Apple-Picking Upstate New York

Who goes apple-picking without picking a single apple or eating one picked at the orchard? Me.

Last Sunday, I went upstate with a group of students from my House (see below for a paragraph about the House System at The King’s College). Every house goes on some sort of retreat each semester, some are day-long trips while others are overnighters. My House calls it Barton Day Away (BDA).

Picture captured while bus was moving.
Best  I could do while the bus was moving.

This year, the student leadership team decided to kick off the day with a waffle feast before going to an apple orchard, Masker Orchard (www.maskers.com) in Warwick, NY. About 20 Bartonites participated.

We were packed into the apartment of 3 students while we ate freshly cooked waffles with syrup; juicy, defrosted mixed berries, and Nutella. The waffles just kept on coming and the girls just kept on eating.

The trip up to the orchard was beautiful. We took a bus from Port Authority, which drove by trees, trees, and more trees, as well as a couple of lakes. The leaves were changing colors - green, yellow, orange, red...it was a picturesque autumn day. The kind some believe only exist in the movies.

Another picture captured while bus was moving.

Once we arrived at the orchard, we sprawled out with our picnic blankets and ate lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; sparkling apple cider (bottle top opened with a knife by McKinley because we had no bottle opener); and for dessert, good homemade goodies: apple pie, pumpkin bread, chocolate chip cookies, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Yum, yum. The ladies of Barton sure do know how to pack a good snack! :)

Most of the gals ran around the orchard, picked apples, and ate some. Many lounged around and read for classes the next day. Most even made it down to the general store where the orchard sold homemade jams, apple sauce, apple butter, and country-style kitchen decor. There was also homemade apple pie, pony rides, face painting, and farm animals (although the farm animals weren’t worth seeing...a few animals penned up in about 15x15 space).

All in all, it was a restful day, and I got to spend some time getting to know the girls from my House. I can’t wait for BDA in the spring!

About the House System at King’s (where I work):
Each new student at The King’s College (www.tkc.edu) becomes a member of one of ten Houses, each named for a notable leader who embodies the ideals of The King’s College. Through their House, students will have countless opportunities to build close relationships, join together to explore New York City, grow spiritually and intellectually, and have fun.

Each House as a Staff Advisor and a Faculty Advisor. I am Staff Advisor to the House of Clara Barton. Go Barton!

Ladies of Barton walking down the orchard hill, going home