Apple Orchards
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Another cuddling Puck that morning, as usual, stuffing himself down deep into the comforter to warm his chilly ears and snuggle with his Donkey. And full of gusto and energy and wishes for a hot breakfast.
OLeif had another visit to the nutritionist that morning at ten o’clock. It was time to find out if his ‘little buddy’ had packed up and shipped out of his pancreas.
And so they departed not long after nine o’clock for Collette and Puck to be left off at the Silverspoon’s where Izzy was just preparing to leave for the day.
Later, Puck was putting together little plastic cubes into a sort of wobbly telescope.
Collette gave him some mango juice from the fridge, which was a hit with the fellow.
“Could you give me some ‘menguin’ juice, Mama?” he asked with a chubby grin.
Word came after eleven that OLeif’s ‘friends’ had not yet completely departed, but had prepared passports and would likely intend leaving within the month.
And then OLeif was off for another oil change in the Civic with Theodore.
The afternoon brought a visit from Emma Thompson and her two grandsons. Puck enjoyed seeing the two little fellows again, and shared a tin of dominoes and the little red tricycle with them for a short while.
Before four o’clock had arrived, Emma left with her boys. Izzy was still at a wedding photo shoot consultation for a member of Puff ‘o Lump’s family, and then out with German. And everyone else left to visit Eckert’s Orchard in Illinois.
It was a nice drive. Cool air, warmed to just perfection, out into the endless golden hills and fields and patches of green woods. All the way to the packed farm, where music was playing, mounds of orange pumpkins were stacked on bales of hay, and everything was buzzing with activity, especially with the Asian population that day, it would seem… There were so many Asian countries represented amongst them, that they clearly outnumbered the Missourians and Illinoisans…
A short tractor ride later, and they were deep into the orchards, of which there were few apples remaining. But the boys found their stride after awhile. OLeif lifted up Puck to reach the ones buried high in the tops. And Theodore especially raked in the last of the good Granny Smiths and Fujis.
Back to the shop on a tractor ride packed with a large Japanese family, for apple butter and honey, and then a very thick and delicious funnel cake that they shared together at the picnic tables under the trees with cups of cold apple cider, as the sun just began to sink.
The drive home took them rambling over and around hills and farms and river country, with the sun polishing itself into a rosy pool in the gold and sapphire heavens.
Two ferries took them back home, which was of much interest to Puck as they glided over the dark waters in the last lights of the October evening.
And Puck called both of his Silverspoon uncles on his nana’s cell, happy to make use of the novelty.
To the store momentarily. OLeif, Collette, and Puck waited in the car while Theodore went inside for bottled water and communion bread, which Gloria had reserved. And Gloria popped over to Papa Murphy’s pizza.
“Here comes Papa, strong and brave,” said Puck triumphantly after awhile.
“Where did you learn to say that?” OLeif asked him, with a surprised laugh.
“I don’t know, “ he replied. “Everybody just says it.”
Then back to the Silverspoon’s where Izzy had returned, ready to go out to the movies. And the pizzas baked while Puck took a bubble bath.
Good day.
In other important news of the week, Carrie-Bri had cut out four more of her dreadlocks. She now had only two lonely ones remaining from the rain forest of Cairns those three fast years ago…