Apple Picking Festival

on the first day of fall i jumped online to check out what kind of activities we could take SG to this year. last year i spent a lot of time saying "i wish i'd known about that festival/fair/event" so this year i wanted to do a better job of getting out and enjoying all this city has to offer the toddler crowd

goodness knows i'm familiar with what this city has to offer single gals and childless couples

when i found out that the "apple picking festival" up in julian was this past weekend

i knew we had to go. turns out by october 6 apple picking season is practically over! who knew?

so even though it meant missing lots of badass football we packed up up the minivan and hit the road towards the mountains

 

(SG and her daddy took a quick pregame trip to get bagels and coffee)

 

the festival was absolutely packed so we decided to stop by the apple orchard first and were delighted to find that, for the most part, we had the place to ourselves. SG absolutely loved running wild through the trees, picking apples, and eating them (core and all)

 

her feet aren't even touching the ground

 

 

i had to improvise with a reusable bag i had on hand to collect the apples we'd bring home because SG sorta hijacked the ($10) paper one from the orchard and insisted on only gathering rotting apples from off the ground. i figure it's good practice for her next egg hunt?

 

 

(her adorable outfit is from here)

 

at one point i was able to get her to slow down long enough to actually pick some apples off the tree instead of the ground. this little girl could have ran through the orchard all day long but mama knew there was a winery nearby so that was our next stop...

 

 Menghini Winery

(gas prices are insane right now)

 

we ended up having brisket and pulled pork plates, julian hard cider, and menghini sauvignon blanc at the festival. unfortunately, SG was still a little young to enjoy most of their games and rides but i would definitely take her back next year for the pony rides and live music. she loves live music.

 

 

it was a nice weekend

but i ate way too much junk and now i feel so sluggish

time to detox and get back in the gym