If I Had an Orchard

I'm not sure if it's just the weird weather everywhere, or if Washington doesn't get a full four seasons, but it felt like fall here got crammed into two short weeks. One day it was October, still warm and dry and sunny, and and next thing we knew, wintry weather began threatening our 5-day forecasts. (The last two weeks of cold drizzle clearly underscores the regions' addiction  need for good strong coffee.)

But before the clouds settled in, it was apple-picking time! The WSU orchard just up the road from us set out its painted boards advertising "FRUIT SALE". We took an early dismissal Friday to go pickin'.

 

They have a lot of apple varieties for sale that I've never heard of  (Scarlett O'Hara, anyone?) along with pears, plums, and potatoes, but also pick-your-own Golden Delicious.

 Meanwhile, the IGA down the street sets up large bins of organic Bartlett pears and honeycrisps that could rival James' peach.   We filled our crisper with more than 15lbs of apples.  We made apple sauce, those Cracker Barrel-like cooked apples, even threw some in the crockpot with a cup of red hots (pretty yummy!)  Luckily, I don't think I could ever tire of apples.

View from the WSU Orchard, Early October, 2012

The orchard is located to the northeast of campus, where there is a lot of land devoted to the studies of agriculture and animal sciences.

You can take a bike path past an ominous sign reading "Large Animal Quarantine" and just past that is the Bear Research and Conservation Unit.  These are grizzly bears, orphaned or otherwise unable to be rehabilitated who have been rescued from the wild. According to their website, "the WSU Bear Program is the only facility in the world to house adult grizzlies for research."

The bears are being put into hibernation next week, and at our last visit, most all of them  looked ready for their big snooze!





PRWF
Speaking of bears, Andrew joined Cub Scouts this fall and last weekend we went to a regional TrailBlazers event.  There was geocaching, archery and fishing lessons, and survivalist tips, with whom I imagine is Idaho's version of Bear Grylls. 

It was held at the Nez Perce National Park near Spaulding, Idaho.  I forgot my camera, but it turned out to be such a beautiful day that I had to sneak a few shots with the iPad while Andrew was in the Human Foosball court:

                 

This week we have our first visitors and couldn't be more excited to see family.

Happy All Hallows' Eve!