If you're prone to getting lost...

You definitely do NOT want to try this:

That is this year's corn maze design at Jonamac Farms in Malta, Il. We went for the first time last year in October and not only picked apples, but pumpkins too. This year they have the 'early' season apple varieties available, so we figured it would be a fun thing to do. We picked Galas - Crisp and Sweet, also Cortlands and Jonamacs which are both Medium and Tart. We picked about 15lbs... They smell SO good!

We then attacked the orchard store and got fresh homemade fudge in 1/4lb increments which Bill and Bree have made a big dent in - Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Mint and Dreamsicle. I ended up with some apple donuts - warm from the oven with cinn-sugar sprinkled on top and Bree got a fresh HUGE carmel apple - which she ate on the way home!

After leaving the orchard, we took a drive in the country, looking at land, farms, horse barns and the like! We had a great day driving the back roads, just hanging out! At one point, Bree and I decided that we must be in Iowa as all you could see were cornfields!

We'll be going back in October for the middle season varieties and pumpkins - not to mention more fudge, donuts and FRESH, non-processed, apple cider (not ready this past weekend - BOO!!!) We love the pick your own! And I'm sure we'll have all these eaten by then!

Also, in October they add the 'haunted' part of the corn maze - which should be fun too!

Ever Feel Like a Rat??

This is what Bill, Bree and I did on Saturday... But, unfortunately, there was no "cheese" at the end... We went to Jonamac Orchard in Malta, IL (Out by NIU)!

It is a 10 acre cornfield with 3 acres of winding paths... a couple of bridges to see where you're at.. It was fun - ALL of our feet were tired when finished - I think it took us like a hour plus to get thru the whole thing. At night, it is a "haunted" maze - and they only allow glow lights - I think that would be a blast to do (only if a bunch of high-school kids were NOT allowed in)


Our feet were already tired before we entered the maze from walking out to the orchard and picking our own apples: We picked: Jonathans, Jonagolds, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Crispins. This was Bree's first time of actually doing the "pick your own" and we had alot of fun. Reminded me of growing up and my Mom taking us! There's just nothing like a gorgeous day with your family, walking thru an orchard, popping an apple off a tree, shining it on your jeans and biting in to a fresh, juicy red delicious (my fav) apple!

From apple picking, we walked over to the 8 acre pumpkin patch - holy moley - do you know how many pumpkins (of all breeds) can grow on 8 acres - trust me ALOT! You can see the pumpkins we picked in my previous blog post - It's nice to pick them off the vine - you get such nice 'handles' on them - the ones at the farm stands don't have them!

Then, the big nasty's favorite part - the country store... He snacked on 5 berry pie (rasp, straw, rhubarb, blackberry and I don't remember the other berry) - I had peach! Then we bought 4 different kinds of handmade fudge - mint chocolate, reg chocolate, cookies and cream and peanut butter - 1/4lb of each - after the big nasty polished off an ENTIRE 1/4lb in less than an hour, Bree and I put a limit on how much he could eat - so there was some left for us! We also brought home their apple cider- oh my - awesome! and a 1/2 dozen apple donuts with cinn-sugar.. My favorite for sure!

The place was clean, neat, people really nice, no one looking over your shoulder at what apple you're eating, and a perfect fall day!!!