Apple Picking with My Girls

"My Girls," you should know right off the bat include three friends I've known since elementary school: Mandy W. and Britney since kindergarten, and Mandy C. since seventh grade. We weren't always best friends, but toward the end of high school, and all throughout college and adulthood, we've managed to keep in touch at least once or twice a year. They were in my wedding, and I 100% want them to play a role in my children's lives as they grow up.

Normally, we go for a dinner or brunch so we can all sit around and chat. The conversation usually starts out slow as we reacquaint, but then it quickly goes into an easy rhythm that can last for hours. While that's nice, I've been reading a book that talks about purposeful gathering and one concept struck me: that people usually bond more over doing an activity. So, when Mandy W. texted everyone to see about hanging out, I thought I'd suggest something different.

I suggested an activity: a flower arranging class, or a fitness class. And it somehow morphed into picking apples, which everyone jumped onboard for. Which then led me to ask about making applesauce or apple butter. "Yes!" It was set! We would spend a Sunday picking apples and then making applesauce or apple butter.

But, as luck would have it, our schedules and our lives got in the way and we all only really had time to just go apple-picking. It was everyone's first time, and we were all a little startled by the price: a small bag was $12 + $2 for the tractor ride up to the rows we were picking. I got maybe a dozen or 15 apples for that price: not nearly enough to make things with. BUT the orchard did have a lot of varieties that were fun to try in the crisp mountain air. I discovered I really like Evercrisp apples: a mix between Honeycrisp and Gala, and everyone really liked Autumn Gala too.

Mandy W. brought her daughter, Lily, and we walked around the orchard and picked! It didn't take very long with our small bags (and after doing the math, if you go with a group, pitch in to get a bigger bag and then split them up afterward - it'll save you money!), but we got to experience something new nonetheless. Afterward, I went to a local fruit stand and bought probably two bushels of "seconds" - apples that can't be sold at full price because they have imperfections (bruises, gashes, etc.) - for $10. With those, I made applesauce and apple butter, and will attempt to make cider probably this weekend.

So, by the end of it, we only hung out for maybe an hour - it started raining by the end of our excursion, and I felt like our "experience" hang-out was more of a bust than a bonding moment. So maybe in the future, we'll just stick to our meals and our conversations. It was a little ambitious from the beginning, but how I hoped it was more than it ended up being. I am still, and always will be, grateful for the time I get to spend with my girlfriends. We connected, and we got to see each other. And hopefully we'll hang out again soon, maybe this time, just to talk.