A Very Happy Mama's Life: 2013-10-13

We went to an apple orchard this week.

This was the first time T has been to a "u-pick" orchard. Arriving we headed inside their store. It was organized chaos in there. So much to see! They had mixes, groceries, pre-picked apples and produce, baked goods, jams, jellies, honey, and even a working beehive.

T walked up to the cashier. Hesitantly he announced "I'd like to go pick some apples, please."
She smiled and replied, "If your mom says so."
"She said yes," he told me.

Oh, I love this age! We went back outside into the bright sunshine. It was so pleasant. Crystal clear and comfortable. Perfect weather for apple picking. I consulted the map I'd picked up just inside the door and we set off in search of the orchard. T was amazed by the number of trees. I'd forgotten just how short apple trees really are. Seriously, why do children's story books usually draw them so very tall? We wandered around the orchard for a bit before turning around to get a bag for the apples. Picking them was such fun!

At first glance it appeared the orchard was very picked over. The further away from the store and especially down the rows we went though the more apples we found. Soon we found Gala Apple trees absolutely loaded with beautiful green and red apples. So large too. T and I had so much fun picking them. T tried twisting them off. He was convinced he knew better than I did how to pick apples. He caught on pretty quickly though. Even now I can hear the rustling of the leaves as each apple was removed from the branch.

When we returned to the store to pay our bag was full to the brim. T was brimming with pleasure too. As a final treat to finish out our excursion he enjoyed a fresh apple slushy. He said it was the best drink ever. Then he got to play on the orchard's play set, which was shaped like a giant boat. By the time we went home he couldn't say what was the most fun. It made for a really great day.

When is the last time you really stopped to feel? I mean really feel. Not just the sand between your toes at the beach (although that's a good start). Feel the slight temperature change as you softly wave your hand back and forth between the sunshine and a shadow. Feel the smooth hardwood floor, interrupted at regular intervals by very slight ridges where the pieces join. Feel the varying textures of cloth as you fold the day's laundry. Marvel at the different textures of water as it is released at different pressures or sits there, still and calm except for your finger caressing its surface.

F is eight months old. Her wonder of the little things grows daily. Lately she's really gotten into textures. Oh yes. Those boxes of tissues cannot be kept down low these days.

The grass on the lawn.