Some years we can camp during the fall. Others are filled with rain, like this year.

Sometimes a scent can take me right back to a memory that makes me smile! One of those memories where you feel like you have a hug and enthusiasm, and fun all tied in together.

One of my favorite fall memories happened in October of 2020 when we decided to leave our campground and head to Apple Hill.

We were in Northern California, and the weather was perfect! Crisp in the morning shade and warm in the afternoon sun.

My husband, and 8 and 9-year-old boys, and I were ready to spend the day together. We knew, someone would get tired (both kids, but they wouldn't admit it), someone would get irritated (both husband-Nick, and 9 yr old-Peak) with someone else, I'd probably not want everyone to eat as much sugar as they'd have available, and one son (8yr old-Koda) would want to get into everything he possibly could.

"Apple Ridge Farms #20" I probably shouldn't tell you which one, so only keep reading if you won't report us! ;)

Now that that's out of the way, we headed into the farm. Apples and ciders. Pinecones and tall pine trees, walkways and families, brown colors, and this feeling of pure love being together and laughing together, hugged the entire farm. We hung with the tourists, because we were tourists as well, until we found a path.

And...we took it!

We're the only ones daring to hike, so we hike back along this path, and as we're walking along, we realize we're so far away that no one's around. And my kids start to get excited about being on the backside of this ranch. They want to pick an apple. So Nick lifts them up, puts them on his shoulders, and they each get to pick an apple. They're so excited to have their apples that they bite into them right there. Koda is running around and sharing his apple with everyone, and as I'm biting into it, I get something odd in my mouth. I take this apple chunk out and turn it over. This little worm is just hanging out, like it was his apple to begin with. Like I should have kept my grubby hands off this tree.

So we throw both apples down this dark path and get out of there.

The adventure doesn't end, as we get closer to civilization, we see a box, sitting on the side of the trail and a small entrance to the side of the apple farm. Nick and Koda decide to pick a few apples. They step into the farm and pick only a few. This act makes Peak lose his mind. He stands back and (Peak was hilarious!) He wanted nothing to do with anyone. He keeps saying... I'm gonna go buy something so when they come and arrest you, they will see I'm paying for my things."

We reassure him that everything will be paid fo,r but he's still not comfortable. We hadn't used the front gate!

Finally, after 5 minutes of his discomfort, we head back to the front of the farm.

He immediately went and bought a slice of apple pie à la mode. He ate this apple pie and vanilla ice cream and breathed a sigh of relief as Nick paid for this box of apples.

The crisp apples dipped in hot caramel and nuts were an item that made our ride home smell like heaven. The rocks from the mini excavation trough, where kids got to mine for rocks, entertained Koda for the rest of the camping trip.

This was a memory, wrapped in a cornucopia of scents, that's sparked with our new Fall Spice. Designing this scent was a journey filled with feelings. The Cinnamon and Nutmeg, mixed with the Vanilla, twirl around a memory filled with laughter, mystery, adventure, and love. May it evoke your new and old memories in the same fashion.

Light Your Smile
Georgia Vanderville