Up, up, up, it's apple picking time!

Respect to any reader who gets the headline. With weekend days when I don't have to work this fall scarce, we took advantage this afternoon and visited Bowman's Orchards about 10 miles from our house in Rexford, N.Y. Greta was grumpy at first, complaining that the trees weren't tall enough to climb and kids weren't allowed on the ladders, but the fruit eventually charmed her, she found a few trees to climb, and all was well. It was not typical Sept. 17 weather, however. Very hot, particularly for a dog. He went through three half liter water bottles, but was very well behaved for the most part. Everyone who passed him stopped for a quick pet. Thankfully, he had no taste for apples, but I'd advise anyone who visits an orchard never to pick anything below waist level! Or, put another way: Don't eat the yellow apples.