The sun was shining, but there was a bite in the air. The trees were beginning their annual transformation from green to gold, red, and orange. Fall was surely on its way to southwest Michigan. It was a typical weekend as my family piled into our wood-paneled blue Ford LTD station wagon, headed to one of our favorite fall destinations. As our wagon made its way out of the city limits, street lights and businesses became scarce and more pastures and farms appeared. The magic of fall could be seen in the groves of colorful trees and the golden fields. When it was obvious that we were in the heart of the country we pulled into a dirt drive and up to a farmhouse surrounded by apple orchards. The door to our trusty wagon opened and out we stumbled, stretching our legs and inhaling the sweet smell of apples and the wonderful aroma of fried homemade donuts. Before we were rewarded with what we had come for, it was essential that we picked our obligatory bushel or so of apples. But we knew that the faster we picked, the closer the donuts were. Soon the bushel was filled to the brim and my mom gave us the “go-ahead”. In the barn, as we vigorously rubbed our hands together, my dad bought each of us a cup of hot cider and a freshly fried old-fashioned cake donut. Mmmmmm! Our favorite!

When I think of family traditions, this is the tradition that comes to my mind. This is how I remember our trips to the apple orchard. I may not remember how often we made the trip or what I was wearing when I went or what we talked about in the car on the way. But I distinctly remember the smell of the fall Michigan air, the warmth of the cider and the deliciousness of those scrumptious donuts. More importantly, I remember that we were together doing what we loved, as a family. It’s a memory that I hope to never forget. It’s a tradition that’s near and dear to each member of my family. I wish we had pictures.

When you think of your childhood, what are the things you most looked forward to? What memories will you create for your own children? I would love to record those moments for you to keep as heirlooms for your family. To find out more, click HERE.