INDIAN SUMMER

We're enjoying a few day of Indian Summer here in Michigan.  Yesterday seemed the perfect time to head on out to spend a little time in search of a few of our local autumn delights that will quickly disappear within the next few weeks.  The autumn colors are not as bright and vibrant this year due to the recent weather, but every now and then, Mother Nature provided us with a surprising display of reds, oranges and yellows scattered along some rural country roads.  We spotted a few pheasants along with a flock of wild turkeys crossing the road and watched several farmers hard at work harvesting their crops.  This year, my son wanted to visit the Holly,Michigan area which just happens to be the town where he grew up.

We made a stop at the Mitchell farm which featured a surprising display of pumpkins, florals and autumn decor naturals for sale like indian corn, hay bales and cornstalks.  In years past, the Mitchell farm sold produce and goods from their barn, but they've since moved to an open area to accommodate visitors and feature hayrides, u-pick pumpkins and activities for children.  It was the perfect setting for putting you in an Indian Summer mood!  From there, we took the back country roads that eventually took us to town and then out to the cider mill we had frequently visited in years past.

Deihl's Orchard and Cider Mill is a bit off the beaten path, but it's an enjoyable ride through a few twisting curves and wooded areas during the fall season.  Since we visited on a weekday, there was not much going on.  In years past, we visited during the Ciderfest which was always fun, bustling with activity and had a festive autumn atmosphere.  I must admit our hearts dropped a bit as we pulled into the parking lot where we were greeted by 2 red porta-potty stations and several bales of hay with a few scattered pumpkins on display under their sign.  Okay... not exactly getting excited about the "Deihl's Orchard and Cider Mill" ambiance vibes going out, but it was a beautiful day and we were after some apples and cider.  When we walked inside, the mill was not running so we missed out on watching how the cider was made.  The shelves seemed a bit sparse as compared to years past, but we could smell the freshly made donuts and headed over to watch them being made.  Twenty minutes later, we had our donuts and then sought out the cider and apples.  Coolers lined 2 sides of the aisle so we grabbed some cider and I inquired as to where the Pack-n-Tote room was so I could mix and match apple varieties.  Apparently it was not available and I was directed to a cooler where I could choose from apple varieties  bagged in plastic bags like you would find in the grocery store.  Picnic tables were made available across the road should you happen to want to enjoy the corn maze along with your cider and donuts.  From there you could also enjoy a nice view of their barn and I took a few snapshots before heading for home while enjoying the scenic drive along the way.  Despite the cider mill experience itself, the apples, cider and donuts were absolutely amazing and exactly as we had remembered.  Indian Summer rewards are truly bountiful if you seek them out!