The rain today is hardly bothering me. I’m still enjoying the glow from spending my weekend in the “Palm Springs of Washington”. That’s right, my hometown – Yakima, Washington. I haven’t been to Yak for many years now because my parents moved away my Senior year of High School so I didn’t have the pull back to my hometown like I would have if they’d stayed. But we have some dear friends, the Erickson’s, that still live there and, before kids, we got to visit them quite a bit with Scott and Mary (our friends, their daughter/son-in-law!). Well, it’s been far too long since we’ve made the trek. My youngest hasn’t even been to Yakima before! Shame on me! I was rolling in nostalgia this weekend like never before because I was watching my kids do the same things at our friend’s home that I used to do at their house when I was a kid. I realized that there isn’t a place like that other than the Erickson’s house for me because my parents no longer live in the home I grew up in. What a treat to watch them play on swings, playing in the leaves and help with the cider making process! The cider was a big reason why we went over this weekend, btw. Here are some shots of the cider press and process (the very one I threw apples into as a kid!) –
Kids at play making mud pies, playing in the leaves….just like I did!
I’m sure this is the very tricycle I rode! (Is this getting old for anyone yet? Well, I don’t care! I’m enjoying myself!).
The kids thought it’d be fun to roast apples and it turned out to be a big hit. A new tradition started, I think.
Aunt Pat has a fabulous antique/garden shop out of the Carriage House called Country Garden Antiques. She specializes in things for the garden but has something for everyone in her shop. I always come away with a few treasures. I picked up some of my favorite pottery (Emma Bridgewater) for myself and a couple gifts. Here’s some shots of the shop. If you are ever in the area, I’d recommend a drop-by.
I haven’t yet mentioned that my husband also grew up coming to the Erickson’s for Apple Press so this place also has a special place in his heart AND it is where we had our wedding reception!
The older boys, being boys, thought it’d be fun to bash apples. We decided that men, instead of having a combined IQ when together their IQ actually goes down. I mean this with the greatest respect. I was laughing just as hard as the rest of them! Here is a shot of Ben apple bashing…right before it sprayed all over me!
And a group shot! Thank you Pat and Fred, Scott and Mary and Robbin and Maria for a most fabulous and restful weekend!
Lastly – the house I grew up in…on Memory Lane (just joking!). Isn’t it cute!
Ah, that looks like sooo much fun. I love return to ol’Yakima to remind myself of simpler times, but THIS, ah man, so cool, so “real”, so old fashioned. Love it. Plus, the pics are great. The one of Ben smashing apples is CLASSIC! Thanks for the jug of cider, too! xxoo.
You’ve made me nostalgic too…I remember both of those houses, in the summer season. I also remember the boys being boys on the farm and throwing fruit at the animals–we girls were duly horrified…there is more detail to that story that we’ll have to save for another time. I wish I had some of that cider!
[…] so great to be there on so many levels. We went with our long time friends Scott and Mary (of the Apple Press post!). Mary goes to NY several times a year on business so between Mir and Mare we felt like we […]
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