A Day in the Life: Royal Oak Farm

October 21, 2012

Recently, I wrote about how my bum (love you boo boo) of a husband was still, after seven years of me asking, refusing to go apple picking or to a pumpkin patch with me, his wonderful wife. I sent out a want ad on Facebook for a group to third-wheel it with to a farm/orchard.

Luckily, my lovely sisters-in-law heard my plea.

They and their great husbands herded me along with my nieces and nephews into their fleet of minivans and we were off. Off to Harvard, Illinois and the quaint and welcoming Royal Oak Farm.

It was the perfect fall day. The perfect day for me to lose my apple picking virginity!

Brunch. Apple Cinnamon French Toast. To. Die. For.

Gorgeous orchards.

Gold Rush apples are the apple of Illinois. The perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Lots of apple picking. Some tiny people were so into it they dumped out my entire bag of apples just so they could pick more. Cough…. Megan…. Cough!

Finding weird gords, butternut squash, and acorn squash for fifty cents each was one of the high points in my day!

Did I mention they had pumpkins too? As many as you could fit in a wheelbarrow, all for twenty bucks!

Petting zoos and carousels for the kids. Fancy looking roosters. So much in one day!

Exhausted.

You and me both buddy!

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  • Apple Spice Quick Jam
    September 25, 2013 at 8:01 am

    […] and moaning about having to go apple picking with his sisters, their husbands, and kids without him last year, I may have finally been able to put some cracks in his NO APPLE PICKING OR PUMPKIN PATCH OF ANY […]

  • Dennis Norton
    January 13, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Just came across your blog post, Stephanie, and I must say…..you’re hired!!! Great blog and we appreciate your post so much. You have a peck of apples waiting for you the next time you come for a visit for the great write up you have given us!! So look me up (just ask for Dennis…they’ll find me!)……..and maybe you can get your husband out here, too!!

    • Stefanie
      January 15, 2013 at 10:40 am

      Thanks so much Dennis! My family and I had such a fun time at the farm, we will definitely be back next year…. with or without the husband!

  • Anita at Hungry Couple
    October 25, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    Well, good for you. You finally experienced the joy of an autumn farm day. Now you have another year to work on the hubs. 🙂

    • Stefanie
      October 25, 2012 at 7:46 pm

      That’s for sure!

  • Lauren @ Part Time House Wife
    October 23, 2012 at 8:34 am

    ummmm. screw the apples..i’d be hanging out with a few more plates of that food! what the heck is that gravy’d looking bread? I’m panting over here…I want it.
    Glad you lost your appleginity 🙂

    • Stefanie
      October 23, 2012 at 11:09 am

      Oh my god. The breakfast was all you can eat! The bowl in question was homemade buttermilk biscuits with gravy! To die for, seriously!

  • Maggie @ Kitchie Coo
    October 22, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Oh fun!! I love this. I have been so sad that there aren’t any you-pick apple orchards where I live in Montana. This used to be a favorite fall pastime of mine growing up in Minnesota. So glad you were able to find some people to go with, looks like a perfect day!
    PS You’re nieces and nephews are adorable!

    • Stefanie
      October 23, 2012 at 11:10 am

      Thanks Maggie! Those girls love hamming it up for the camera.

  • Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out
    October 21, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    I like that you went with Mike’s family…but he stayed behind. What a bum!

    Glad you had fun and got to pick your apples. 🙂

  • Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
    October 21, 2012 at 10:33 am

    So fun!!