Pregnancy Craving: Cherries! (Tree-mendous Fruit Farms in MI)

While I've been pregnant this time, one of my favorite flavors has been cherry.  Whether it's in pie, soda, or fruit form, I've not been able to pass on it for anything.  I rewarded myself for running a 5k at 21 weeks pregnant with a cherry pie from Mom's Apple Pie Shop, found some delicious cherry soda in the Pop Shop at Frederick, MD, and enjoyed sweet cherries as soon as they came into the grocery.

So when my husband was reminiscing about cherry picking in his childhood, and I found out the farm they visited had an industrial PITTER you could use, I immediately jumped at the chance to try it out for ourselves.  I hate pitting cherries, especially when I have to do it for not just myself but my children also (tried giving one to Eli to just eat around, and he ate the entire pit!).  And I've never even attempted making my own fresh cherry pie since it would require so much pitting (and I prefer my hands not be stained purple).  Even though that has long been my favorite type of pie.  But I am happy to report that this has been rectified, as we were able to visit the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm while in Indiana for July 4th, and now happily have a freezer full of pitted, ready-to-pie, cherries.

There's a bit of paperwork to be done to pick fruit at Tree-mendous Fruit Farm.  Your first stop is in the store to pick up a permit and see what is available for the day.

Then you drive out to the orchard and find the rows of trees and pick up your buckets.  There are two very different types of cherries to choose between.  We chose some of the darker, sweet cherries to eat raw (left the stems on thinking it may keep them fresher), and then mainly filled up on bright red tart cherries to be used in pies and other cooking endeavors (they will be pitted, so you don't need to leave stems on).  I think my boys like carrying buckets more than they like actually picking.

 Tart on the left, best for baking while the sweet cherries on the right are great raw.

 You would think Elijah did all the work!

After this you head to the pitter station, where they will pit all your tart cherries for you ($0.30/lb).  There are several steps in getting the cherries ready, and the boys really liked getting to help and observe the process.

I want one of these!  (and a few dozen trees)

Then, you finally head back to the store to pay for your fruit (and anything else you can't resist picking up).  (Of course there is still more work to be done once you get home.  We decided to portion all the berries into 2 lb packages each, using zip-lock freezer bags, that would be ready to thaw and use in pies.)

 There are plenty of areas around the farm for photo ops, picnics at tables, and playground type areas for the kids.  They can also check out some goats as well.  And there are nice clean bathrooms in the store (or port-a-potties around the farm).  Pretty much everything you would need or want for spending some time out with little ones.

After we had picked (raspberries also, which the boys love), and picnicked on the grounds, we headed to a nearby beach.  Despite growing up in Indiana I rarely spent any time in Michigan, and I think this was actually the first time I've set food in Lake Michigan, and was the boys first time into any of the Great Lakes.  We just waded in and let the boys play in the sand for a while, and walked out on the pier.  Made for a beautiful day.

Burnside Farms: Update

Since their prices, location, and dates changed this year, I decided I would do an update post on our favorite you-pick flower place, Burnside Farms.  They are currently in peak bloom for a few more days, and it's supposed to be a beautiful week to enjoy them.

Where:  2617 Logmill Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169  (just a bit further than last year)

Cost: $4 for single entrance, $7 for an unlimited pass, under a year free.  Daffodils $0.50, Dutch Iris $0.75, Tulips $1.00 a stem.  They do accept credit cards (in the middle of a field, isn't technology great).

Daffodils are all yellow, and are cut with scissors.

Tulips come in a variety of colors and are pulled up (sometimes with the bulb).

Extras:  Though not as many as their old location, there are still a couple animals brought in to be seen, a not-so-happy turkey and some goats that will teach your children how babies are made.  They also had brought in a BBQ stand, and face painting the day we were there.

There are some chairs in the field, and they still have the big shoes (boats) to play/pose in.

And they have bunches of wooden shoes to try on.  The boys did this for a long time.

But even with all the changes, it's still a beautiful place to flower gaze (or insect hunt) and of course a great place for photo opportunities (if your children cooperate for that kind of thing).  We were probably there on their busiest day, and were able to have a sweet picnic and have a good time despite the crowds.  Even though it had rained the days before our visit, the fields and parking lot were perfectly dry.  And they do have port-a-potties on sight, always important to know when you're headed out with the pre-school crowd.

April Showers... bring Tulips! Burnside Farms

Over our lovely Easter weekend, we were out and about northwest of here, and decided to squeeze in a trip to Burnside Farms while we were in the area.  Our county is pretty big and varied here, so there are lots of places we still haven't visited within our county, and Haymarket is one (I love the name, makes me feel like we're in a more rural area than the suburbs). 

I first saw there was a "Holland in Haymarket" festival months ago and immediately put it on our calendar.  My great aunt visited there once and brought back the wooden shoes, and I remember always playing with them at her house when I was younger. 

Their main attraction for me was the tulips, though they also have daffodils in bloom this time of the year.  The stems are $1 each for tulips and 2/$1 for daffodils.  They are open Monday-Friday 10-6
Saturday and Sunday 9-6.  Under 12 months are free, otherwise it is $3 for a single day passport,
$5 for an unlimited re-entry passport for daffodils and tulips, or $6 for a full season passport giving you unlimited re-entry for daffodils, tulips and Dutch iris.  

Theo was really, really into cutting the flowers (we had to be sure to keep the scissors away from him) and of course Eli had to have his own basket to carry just like big brother.  I would definitely recommend the place, and perhaps we'll return and see what else Haymarket has to offer. 

We took home just about a dozen flowers, and (as expected) many, many photos: