autumn in minnesota

so let me tell you, there are definitely times when i absolutely hate living in minnesota. the summers can be blasted hot and humid, and do i even really need to tell you about the winters? yes, they are snowy and crappy and often by february, i am begging my husband to let me look for jobs in sunny california or even colorado would be better.  there really is only one time of year that is a huge exception to this for me and that time is now.  oh minnesota fall, how i love you....why can't you stay around a little longer?? i love the sweaters and comfy jeans. i love the boots and the smell of kettle corn in the early october breeze.  i love the halloween festivities and getting ready for trick or treaters.  i love carving pumpkins and eating chili.a couple of weekends ago i finally got to do one of my favorite fall activities which is the annual visit to the apple orchard.  this may seem like a fairly "family oriented" thing for a childless couple such as chris and me...which might actually be true; there are hayrides, a big maze and a petting zoo. but there are also apple brats, apple donuts and wine....did i mention wine?!  adult fun for everyone.actually i was a little luckier this year because i have just been blessed with my very first, very own godson, so for the first year, i was not the only one at the orchard without a kid haha!!  it was actually super fun.  chris and i met our friends kristy and chad and their son (my godson) little e. and we had ourselves a lovely day at the orchard complete with warm apple donuts, crunchy, salty, kettle corn and a take home bag of perfectly tart, sweet tangos just for me.i really gotta tell you though, there are few things on a nice fall day that i love more than spending time with good friends, having old and new experiences together and just enjoying being outside in the fresh, crisp, autumn air.  it was so nice to drive out of the city to a place where you are surrounded only by the sounds of cows and birds and where all you can see are the faint beginnings of leaves making their costume change from brilliant green to the vibrant yellows, oranges and reds of fall.the other nice thing about the orchard, is it was a great place to test out my new camera on some willing subjects. :)