Tonight we are off to lake country in upstate New York.  It’s a cool autumn day and the trees are bright with colors that reflect across brilliant clear waters–I think only Vincent could have done them justice on canvas.  But beyond the foliage, New York is famous for their apples, both in quantity and quality.  The varieties are many. Old timers like Delicious and Mcintosh to new upstarts like Rubyfrost and Snapdragon.  We are there to see the beautiful country to be certain, but also to sample the fruit just off the tree when they are their crispest, their sweet-tartest, their juiciest. From one orchard to the next we journey picking those that appeal to us most.  Though one would think by day’s end we would have tired of those red and gold beauties, when we arrive at the lakeside log cabin we’ve rented and have stoked the fire, we throw in a pie for an after meal treat.  As we eat our dinner of roast chicken and vegetables, the cabin takes on the aroma of apple, buttery crust, and brown sugar.  After dinner we make our way to our fire side seat and sample our work hot from the oven.  Our slices don’t last long, and we set our empty plates aside, hold hands, and watch the flames dance and spark. We fall asleep, my arms wrapped around you, both of us content with our magical New York day