Fall at the Family Farm

Challenge Farm, Nelson, New Hampshire

In New England Columbus Day weekend is supposed to be the hight of the foliage season. So this year as it approached I couldn't help noticing, with some voiced disappointment, that almost all the trees in Somerville were still green.

Good thing I was heading up to old Challenge Farm in Nelson, NH! My mother's birthday is October 20th but she will be traveling in Croatia so we decided to surprise her at my Aunt and Uncle's farm. My brother Jordan, his girlfriend Betsy and I headed up to New Hampshire after work Saturday night. Our mother was already there but had no idea we were coming so she got a nice surprise when her children appeared at the door with birthday gifts!

The blueberry bushes, bare for winter and a lovely birch.

Since this was our big fall weekend we had several activities planned. The most important plan was expressed by Betsy in a song that became the soundtrack to our weekend: "goin' to New Hampshire and we're gonna pick aaaaples, goin' to New Hampshire and we're gonna pick aaaples, gee I really love fruit and we're gonna pick aaaples..." (sung to the tune of "Going to the Chapel") - you get the idea. So we went apple picking!

Aside from apple picking we did a lot of sitting around, relaxing, walking, playing on the old tree swing, and just generally enjoying fall. We played scrabble picked carrots from the garden, drank plenty of cold apple cider, and even put our feet in Hancock pond!. It was great. Beautiful weather and a perfect weekend.

Jordan invented a carrot washing station.

mmm cider!

Betsy won this round, but I came in second!

My favorite spot on the farm as a kid.

Wow we look alike here. Mother and daughter.

Uncle Maury's wood piles. Stocking up for winter.

Brother and sister at the pond in Hancock, NH.

On the way home we couldn't help but stop at the covered bridge where as kids our mom would drive real slowly through it and make us yell "hello!" out the car windows to here the echo. It's the simple things.

Stay tuned for my posts on fall fashion and apple crisp!