The Franklin Family: Apple Pickin'

This past Saturday, we took our annual (well two years in a row :-) trip up to Blue Ridge, Georgia to go apple picking at Mercier's Apple Orchard. I just love that place! Last year we chose to go there because Brian knows the people there because the make Chick-fil-a's Dwarf House fried pies. I would never want to go anywhere else! For my Peachtree City/Fayetteville peeps, there are some places around here that are a little mean and strict when it comes to bringing kids along, but this place encourages eating! (As you can see from the pictures!) Aubrey walked around with two apples most of the day. We leave whenever the kids are all up and get up to Blue Ridge about 10ish. It's just under two hours to get there. When we got there the line to purchase bags for apple picking was a little long, so Brian took the girls to pick out a fried pie to eat while we waited. (Of course, I got one too...I got Strawberries and Cream :-) Once we got our bags we headed back to the back where you wait for the tractor to come and pick you up to take you out into the orchard. The girls love the tractor ride! Thank goodness we go the blue tractor both times...we might have had a falling out! Those of you who know Aubrey, know what I'm talking about!!! Once we got into the orchard, we headed to the Ambrosia apples and the Jonagold apples. They were so yummy! I could have spent the whole day there!! After we picked two bags there, we headed over to the Mutzu apples. They are a little more tart and good for baking. Brian's grandmother wanted some too, so we picked a bag for his grandmother and his parents. After we finished picking apples, we caught the tractor back to the store and had our picnic lunch. (And maybe got another something sweet!) We also bought lots of their homemade things like apple butter, apple juice, fritters, pear preserves, and blueberry preserves. They have wonderful things there!! It was a great time and I suggest to anyone who doesn't mind the drive to head up there! They are so wonderful and have so many goodies!!