Today we’re having one of those gray days you don’t mind because the fall colors are more vibrant against the pale sky. It seems like a good day to share another gray (but fun!) day I had earlier in the week with my sisters-in-law. My little nephew was baptized last Sunday, so the family gathered in Holland, Michigan to celebrate. I stayed 2 extra days after the weekend along with my sister-in-law Meg and niece Molly for a “sisters weekend” complete with theme song we made up. We went to the farmers market, shopped downtown, went to Target for necessities including a mint unicorn sweatshirt for Molly and ate quick meals out, hoping to finish before it was time for one of the kids to eat or nap. Our last day in town was cloudy, but it was perfect for a few hours at Crane’s apple orchard for lunch and apple picking.
We were all hungry and our first stop was into the restaurant for lunch. It’s located in a rustic barn on the property and decorated with vintage kitsch. Just look at this vintage highchair that Molly sat in! It also houses the apple cellar for picked apples and you pay your bill at the cash register surrounded by fresh baked bread, cider donuts, apple butter and pie.
The cool weather called for spiced apple cider with free refills, you guys! Serve in dreamy peach iridescent mugs. It hit the spot on that cool day.
Bethany told me I had to get the Italian panini with raspberry pepper jam and giardiniera pickles. Good call. Meg had the burger special with apple and red onion mixed into the burger patty and topped with bacon jam. She loved it.
And pretty much the whole reason we went to Crane’s in the first place was for their pie flight! Apple, raspberry-rhubarb, blueberry and cherry pie to try. Blueberry was the crowd favorite.
Judah was kind enough to wait until we were done eating to get hungry. While Bethany fed him, Meg, Molly and I bought apple butter, apple butter bread, donuts and apple cider. Then we wandered into the orchard for some cute pics.
My heart just bursts for these two! I loved spending some extra time with them. Judah joined us and kindly held some apples while Molly found a personal-sized golden supreme apple just for her.
It was the best gray afternoon and just the way I wanted to spend our last sister day together.
Crane’s Apple Orchard + Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant
6054 124th Avenue Fennville, Michigan