Apple Orchard, IHOP and the Windmill Museum that Could Have Been

Today my friend Mindy was on a mission to get me the heck out of the house. She did well. Mindy drove all the way across town to pick me and Maizie up in the hood. What a friend! Then Mindy drove us all the way back across town and out into the country to visit Orchard Hill Farms.

First we ate lunch at IHOP. Oh, yeah. We know how to have a good time and IHOP is right there at the top of our fancy dining list. I will eat breakfast anytime. Yummy! Mindy's sweetie Maralyn was very thirsty. First she wanted a Sprite but then changed her mind and had a chocolate milk. Not wanting to be wasteful she drank both the chocolate milk and the Sprite at the same time! Gadz! Maralyn said it tasted great. She was loving it. Mindy even tried it and said it was not too bad, kind of like carbonated chocolate milk. I decided to pass on that experience. The girls worked on some worksheets about apple orchards at IHOP. On the way there Maizie read to us about the nutritional value of apples and we quizzed the girls after wards. It was all apple talk the whole way there. Gotta get our homeschooling in whenever we can.
Once at the Orchard we went into the barn and saw these Stanley Plums. The farmer offered one to Mindy and Maralyn. They both said it was pretty sweet. They did not rush to buy any though so who knows.

Wherever we go Maizie seems to find dogs who want to be her friend. This cute puppy must be the orchard guard dog. I can't remember his name but I am sure Maizie does. She remember the names of every dog we have ever met.

Here the girls are in awe over the crates of apples waiting to be shipped off. The farmer let us go into the very cold storage room where all of the apples wait to be sent to stores throughout Indiana, Ohio and some of Michigan. The crates went way up to the ceiling. The smell of apples was super strong. I love that smell. Maralyn is showing just how cold it was in there.


Here the girls are outside in the orchard checking out the apples yet to be picked. We were there pretty early for picking. The apples they had ready were McIntosh and Prima. We bought a bag of both. I was hoping to get a wider variety so we could sample them and do a little writing exercise about the flavors, textures and all that good stuff. Two will have to do for now. We want to go back again for some of the later varieties. By then I am sure I will be driving and Mindy will expect me to pick her up.
One crazy thing we passed was the Mid-America Windmill Museum. I had never seen anything like it and really wanted to stop. Mindy looked at me like I was insane. The girls were up for anything.

First we went to visit Mindy's grandparents. The girls used the bathroom and got to play with a special box of toys that grandma keeps for just such occasions. It was nice to meet Mindy's Grandparents.

On the way back I was itching to go the the windmill museum. Mindy drove up to the place but talked me out of going. She was right. I had more than enough activity for one day and would more than likely pay a price for walking and riding in the car so much. The wonder of the windmills would have to wait until another time. I cried as we drove away knowing I was missing out.

While we were driving back Mindy's eyes were getting droopy and her spirits were beginning to dwindle. She stopped into Starbucks for a lil' pick me up. At this point Maizie managed to scratch off the top of another mosquito bite and began bleeding. Maralyn said, "I am a good doctor and will take care of her." I look back and she is holding Kleenex against Maizie's ankle. What a sweetheart. Sorry Mindy for the bloody Kleenexes that are no doubt littering the back of your new car. Mindy had to get into the trunk and dig through her first aid kit to find a band aid for Maizie's major emergency. Once that was taken care of we began the rest of the trek back to my house.

After Mindy and Maralyn left I came in and crashed on the couch for an hour. I was so tired. I felt so lucky to have such a great day with Maizie, Maralyn and my best friend Mindy.