Apple Trees & Pumpkin Patches

Can you believe November is nearly here??  Last weekend we all headed to Rose Orchards Farm with Coops for some apple picking & pumpkin patch fun.  After plucking off a dozen apples & gathering two giant pumpkins, that both weighted more than baby, we headed over to visit the sweetest farm animals which always enthrall baby (especially when they make all those fun noises).

     

When we got home I scoured Pinterest for cinnamon applesauce recipes, finally settling on THIS slow cooker one by What the Fork.  

I made two recipe changes- first replacing Granny Smith apples with Macintosh & the second to use a blender instead of masher because we prefer applesauce without chunks. Amazingly 9 apples only filled 1 pint jar so next year I'll be bringing home a bushel instead of just a dozen, but the applesauce came out a-mah-zing & I strongly recommend checking out Sharon's Blog too.

That checks two things off the Fall Bucket List.  Next up, apple pie baking (would love tips on that one!) & fall platter painting with Coops.

Fall Bucket List

The air is crisp, leaves are falling everywhere & the mums in our yard are the biggest I've ever seen.  Plus watching Cooper pluck mum blooms (with his newfound coordination) when we lean close & squish the petals between those chubby fingers is currently my favorite thing in the world. 

Fall is officially here & this is our first fall family bucket list.  And tackling all these fun things with baby in tow has me beyond excited.

1. Learn how to bake an apple pie.  No joke- every time I bake a pie, regardless of type, it comes out horrible.  Doesn't matter if it's from scratch or store bought filling or pre-made crust.  Literally.  Horrible.  So I am attempting the impossible- bake a DELICIOUS (or at least edible) pie.
What are your tips for pie making, would love suggestions!!

2. Take at least one trip to the apple orchard.

3. Carve pumpkins, of course!

4. Sew a cozy quilt for Cooper.

5. Make s'mores in the fire pit.

6. Learn how to make applesauce.

7. Sit in a giant leaf pile with Cooper.

8. Do a wine tasting with hubs.

9. Visit Fired Up & make a small serving plate for Thanksgiving. 

10. Make apple pie moonshine (stay tuned for that recipe).

Fingers crossed that we'll get to all of these over the coming weeks & finish sewing Cooper's Halloween costume (#momgoals) <3