Pumpkin Picking 2014

Today we headed out to Eckert’s, and the most sincere pumpkin patch we know, to find the perfect pumpkin times five. I think we set a new family record–Turkey picked about 21 pounds of pumpkin, Bunny picked 17 pounds, Moose also picked 17 pounds, Ladybug picked 11 pounds, and Chickadee picked a whopping five pounds–over 70 pounds of pumpkins!

We’re about out of fun family activities for this year at Eckert’s, but I’m sure there will plenty more fun to be had next year!

Apple Picking 2014

This afternoon, the children and I went to Eckert’s to pick some apples. This is the first time we’ve gone apple picking this year, but it probably won’t be the last…we only picked about eight pounds! It was just a little too warm to get into the proper fall spirit, but that certainly didn’t make the apples any less delicious!

We’re hoping to go back to Eckert’s this weekend to pick pumpkins…it’s just one of our very favorite places to visit, especially during fall!

Tasty Tuesday–Eckert’s Country Restaurant

Even though we’ve lived in Belleville for eight years now, we hadn’t been to eat at Eckert’s Country Restaurant since I was pregnant with Turkey 12 years ago, and we happened to visit the farm to pick apples. We figured that the time was right to go back, especially since Eckert’s has been chosen as a finalist in US Foods “Family Friendly Restaurant” contest. Much has changed at the restaurant (and country store), since then, especially the building itself!

The decor is exactly what you’d expect at a country restaurant…very homey. The pails of crayons on the tables (along with paper table”cloths” perfect for a little pre-dinner art), were very popular with the children…and perhaps with their mother, as well!

There are several different dining rooms. We were in the back room, which is equipped with long tables perfect for a large family. I especially loved the sliding barn doors!

The menu at Eckert’s is seasonal, which I think is fantastic. Right now, they’re in the process of switching over to their fall menu. The thing you notice right away on the menu, however, is their famous fried chicken.

The one thing both Ryan and I remembered from our last meal at Eckert’s was the biscuits and apple butter. We weren’t disappointed…they were as delicious as we remembered!

The main course also did not disappoint. I ordered the fried chicken, because I figured I might as well get their speciality. It was among the best fried chicken I’ve ever had, and the side dishes were also excellent (who can complain about mashed potatoes and green beans made with bacon?).

Everybody else enjoyed their various meals, as well, and it was decided unanimously that we’ll be going back, hopefully sometime soon. More than one child mentioned this as a potential birthday dinner location!

And just in case you didn’t order dessert after dinner ( I hear the pie is excellent!), and you’re visiting Eckert’s between April and October, you can walk next door and get some delicious frozen custard!

Eckert’s was already one of our family’s favorite places, and truly a place where we’ve made lots of memories. It’s nice to know we can add “favorite restaurant” to our list of things we love about Eckert’s!

Vegetable Picking

Sadly, Eckert’s peach crop was stunted by the cold winter, so there are no pick-your-own peaches this summer. They do have something new, however…pick your own vegetables! I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I heard about it in May. We had a choice from three sizes of boxes to fill…we picked the middle size, which cost $15.

We started out with corn, which was the vegetable I was most looking forward to picking, since I’ve never gotten to do that before. It was like being in Field of Dreams, walking through (and almost disappearing into!) those rows! I also enjoyed seeing the beautiful corn flowers.

We also picked zucchini and summer squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. We didn’t get any kale, beets, or onions, but they all looked beautiful, too.

I hope this will become a permanent event and a new tradition at Eckert’s. I really enjoyed getting to pick some fresh produce!

Chickadee Thursday

We went blackberry picking again today. Chickadee loves blackberries!

We also went cake-hunting this afternoon:

And Chickadee took some time to stop and smell some flowers!

Wordless Wednesday

Blackberry Picking 2014

Today was one of my favorite days of the year…blackberry picking at Eckert’s!

I love blackberry picking because a.) They’re so delicious; and 2.) They’re so easy for people of every age to pick, because of the way they grow up the trellises. Chickadee could find berries on the bottom, and I could reach the ones on the top, and everybody else could pick berries in between!

We ended up with 11 pounds of berries, which sound like a lot, but isn’t that much when you have so many people in the house who love eating them!

And when you make a blackberry cobbler for dessert!

I love blackberry picking…hopefully we’ll get to go back at some point before blackberry season is over!

Blueberry Picking

I know that this is going to come as a shock, but there was one fruit at Eckert’s that we had never picked ourselves…until this morning, that is! We were somewhat confused when we got there, because most of the blueberry bushes were covered with nets. One of the friendly Eckert’s employees quickly explained that they cover the rows that aren’t currently being picked because if they don’t, the birds will help themselves! Makes sense, and they looked kind of cool covered up, especially since it was such a cloudy morning. Almost like a mist covering them! Chickadee had a grand time, and she actually picked some herself. When we went strawberry picking, she was perfectly content to let the rest of us do the picking, as long as we kept handing her berries every now and then, but she really wanted to be involved this time.

I really love blueberry flowers. I’ve actually thought about planting some blueberry bushes in our yard, just so I can enjoy the flowers for the brief time they’re around. I also loved seeing the tiny little mint green berries on the bushes!

Other than the mud everywhere, it was a nice morning to be out…not hot, not sticky, not too bright. We had a great time, and left with about three pounds of blueberries!

Of course, you can’t go blueberry picking without enjoying the fruits of your labor…blueberry muffins for everyone!

This was definitely another fun Eckert’s activity, but blackberry picking is still my favorite…good thing blackberry season should be upon us in just a few more weeks!