if you need apples, pumpkins and an afternoon in the sun

I know an orchard where the branches hang heavy, the ground is carpeted with gold and my friend’s the Neff’s will likely undercharge you for bushels of delicious apples. Tucked in a neighborhood in the heart of Salt Lake, their garden produces grapes, apples, pears, pumpkins, tomatoes, plums, apricots. Call them for their address and a time (801) 484-8468; they will treat you like family.

You may have picked at orchards where the fruit is scarce or hard to reach; here, the branches hang low, apples tumble into your hands and onto the ground and no matter how many you pick, you’ll scarcely make a dent in the harvest.

I should warn you– the fallen apples may tempt your children into an apple war, where boys run and yell and slip in too-ripe pears. Undoubtedly, everyone will eat an apple tasting of sunshine straight from the tree.

Leaving my camera in the car, I was determined to make this a photo-free activity, but who can resist these cute faces?

At home, Xander manned the apple peeler corer slicer while Gabe wielded the Samurai knife. For dinner we had whole wheat waffles with applesauce, apple juice and apple crumb pie.