Apples, apples, everywhere! During the Fall season, pumpkins usually get all of the press, but apples get some lovin' out here in Colorado.
Mema loves to make homemade applesauce this time of year so finding delicious, organic baking apples is a big priority. One of our good ole college days buddies suggested that we put the 2012 Cider Days on our calendar and go experience this apple-rific event. Of course it is an outdoors event and it happened this past weekend when the temperatures were FREEZING! Point in fact we had our first freeze of the year. I don't think it got above 35 degrees while we were out.
All of us Longmires are very short on cold weather comfort and I was a little concerned that Miss Lily was going to freeze. She was a trooper though and stuck with Mema as we perused the many brave booth exhibitors selling their wares.
The best part of the event was all of the activities that they had available for little kids. Lily saw the bouncy house from about a mile away and we headed to its colorful towers first to get in some good "jupin" time. She was the first little one to visit the bouncy house so she had the entire thing to herself. It took her a while to start jumping around, but you can see by her smile that she had a blast.
After the bouncy house we met the little burros that were giving pony rides. The saddle on the burros even came complete with a seatbelt. Lily was not overly interested in riding them. I think their size difference threw her off. I could see her little mind going "those aren't horseys, they are my size!"
Instead we headed over to the mule wagon to take a ride around the festival grounds. The team's name is Black and Decker, aptly named for two black mules. Lily loved the experience and kept on talking about how she wanted to "ride horseys."
So the last ride we did was truly my ABSOLUTE favorite, the barrel train. It was exactly what it sounds like, large barrels cut out with seats put in and wheels fastened, all connected to a little farm tractor that pulled you around. It was so much fun. Lily liked it, but I had a BLAST! Mema, Lily and me all took a ride around in the barrel train. There were so many tractors around the grounds, both antique and new that all of us kept thinking of our dear family the Jessups and how much they would have loved this adventure.
Once all of our fingers and toes were officially frozen solid, we found ourselves some apple cider and then toured around some of the other farm equipment and picture spots. Lily Grace kept on telling us that she wanted to ride horseys so we assuaged her angst by sitting her on top of the cow statue. She wasn't fooled, but it brought out a few cute smiles!
We were just about to head home when we spotted the cider pressing station. After buying ourselves some delicious apples, we headed over to the press. We had to wash the apples off first and my fingers barely worked after that but the cider press was so much fun. Bob did the hard work while I put the apples in the grinder, then we pressed out our yummy fresh cider. It really was a fun experience especially on a chilly day!
Our Cider Days experience is going to be one of our new family traditions. Can't wait for next year!
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