Annual trip to Carver's Apple Barn...

We look forward to this excursion every year, our annual trip to Carver's Apple Barn in Cosby, TN. We left home early Sunday afternoon, spent an hour or so picking out apples and had a leisurely drive home through Cosby and along some back roads.

Scenic view along the Foothills Parkway. This is the section from Newport to Cosby, not the section we rode Saturday, which is from Hwy 321 in Blount County to Chilhowee Lake. Visible on the mountainside above the trees is the remnants of a fire.

John and me in a "self-photo" taken at one of the scenic stops along the Foothills Parkway. As you can see from the photo below, the leaves have just begun to turn.

Pippin apples for sale. Apples change year to year, depending on a lot of factors (that is as much as I know about apple growing). In the past, Pippin apples have been reliably crisp and a combination of tart and sweet. This year the apples were a little softer and a little tarter. Our new favorite was a variety we have not seen before, "Nutter," which is sweet and crisp.

Me trying out the Pippin apple. Yep, softer and tart. John gave the Pippin a thumbs down but we purchased a bag for drying and cooking.

John in line at the checkout. Our basket is filled with several bags of apples, jam, pumpkins and fresh cider. Carver's Apple Barn was very busy! The restaurant, opened on the property several years ago, had a waiting line of about an hour.