The boys went to one part of the orchard and the girls to the other. We did have a bit of a hike to get to those juicy fruits but the views were well worth it!
We picked a lot of apples—enough to bake while we were there and enough to bring home two dozens of them.
Rachel and David are great to hang out with, and we loved getting to know them, spend time with their family and friends, and take in the beauty of our surroundings.
Thank you, Bodily & Trichler family! We had such a blast and plan on making this an annual tradition!
Yummm! Those apples look sooo good!
Yummm! Those apples look sooo good!
I love the drive to Carter Mountain and how fun to do it with friends! I can't believe you had never been to Wegmans before! It is my absolute favorite place to go shopping. It's a bit of a destination place for us and my kids love it as much as I do. What have you made with your apples?
I love the drive to Carter Mountain and how fun to do it with friends! I can't believe you had never been to Wegmans before! It is my absolute favorite place to go shopping. It's a bit of a destination place for us and my kids love it as much as I do. What have you made with your apples?
Chels, they are yummy! Very juicy!
Chels, they are yummy! Very juicy!
Hey Jess! Yeah, Carter Mountain was gorgeous! About Wegmans – several people have talked about it but I had never been to one before. I now see what I had been missing! I am going to go again and actually walk through the whole store. We just grabbed something, ate quickly, and got back on the road. Apple pies, apple crisps, butternut squash and apples, apple butter, and just simply biting into one were on the menu 🙂 Btw, I think I spent half a day reading your whole blog and loved the writing, the photos, and your adventures. I am making a list of places to see just from reading your blog! Keep posting!
Hey Jess! Yeah, Carter Mountain was gorgeous! About Wegmans – several people have talked about it but I had never been to one before. I now see what I had been missing! I am going to go again and actually walk through the whole store. We just grabbed something, ate quickly, and got back on the road. Apple pies, apple crisps, butternut squash and apples, apple butter, and just simply biting into one were on the menu 🙂 Btw, I think I spent half a day reading your whole blog and loved the writing, the photos, and your adventures. I am making a list of places to see just from reading your blog! Keep posting!