To be honest, 98°F and sunshine is not really the weather that you want to have when you go to Apple Hill. It’s October, 1 after all and it’s really time for some fall weather, but it looks like we have to wait for that for a little while longer. The weather forecast for this week still keeps us well into the 90’s. Not that I am complaining that I can still wear short and flipflops, you know, but when I go to Apple Hill, I am thinking of warm apple cider and apple pie.
We headed up into the Foothills on Saturday anyway. We first had brunch at the Buttercup Pantry in Placerville. The potatoes were especially delicious.
Then we headed to the Apple hill farms and it was quite busy for the beginning of the harvest season. Pumpkins were out, too.
One of the farm hands out (free!) apple spirals and I had two. They were delicious. I also tried a hundred many different jams and jellies, all made with one or another kind of apple. Did you know that there are more than 50 different kinds of apples? I had no idea. I maybe would have been able to name ten, if that!
One apple farm also had animals and the llamas were particularly entertaining. They were not shy at all and looked so funny with their puffs of hair on their heads.
My personal favorite, however, was a little donkey. He was so cute!
Inspired by the delicious treats they were selling at the farms, we bought a bunch of Golden Delicious apples and I made homemade apple strudel on Sunday (recipe to follow).
Other good things this weekend:
a new book on my nook ♥ a nap ♥ scrabble night ♥ sitting on the balcony ♥ iced tea ♥ gym time ♥ fresh bread ♥ sleeping in ♥ a movie night ♥ coffee ♥
Maribeth
October 1, 2012 at 7:03 amI totally love the donkeys too! I’m making an apple pie today!
Chrissy
October 1, 2012 at 7:11 amLooks like so much fun and your brunch looks delicious! Cute llamas and that donkey is super sweet! Seems like you had a wonderful weekend xxx
lauryn
October 1, 2012 at 7:15 amI can’t believe how hot it has been for you guys! I’m loving that the temperature is dropping a bit here in Michigan. That means sweaters and scarves and make an appearance again!
Love your photos! Apple orchards, cider mills, and pumpkin patches are the best place to visit this time of year :)
Sanna
October 1, 2012 at 9:38 amHaha how cute are those llamas!? Hope you aren’t sweating too much!!
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
October 1, 2012 at 10:55 amBy the looks of your photos, you’d never know it was oppressively hot. Goodness, no thank you. I don’t even like that weather in the summer, let alone fall! We’re hoping to go to a pumpkin farm in a couple weeks … I want to make it a family tradition to celebrate Gavin’s October birthday.
Cait
October 1, 2012 at 4:57 pmOh, how I long to be able to eat fresh apples again! I developed an allergy to them, but thankfully can still have them cooked in yummy desserts.
This weekend was one of relaxation – my boyfriend was busy studying for a certification exam, so we didn’t spend the weekend together. Instead, I caught up on the last season of Glee, organized my room, and did a bunch of other small-but-tedious chores.
Gina
October 2, 2012 at 2:18 pmI can’t wait to go to Apple Hill, too! Once it’s cooler outside. ;)
Travel Spot
October 3, 2012 at 9:59 pmI lived in Sacramento for a while and I never went to Apple hill! Actually my parents have apples so we pick them and make tons of stuff with them. My favorite is this apple cake: https://travelspot06.blogspot.com/2011/11/apple-day-monday-ii.html I can’t wait for your strudel recipe!
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
October 8, 2012 at 6:16 pmI am so behind on blog reading, I had to really think about what I did the prior weekend! Now I remember that it was good but short as I had to travel for work on Sunday!
It’s too bad our weather can’t meet in the middle. It has REALLY cooled off here and the temps have been in the 40-50 degree range. I like it, but it’s definitely colder! And makes me realize winter is just around the corner! Looks like you had a great time. now I am craving apple crisp!
terra
October 14, 2012 at 1:31 pmThose apple spirals are amazing! Also, I love llamas, and really, any sort of petting zoo, or regular zoo, or hell, even nature where I happen to see a critter. Really, I guess I just love critters. All of them.