There’s something magical about a cool autumn morning at Taves Family Farms — the kind where the air carries the scent of apples and the ground crunches softly beneath your feet. Walking hand in hand through the rows of trees, you can feel time slow down, as if nature itself invites you to pause and savor every moment.
That’s what this day was all about — not just picking apples, but collecting memories.
Choosing Our Apples: Alkemene and Honeycrisp
Among the nine apple varieties at Taves, we were drawn to two — Alkemene and Honeycrisp. Each one had its own charm.
The Alkemene apples shimmered beneath the morning sun — golden-red, fragrant, and full of life. Their sweet and tangy flavor felt bright and refreshing, the kind that awakens your senses with every bite. The Honeycrisp, meanwhile, was autumn’s tender gift — juicy, delicate, and filled with the comforting warmth of the season.
Reaching for each apple felt symbolic — like we were gathering little moments of joy, storing them not just in our baskets but in our hearts.
The Farm Experience
Every step through Taves Family Farms felt like stepping into a living postcard of autumn. The orchard stretched endlessly, its rows glowing under the golden light. Families laughed softly in the distance, little ones holding their basket filled with freshly picked apples. Couples strolled quietly between the trees, their smiles as warm as the afternoon sun.
There was a sense of calm in the air — that kind of peace you can’t find in the city. The gentle hum of the tractor, the rustling of leaves, and the sweet scent of apples blended together like a melody of the season. It reminded us that life’s truest happiness often hides in the simplest places — in shared laughter, in muddy shoes, and in baskets brimming with nature’s gifts.
The Farm Store & Taves Estate Cidery
Before heading home, we wandered into the Farm Store, and it felt like stepping into the heart of the season. Wooden shelves overflowed with jars of jam and farm fresh pre-picked apples, — all crafted with love and care.
We also entered the Estate Cidery, where the charm of the farm meets the sparkle of celebration. Rows of bottles caught the afternoon light, glimmering like autumn gold. Among them, we found our choice— a Classic Apple Sparkling Cider. We took a bottle home, though part of us wished we had opened it right there in the orchard, raising a toast beneath the same trees where the apples had grown.
There was something poetic about it — how every bottle held not just cider, but the spirit of the farm itself: warm, simple, and full of joy.
Reflections from the Orchard
As the sun dipped low beyond the orchard, the world grew quieter — softer somehow. The rows of trees stood still, their branches heavy with the day’s stories. I paused for a moment, letting the cool breeze brush against my face, and I felt a kind of peace words can hardly describe.
There was something sacred in that silence. Between the fading light and the scent of apples, I realized how life keeps reminding us to slow down — to hold the people we love a little longer, to breathe in the moment before it slips away. Because one day, these simple days… will be the ones we’ll miss the most.
As we walked away from the orchard, baskets full and hearts even fuller, I looked back one last time. The sky glowed in gold, and I whispered to myself — this is what it means to truly live. Not in grand plans or perfect days, but in moments like this — quiet, fleeting, and full of meaning.
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