Continuing from last time:
Saturday, it was time to go to the Apple Festival! For new readers, this started when I was a kid and has grown tremendously. There are rides and games, but it's mostly a craft fair, and local organizations have food tents and fundraise from it. We used to visit my grandparents that weekend most every year, and since it's near my birthday, I always connect the two in my mind. I haven't been since 2019, though, what with covid and Mom's health and the hurricane last year (eff you, Milton), so I was very excited to get to go this year.
A few things have changed since I was young, not just the overall size of the fair:
A QR code? Heavens, welcome to the 21st century.
A sign for my potting friends:
Fun spooky mug!
Off the Hill Pottery is the maker.
Are bell bottoms coming back in style? If so, why?
This picture gives the impression that there were no crowds, which ha ha no, was not the case. The calm between the tents is scenic but misleading.
There are a few permanent buildings, but mostly it's tents on grass, and the ground is uneven enough for it to be a leg workout. My aunt did go through some tents, but she also rested on benches part of the time. I don't blame her! Between the people who step in front of you, stop in front of you, and have carts and strollers and big backpacks and totes, it's an obstacle course. At least this year there hadn't been rain recently enough to make the ground soggy. It can get hazardous!
The line at the fire department's booth is always worth it. You get to watch them put potatoes into the thing and turn them into French fries.
Yum!
My mother asked me to bring home some maple syrup. I was surprised that they had three colors of Grade A; I picked the one in the middle.
Not pictured: maple hard candy and maple cotton candy!
The foliage was not at peak, sadly, but it was a beautiful day for the festival anyway.
We rode the wagon back to the parking area, and it goes past apple trees.
Yes, some years back the organizers bought this land, which used to be an apple orchard, to be the permanent home of the festival. I remember when I was a kid, it was held "up the hill" at St Joe's, the local Catholic church. I believe it started out on the school grounds, but that's farther back than my memory goes.
We got home midafternoon and I was wiped out, and happy to read on the couch with my soon-to-be-a-memory maple cotton candy (so good). My aunt, bless her, made dinner, and when I went into the kitchen, she had the TV on, and the weather segment talked about weather at the fest!
My legs were still sore the next day, but I did go outside briefly to see what foliage I could find.
The ivy going up the barn was fairly picturesque.
There were a few red leaves on the grass.
Not to diss Florida's home styles, but I do love NY (and Massachusetts) styles more. Give me an old Victorian any day.
We went out to dinner to officially celebrate my birthday, and there as a glimpse of pretty skies where we parked.
And this nicely turning tree!
The Brae Loch Inn has a ton of character.
And on the walls, among the photos of famous people, was one I knew without having to look closer. Bobby Orr!
I don't know why he was there, but I'll take a Bruins sighting anywhere.
The food was good, the pub-style seating area scenic, although it could have used some sound dampening; the woman 10 feet away from us was talking louder than I would have needed her to talk to me, and as my aunt pointed out, she wasn't even telling good stories! The perils of going out in the world, I guess.
I have one more day of the trip to write up, the endless return travel day, as well as the what-I-bought post and I'll get to those ... sometime.
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