Apple Annie's Orchard

The last time that Ryan checked up on our blog he asked, "Do you EVER write single entries anymore?"

So, here's my single entry.

Last Saturday Joshua and I went to Apple Annie's Orchard to pick some peaches. We went up with some friends of ours. Imagine my excitement when I found out that there was a peach orchard in Arizona! I could hardly contain myself. Ryan makes the best peach jam I've ever tasted! I was quite disappointed to leave Chiles Peach Orchard in Virginia, so I felt very fortunate to go here---even if it is a 100-mile drive from Tucson.

Ryan had to work last Saturday and my friend, Kako, extended us an invitation. The website stated a free hayride, apple-smoked burgers (expensive, but delicious), and a lot of treats. Sounds fun, right?

Well it was fun, but I was quite disappointed with the peaches that I picked. They were a little bit larger than apricots. It was kind of tough being 35 weeks pregnant, dragging a 2-year-old across the 100 degree orchard, take pictures, and pick ripe peaches all at the same time! Plus I had to make sure that Josh was NOT eating the dirty, rotten, insect-infected peaches off the muddy ground (and he had plenty). It was quite the chore!

When we got on the "hayride", which was just a trailor with benches being pulled by a tractor, I was shocked to see that the other passengers had bags full of HUGE RIPE PEACHES! Apparently we went to the wrong part of the orchard! But I wasn't about to go back...it was too much work the first time & I was exhausted and starving.

I was quite shocked to see that the apple-smoked burgers were $10.00 a person. It did come with a bag of chips, a can of pop, a spoonful of beans, and a dessert (pie or homemade peach ice cream) though. We did have to eat it on the fly-infested tables. The girls we went with kept asking to move away from the flys. I got a kick out of that. Like the flys couldn't follow our food. :)

All in all, it was great. Especially to get away and be able to talk with Kako in the car for hours. Too bad that when I got home Ryan looked at the peaches, laughed at their size, and said, "Um, I think they're too ripe to make peach jam with...we'll have to go back another time and I'll help you pick them." Good thing because I don't think I'd go back with Joshy by myself again!

I found this wheelbarrow at the side of the road. Joshy was walking SO slow that I had to do something to keep up with the friends we went with! So, in he went!



This last picture was taken at the zoo. We went there on Monday. They have a small water play area for toddlers. I think it's hilarious that they choose to use a cow as the statue that squirts water. There are no cows at this zoo---isn't it a farm animal, anyway? I'd think an elephant would have been more appropriate. :)