Out + About: Apple Picking at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage

Now what kind of blog would this be if we didn’t have at least one set of photos from apple picking in the fall? Exactly.  Especially since apples are a real thing here in Denmark, and they’re delicious. No joke.

A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.

Last year, we came across the Frydenlund Frugtplantage via a recommendation at the embassy, and made a day of scooping up all the last apples and pears on the last open weekend.  This year, we got a little more organized and have actually already been twice.  Because there are multiple varieties at Frydenlund, they open different rows throughout the picking season, so we’ve been able to same even more varieties.

A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek. A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.

Just like last year, it’s easy to get carried away with the picking but kilos upon kilos of apples seem to go fast at our house.  We chop them up for snacks for my daughter in her forest school packs, I made a pretty smashing apple rum cake, and now this year, we used a lot for batches of homemade apple and pear sauces for our newest family addition to just started solid foods not too long ago.

A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.Frydenlund Apple Picking -14 A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.

The frugtplantage is of course beautiful in the sunshine, but don’t abandon picking just because there are a few clouds above or a few rain drops coming down.  In fact, it’s when the colors are even more gorgeous, so don’t forget your camera.  And don’t forget a picnic either.  There’s a lovely little area of picnic tables where you can whip together a little feast of your own – and if the temperatures still continue like this, don’t forget a thermos of something that will warm you up.

A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.

Frydenlunds is open through October 18th this year so be sure to head out this next weekend to stock up on what’s left of this fall’s crop.

A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.A day trip from Copenhagen to pick some of Denmark's best apples and pears at the Frydenlunds Frugtplantage outside of Vedbaek.

Fall Field Day!

October already – um, when did that happen? The air turned cooler, the leaves turned all sorts of colors…And it’s been gorgeous out – so the kids have been taking full advantage of the forest around.

Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark. Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.

A change of seasons though also means it’s time to celebrate the semi-annual field day.  Hurrah! All the key elements that were there in the spring were here at the fall day as well – face paint, medals, long-winded warm ups and lots of shouting…

Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.

The only big difference (other than the leaves and trees were preparing to make their way out for the year rather than come in) was that this was the first one I had to run.  My toddler – who is much faster than I on two feet – promised to hold my hand and help me along as a runner I am not.  But the allure of sticking close to friends and the promises of medals at the finish line were just a bit too much for her.  I’m proud to say though that I actually finished the course.  Not that it was all that long but it’s definitely longer than my driveway, which is the only thing I have run down to chase the escaping stroller, since my pregnancy.  A nice way to get back into the fitness side of things.

Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark. Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark. Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.

Believe it or not, as this is our last year, we really have only one more field day to go after this  – I know it will be bittersweet.  May it be the best one yet to come!

Toddlers in forest school get outside with their education and invite parents to join in on for Field Day in Denmark.

PS – Apologies for the silence here over the last couple of weeks – some of you might know that I also keep another blog about our adventures as a diplomatic family and that got a major facelift/redesign/overhaul etc – if you’re curious about our adventures as a family, check it out at The New Diplomat’s Wife.

The Greatest Show on Earth…

When was the last time you were at the circus? Other than Cirque du Soleil, I honestly can’t remember – I might have been around my daughter’s age.  Maybe a little older… But the circus – not the spectacular, multi ring, over the top extravaganza, but rather, the single ring, all hands on deck, family run traveling caravan is alive and well in Denmark.

An family outing for our toddler to a traditional circus in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Honestly, I didn’t think the circus was around anymore… Doesn’t seem like traveling with exotic animals while setting up and taking down every few days, formerly by train and now by land caravan is a thing anymore.  Other than Barnum & Bailey Ringling Brothers, I can’t remember when I saw an advertisement.  But here in Denmark, posters are all over the place, especially all summer long.

When all her classmates were going to Circus Baldoni at the start of the summer, my daughter begged me to go and basically I had a #momfail.  The days we could go they either weren’t performing or sold out, and other days, we already had plans or were traveling.  She was heartbroken;  I promised her a circus before the end of the summer.  My daughter doesn’t forget promises like that so she came to collect, and this weekend we caught the very last show of the Circus Dannebrog.

It’s a bit like being caught in a time warp.  I myself felt like I was about five again.  There was a live band, a woman who blew fire, an elephant (yes, they still do that here), camel rides, popcorn, acrobats, a girl on roller skates that then twirled from the ceiling, and a bar balance guy from “exotic Mexico”… If you’re an adult, you’ve probably seen it before, we’re not so easily amazed anymore, even though that make these feats any easier for the performers.    But nothing beats the shrieking delight of four-year olds  when they see  “death-defying feat” – that’s amazing every time.

My daughter and her friend had ringside seats, and I behind them.  They were thrilled that they could basically touch the animals from where we were sitting.  I nearly had a heart attack that they could touch the animals from where they were sitting.  There is something unnerving about 8 camels charging your way with nothing but a few pieces of plywood between you.

And yet, there was something so touching about the circus too.  I’ve always been a bit fascinated with circus lore – I found the Ringling Museum in Florida to be riveting.  And I loved Water for Elephants (the book anyway)… It’s a strange combination of entertainment and loneliness that comes out from the scene.   I always suspected that once you led the life of a circus performer, into which you were probably born into, it would be difficult to leave it – probably only other performers would ever understand you.  You could tell from this weekend’s performance that much of the circus is a family, either by blood or circumstance, and this show had a handful of little ones, some as early as three, already doing their crowdpleasers.   And in Denmark, there seem to be lots of crowds lining up to please. I don’t know if the circus in a traditional sense is long for this world – at least, maybe not in the US – this might be the only traditional circus my daughter might ever see, but I’m glad we made time for “showtime”.

Poster image via Oopsy Daisy.