apple harvest festival

This past weekend, we ventured off to the historic village section of the Allaire State Park in NJ.   The park was having their annual apple harvest festival, complete with demonstrations on apple cider making using the 1800's version of a food processor!  I just love this little village!  I love the way the people dress in the fashion of the time and how the iron and wood working that is demonstrated is actually used for items that will be used in the village; like the wooden wheel we saw being made that will be part of a cart.

There was quite a lot of fun to be had on our outing.  Although we skipped the horse and carriage ride, we greatly enjoyed the little puppet show, the opportunity to try some wooden kids toys from the 1800's...and we even got daddy to try the "apple bobbing".  I had to laugh to myself as I watched my little ones spending a great length of time rolling down hills, eating thier apples, and playing by the little pond, just as the children of that time probably did.  One would never have know that earlier that morning, the discussion revolved around Pokemon and things of that nature!  I was glad for the break from that conversation!  

 This is such a fun  season because it seems that events like these are easier to come by than during other times of the year.  I feel like being able to take a trip back in time helps the kiddos, or atleast my big boy, to conceptualize what life was like back when.  Perhaps he will appreciate all of the things that we have, like electricity...and a food processor!  I could not have been happier when we left the gift shop with an authentic toy of the times that Tobin had tried, Graces?  It involves using two wooden sticks to toss {and catch} a ring to the person you are plaing with.  Yes...he picked this over the plastic mini frogs.  Life is good. 

a.