Apples picked from the trees of Masker Apple Orchards and pumpkins purchased from our favorite farm in upstate Warwick, NY. What a beautful day! We got lots of Red Delicious, Macs, and Empire apples and the kids had a great time picking them! It sure does pay to get there early because when we were leaving, the line to enter was miles long! The early bird gets the worm!~~ or in this case, the apples!

We then went to our favorite farm, also in Warwick. It's a big dairy farm that is no longer in operation. Owned by the Manno Family, they now sell pumpkins, gourds, indian corn, squash and specialty pumpkins hand-painted by their talented art teacher son. Every year for almost fifteen years we have visited this farm for our pumpkins and seeing the Mannos is just as special.

What I love most about this farm is that it is the same every year. There are no "bells and whistles" or added "special attractions" to make you visit. It's pumpkins, some wooden cutouts that the kids can pose behind for pictures, pretty displays and lots of chickens running around!Plain and simple! I love the fact that in these times, they are a constant! I know next year our favorite pumpkin spot will be the same! Mr. Manno said he'll keep operating until the day he dies because his farm is where he wants to be forever!

There are several murals on the farm painted by their son. He did a beautiful one several years back on the side of the main barn depicting the soldiers rasing the American Flag dedicated to 9-11. He told me yesterday that he is planning a new one for next year's anniversary of 9-11.