Vegmom Moments

Another Cider Mill off the List

When we were kids we went to Cider Mills in Michigan but didn't really appreciate them. At least I didn't.  I remember dreading those (what seemed like) long drives and then being chased by bees.  

I just assumed the tastes and smells of a Cider Mill were everywhere.  I figured all states had apples?  I took for granted how special those places really are.  When fall time came, everyone had Pumpkin patches, fresh apples, fresh cider and the best cinnamon donuts in the world, right?  

WRONG!!!  Hubby and I spent 15 years trying to find the perfect cider and perfect donut from our pasts.  There wasn't a state we lived in or a state we visited that could compare.  Eventually we gave up, put cinnamon sticks in a pot and sucked up the smell of Fall in our own way.

Then Veg came along.  I wanted him to have those childhood memories of the Cider Mill, but I wanted his to be great ones.  We went on a Michigan Mission, to hit as many Cider Mills as we could..  Mostly finding those that had kids activities.  He has had the best of times, I have some of the greatest pictures, and we all have amazing memories.   It is a trip he looks forward to every year.  

For him, Cider Mills and Michigan are a vacation spot and a place to see his grandparents.  But today was a Special Cider Mill Day.  Not only did we find one that he hasn't been to before, but he got to go with his Uncle and it happened to be that very Cider Mill that me and his Uncle went to when we were kids.

I believe we have hit a total of 15 over the past few years on our Cider Mill tours... And never stopped at this one until today. (thanks Uncle J)

I love that their Barn says "A Family Tradition"  because it really is!!  Especially in this family!!

Uncle J, got an extra yummy treat:

Donuts and cider also did NOT go untouched!

But the very best part of this day, is that it wasn't planned.  We were supposed to go do something else and the weather didn't cooperate.

I'm not complaining about that!!

P.S.  I may or may not have had one of these once we left our adventure today:

Oh, don't judge, I'm on Vacation...*wink*

RAW FOOD LUNCH AND LOTS OF HUGS

Today was intended to be a "Visit three different Grandma's" Day.  This means driving all over creation during normal circumstances.  But add in some Yummy Raw Food Goodness and a Cider Mill... and our driving continued to be all over creation....

YES, RAW FOOD!!!  We found a restaurant on happycow that I think Melissa suggested we go to a long time ago... (whom just had a baby... Congrats Melissa)..

Called the Red Pepper Deli in Northville Michigan.. (sorry can't find website)... It was a TOTAL Deli, as in small tables for eating in, but mostly a carry out place.  And the food choices, juice, smoothies, desserts, almost all RAW, and Vegan.... OH MY YUM!!!

We Dragged NeeNee with us to this delicious little eatery....  I walked in with my Giddy Self, and told the lady at the counter "They don't make these places where I come from!"  And she said "Then how do you know to eat this way?"  :-)  Blog land!  hee hee

My Raw walnut Taco, was soooo good and filling, even had to bring some home, so I could save room for dessert:

NeeNee got a Raw Pesto Pasta... I had to explain to her that there would be no "PASTA" in the Pesto PASTA... that it was going to be Zucchini noodles.. MAN was it good!!!

NeeNee Liked it too... But don't tell her because she won't admit it.  I have proof though... she ate every last bit...

Veg's lunch was quite Yummy too, while not raw, it was brown rice and raisins, and butternut squash soup along with some dehydrated pumpkin seed crackers (at least I think they were pumpkin seed):

We got some Cashew (dehydrated) Crackers to go for our trip back, along with some Banana Leather... OH MY YUM YUM YUM!!!  I'll have to make these with Mr. Dehydrator at home.

And then I saw Mr. Vita-mix times 3 behind the counter and HAD to order a smoothie.  I was FORCED to do so.  It was calling me, I couldn't control myself....  I went with the Coconut/Pineapple concoction.. 

Well, Veg wanted a nut free dessert.... And they happened to have something that fit the bill.

Raw Coconut Cream Pie:

 

He had bites before I could even snap a photo...  OH, WAS THIS GOOD!!  I will be trying this at home for sure!

So while it was true that we drove all over creation......It was sooo good... Veg and I both got lots of hugs from different loved ones today... not the kind of hugs that bother my germophobe self.. These were nice friendly family hugs that are worth a million bucks.    We also got some good pictures, to keep these memories strong for my Vegman.

I'm so glad that he is at the age where he will remember this trip forever and always... And because of that, I'm throwing in some extra special goodness... He has requested 4 Cider Mills... and 4 we shall do... After today we are at #3...  And so there was raw food goodness... Three Grandma Visits.... AND A cider mill with Play area... A perfect day!

And Yet again for the 4th day this week, my little Luv Bug took a car siesta between stops... I really really really wish he did this at home...  Something about the cold air... Yeah, thats it! :-) 

And did I mention it was Ccccccooooooooollllllddddddddd...... I'm talkin' December weather cold in October kind of Cold!

But were loving it!   Every Single Bit!!!

GREEN SMOOTHIE AND SOME KIDS

Besides lack of sleep, lots of driving, and eating cooked foods along with a tad of JUNK, this has been a wonderful vacation...

My Mom even borrowed a neighbors unused blender so we could make Green Smoothies this morning... She was hesitant, but my Mom drank, and LOVED IT!  In fact, she has agreed to make many more of her own and asked for the recipe..... Go NeeNee...Go NeeNee....

We had another fun day getting the Boys together.  We met at a Cider Mill where it was crowded and cold, but we got there at a good time for the crowds to begin leaving.  Sadly the cold didn't leave though, so it just got colder...  The kids were all real troopers from the freeze factor and could have kept going like the Energizer bunny if us Moms didn't need some hot cider..... I think the freezing rain beating on my face is what done me in...

They played Putt Putt:

We went through a corn maze:

Lots of play structures and touristy activities.... We even got a cute photo shoot with all of them together... could I get all three to smile at the same time??? NOoooooo!  But a few good shots anyway.  And then back to our Friend's truck for a Donut Party... Instead of showing faces, I'll show the donut... Yum Yum...

Nothing in this world like a Michigan Cider Mill donut....N-O-T-H-I-N-G... Except maybe that Veggie dish I ate yesterday?  Hmmm just maybe.... Nah!!

Guess what else we did today??? 

Froze Bananas for some Banana Whip Ice Cream... Can I hear an Oooh Ahhhhhh? 

Now, Can the little Glass Blender stand up to the challenge of mashing frozen bananas?  Tomorrow shall tell the tale.  

And so there ya have it... Another day gone!!   Another great day!

ANOTHER CIDER MILL

Couldn't let our trip end without stopping at one last cidermill to take donuts home for friends..

Thanks to a Crunchy Mama, I found out about Wiards just in a nick of time.... Verdict ---- Fun activities, cider was a tad tangy but donuts were quite tasty... Bees were manageable and cornmaze was easy enough for Veg to lead the way.  He also went in his first ever spooky spot...

Lots of fun had by all... Thanks Melissa!!

**Edit 10-17-08 to add a couple more pictures:

 

 

 

Hippity Hop Hollar --A Playground only for Bunnies!  This was just sooooo cute!!

 

 

CIDER MILL HEAVEN

      You may have wondered why I haven't posted in a few days...Well I will tell you why??  We went to Cider Mill Heaven.... Yesirree....  To the Great State of Michigan...

Alright, maybe its not the best State, but they do have the best Cider Mills in all the Land.... Along with a cider mill, there are donuts... There is cider...  There can be corn mazes, and hay rides, but also play areas, barns, and many upon many amazing photo ops in the great outdoors... 

This is my favorite time of year, but to be in Michigan visiting family during this time of year made it even better!

Here is a photo Montage (minus people- because you know I just do that to ya) during our Cider Mill Frenzy...  

We only went to one that was planned, the rest were spur of the moment... Going to Commerce to visit my Dad - Yup, there is a cider mill there..  Going to Brighton to visit my MIL, YUP, they have one too...  Ah, I was in my glory...

Oh oh oH... And Veg did not get sick from eating the Donuts!  YAHOOO!!!  I know they are not Vegan... I know they are not healthy... But it is his first Ever Cider Mill donut and I wasn't going to keep him from trying one....  With some of the not so good ingredients, I thought for sure it would trigger his food allergies, but NOPE!  All Good!!!

The Vomiting Gods were smiling on us.  And by the way, so were the weather Gods.. Or should I just say GOD, but we only had one gloomy day.  And if you know Michigan weather, you will know that only one gloomy day, is a rare thing!!

OK - Back to my pictures...

Here is the first one we went to... Spicer's --- I had to get a picture of Veg in front of this sign, because we have the same one back home at one of the Corn Mazes.

 

See the sign below... Line 10.... OH YES, on a normal day they have 10 lines of people waiting for Donuts.  We were there on an OFF day... And that was a good thing!  

Verdict.. Spicer's Donuts were pretty tasty, their cider was just like I remembered Michigan Cider to be.  We didn't check out their corn Maze but did enjoy their play area, and watching the animals...

This place was pretty covered in Bees so if there is an allergy, I wouldn't hang out too long at this one.  They also have pick your own apples, but we didn't do any of that.  My MIL did bring us some to the hotel from here though and they are yummy!

I was playing with my camera setting, and got this flower picture at Spicer's.  The flower was actually purple, but I inverted the colors.  Thought it was kind of cool.

 

If you look really close, you'll see a Rainbow over this windmill.  There was no rain, but there was an amazing rainbow just the same...

 

Then we went to Long's on Day 2...  The best donuts so far.  Not too greasy.. Cider was perfect (not to sweet, no after taste, just plain good)...  We went through the Corn maze at Long's... Well Sorta!!  We only got through half... You'll see why in the next photo.  They didn't have much of a play area yet, still building it, but they had a cool Goat area and awesome Picnic section.  With NO BEES!   (at least while we were there)

So here is the Corn maze... Grandpa L. had never been in one before, and was quite hesitant that we would ever find our way out...  Think he was right... About 2 feet inside my Veg says "I think we are lost Grandpa"  Ha Ha Ha  Yeah, ya think... It is a 5 Acre maze... You get out at the 1/2 way point and then go back in to finish... We stopped at the 1/2 way point... *smile*  If Hubby were there, we would have finished, I'm sure of it!!

If you look closely, you'll see Herman the Stuffed Spider... He has traveled from Michigan to Utah and several states in between... He was passed down from Grandpa to Veg... And This is his first Corn maze Experience....We will try to take good care of Herman and take him on many more adventures, before passing him on to the next family member.

 

Just Yummm.... OK People, there is Apple Cider everywhere, I get this... But fresh Cider Mill Cider is just DARN GOOD!

 

And then on day 3 there was Three Cedars Farm... Good Donuts (not hot like the others, but good).. I went for hot cider this time..  We went on a hay ride at this one, which took us to a small corn maze.  Just right for NeeNee's first time inside one. 

The play area at this one, was by far my favorite.  They also had a neat little candy shop and general store.

 

I think I liked their Donuts best because they weren't fresh/hot... I mean they weren't greasy at all.

Hubby and Veg liked the hot ones better, but then I'm always the odd ball.

Well obviously if I have this many photos without People in them, you can only imagine how many I took with People...  I was having a blast with my camera this trip....

Did I mention that I love Michigan Cider Mills.... AH!  so glad we went in October!!!  Mmmm Good!