I Survived Apple Hill

On the drive up,
giddy with excitement

After hearing about my mom's annual trip to Apple Hill, I finally joined her this year and learned what Apple Hill is all about. And it was fantastic!  

The driver - Mom

The passenger - Dad, who half
slept/half listened
 as Mom and I gabbed the whole drive

So Apple Hill is really a collection of about 50 including Christmas tree growers, wineries, a micro-brewery, Spa and vineyards in the Placerville area who open up their business for all to come in and buy fresh fruit, including a variety of locally-grown apples, and other fruits & veggies along with all sorts of apple bakery treats. Each farm has their own specialties from fudge, to apple brownies, apple cider donuts, apple dumplings, apple fritters, apple pies, apple shakes, apple beer, blackberry dumplings, caramel apples, apple butter, blackberry sour cream apple pies and much more. 

Many of the places also serve lunch and other things like apple cider, coffee, hot cocoa, etc...

All of the farms we visited had their own crafts fair areas and other novelty items with silly stuff like ginormous dream catchers, meditation benches, and dog t-shirts for all those people wanting to walk around with a pomeranian or pug on their shirt. We visited only three out of the 50 ranches in about three hours! I can't imagine visiting all of them. I probably would have vomited from eating too much.

Boa Vista

The drive was about an hour and a half from my parents so I ended up staying at my parents the night before to break up my drive. All of the driving did not appeal to Matt so he stayed home but I brought him home several goodies to try.


The first ranch we visited when we arrived was Boa Vista Orchards. Mom was the pro on which ones to visit and she never led us astray :) While Mom and I wandered through the craft tents, my dad headed straight for the bakery and bought "himself" an apple dumpling and a blackberry dumpling. Though he thought he was going to enjoy both himself, mom and I attacked him and we all proceeded to fight over bites of the goodies like hungry vampires. They were delicious! I've never had a pastry so fluffy and delicious and fresh.

Dad trying to limit our bites and make us eat the
 nub ends of the dumplings

After only five minutes, we have devoured both treats, and were left sheepishly covered in the flaky pastry crumbs. I had teased my dad about not pacing himself, and now I wanted more!

I headed over to the bakery myself and bought some treats for Matt, while Mom joined and picked up some additional desserts for the three of us.

the apple sample station

Next I wandered through the farmer's market and came upon an apple sample station to try sample of all the various types of apples sold at Boa Vista. I tried several types of apples, finally deciding that the Fuji was for sure the best. 

I never knew this is how
brussel sprouts grow

Mom and I both bought a couple pounds of the Fujis and Mom got the brilliant idea to buy a frozen apple and blackberry pie for Thanksgiving.

Naturally they didn't just have one type of apple pie but several - classic, dutch crunch apple, blackberry sour cream apple, sour cream apple, and more I'm sure. 

All of it was quite overwhelming while exciting at the same time. Next time I go, I'm definitely going to try the blackberry sour cream apple.

We walked around the grounds a little bit before heading back to the car, which was just so beautiful. Just something so beautiful about being out in the country! If it wasn't for the ridiculously cold 40 degree weather and snow on the ground, I would have walked around more but I had not planned accordingly for such cold.

After leaving Boa Vista, we headed to High Hill Ranch in search of fudge. High Hill was by far the biggest ranch out of the three we visited with a full restaurant, a craft expo, pumpkin patch, a large pond, pony rides, fudge factory and more. Hilariously, the parking was actually in apple orchards which made for a muddy mess. And by now, the temperature seemed to be dropping and it was raining/hailing so we were a little put off by that. But I still loved it.

High Hill Ranch lake with picnic tables all around it

pony rides 

After seeing their adorable little lake, Dad and I both decided we needed to come up 

in the early fall next week as that would be more enjoyable. Plus I really wanted to try one of their apple shakes but it was just too cold. This whole place was overwhelming with all of the activities. And after heading into the fugde factory, we quickly escaped again not wanting to wait in the long line. 

The Pie House Restaurant which reminded me of
Jake's restaurant on Sweet Home Alabama ( my fave movie)

By this time we were also getting hungry for lunch and so we left and headed over to Abel's Apple Acres for lunch. This was by far the smallest ranch we visited but they had a great food shack where Dad got a trip tip sandwich  Mom a barbecue salad and me a chicken apple walnut salad. Yes, I couldn't get away from the apples. It was delicious and a nice break from all of the carbs and sugar I had been devouring but something warm would have been nice as well.

We realized at this point that we have failed to get anything for my little bro, Seth, who lives at home at my parents. Since Abel's didn't have the blackberry dumpling we had all loved so much at Boa Vista, we decided to stop there again on the way home. But not before taking a scenic around the area. I was hoping to drive by and see the wedding gardens but the area was gated and protected by so many trees. 

Hangin out with the locals at Abel's

We stopped again at Boa Vista and then headed back enjoying the most delicious apple fritter I have ever had! I think I talked about it for the next 30 minutes.

By the time we got home, we all needed a nap before we headed into a food coma. I will definitely have to go again and take Matt so he can participate in all of this apple goodness. Let me know if you have been and have other farm favorites yourself. I'm always willing to venture out and try more. We passed a German restaurant along the way that I would like to try next time.  

Workin away at High Hill

My adorable parents outside the Pie House Restaurant and gift shop at High Hill Ranch

Halloween 2012 - a little watered down

As many of you know, I just adore Halloween! It is one of my absolute favorite holidays and I look forward to it every year, starting to plan costumes well before the season. (Please note, Matt does not share in this love but he does put up with me and go along with my plans usually)

This year, unfortunately, Matt and I both got sick around Halloween, watering down the normal fun. He was sick with a cold during the ward Halloween party and trunk or treat, leaving me to go alone. I dressed up as a Pan Am Stewardess and ended getting asked to bring some girls in the ward whose mom could not attend.
We had fun together and that ended up making my night more enjoyable.

Then I got a cold the next week, which soon developed into a full-blown sinus infection. I stayed home a couple days from work but threw myself together for the work Halloween party since I'm on the work social committee and had some items I had to take for this.

I dressed up at work as well and though I didn't feel so great, I had a blast being a part of our very own haunted house. Having never been a part of putting on a haunted house, I was tasked with helping to turn one of our conference rooms into a haunted house. And we only had about 2 hours to do so!

So we scrambled together and put on a pretty spooky experience. I got to lay on the ground in a bloody surgeon's outfit and then reach out at people as they walked by asking "can you help me?" Now personally, I hate going through haunted houses but being a part of the scaring was SO FUN!!! I much rather enjoy scaring others than scaring myself.

Laying on the ground by the fog machine probably did help my cold and I ended up having to stay another couple days once the sinus infection hit. (Side note: I learned NEVER to use tap water with your NetiPot but to use distilled water or boiled water).

In order to get better, I had to reschedule a trip to Apple Hill with my parents and miss a Halloween party put on by my book club friends. I also laid low on the actual Halloween day which was fine since we didn't have any trick or treaters any way.

I was bummed Matt didn't get to dress up but I know he wasn't and I just count it as giving him the year off.

I hope you all had a blast this holiday as well and are still enjoying your treats.

Modeling a can of ginger ale for the staff like a good stewardess would