"Ellijay is for Apple"

...or so I read on advertisements for the apple capital of Georgia. Two weekends a year, Ellijay hosts Georgia's Apple Festival, and several orchards offered "U-Pick" apples yesterday. It is a couple hours' drive due north of Atlanta, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Driving down winding roads (or relaxing while Chris was driving), flanked by trees of fiery colors, seemed like a necessary rite of fall, and I was happy to be there.We joined the mayhem at Hillcrest Orchards, packed full of families wanting to experience the live bluegrass bands, activities for kids, pig races, and everything apple related.

Some hand-me-downs that suited the day

We got into the farm-life activities a bit, like sitting on a very tranquil bull and milking Buttercup, the cow.

By far, the highlight of the visit was filling up our bag of apples. Daisy loved it both in theory and in practice. And I'm pretty sure that, with her help, it actually won't be an issue polishing off the bag before they go bad.