The past few years I've tried to start my own tradition of going to visit Shelby & co. in September. It's just about the perfect time to be in New England - at the tail-end of summer, starting to get cool and fall-ish, and time for apples in the orchards.

The past few years I've tried to start my own tradition of going to visit Shelby & co. in September. It's just about the perfect time to be in New England - at the tail-end of summer, starting to get cool and fall-ish, and time for apples in the orchards. This year many family members came because of the baptism of Jack and Mary, so we had a great crowd for apple picking. We like to visit Russell Orchards in Ipswich, Mass. You take a hayride on a bio-diesel tractor out to the orchards, purchase a bag, and wander the orchard filling your bag with a variety of apples. Russell Orchards also has a great store and bakery where they make and sell fresh cider donuts - they are almost my favorite thing about going apple picking, and I can't leave the farm without having one!

We got a lot of apples, and later that night made a delicious Paula Deen apple crisp! Yum!