Autumn in the Valley

Brian and I have a few traditions throughout the year and one of them is a road trip north into the Hudson River Valley at some point in October.

  Most years it happens a little earlier in the month but extra warm conditions have kept the leaves from turning until now.

For the past month I've been monitoring the foliage report on the I Love New York web site and peak conditions were predicted for this past weekend. Fortunately, mother nature also blessed us with fine weather for the drive.

We began at Meadowbrook Farm in the town of Wappingers Falls, about 70 miles from Manhattan.

A relaxed atmosphere, lots of pumpkins, bunny rabbits, goats, ducks and an extremely interesting array of chickens strolling around freely.

We saw varieties we'd never seen before including this Black Cochin with fine feathered feet.

We stocked up on pumpkins and a few of the freshly baked cookies that were for sale in the farm store. 

We'd also brought lunch with us and relaxed at one of their picnic tables while our pup rolled on the grass and the wandering chickens gave her a wide berth.

Next we headed to a large farm in the town of Fishkill.

This orchard and farm store offers apple picking, more pumpkins and squash and many other vegetables for sale in the store.

A long line outside was waiting for freshly made apple cider doughnuts that smelled heavenly. Oh, if only we hadn't already stuffed ourselves with cookies...

It was dusk by the time we returned home but I'd already cooked up a storm the day before. So, we had cocktails chilling in the fridge and a pot roast dinner that just needed to be reheated. What a lovely day!