Around Maryland: The Irish Festival

The Maryland Irish Festival takes place every year during the second weekend of November. This year was the 40th annual festival in Timonium, MD at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.   There are Irish Dancers and Singers who perform and there are vendors selling Irish food and gifts.

Unfortunately they were super strict with photography so I was only allowed to photograph the Irish dancing, the huge Irish Wolfhounds, and the food.

This beef stew was delicious! 

This dog was actually the coolest dog ever!  He was a Pitt/Basset Mix!  I couldn't get a good picture because he was all over the place.  If I'd had the money, he would have gone home with me!!

My favorite part, of course, was the Irish dance.  It was so neat!!  Here are a few videos that I shot.

 

Around Maryland: Applewood Farm

This has become a semi-annual tradition for me and Amy.  We went in 2011, couldn't go last year but were able to make it this year.

Applewood Farm is located in Whiteford, MD and is a family owned farm.  They do both pumpkin patches and Christmas trees.  They have two tractors that take people out to the fields to get their pumpkins and it's such a beautiful ride!  They also have a train for the younger ones that is big enough for adults to ride on.  It's actually a good 10 minute ride - we were expecting it to be shorter - so it was definitely worth paying for! They also have a little petting zoo for the little ones which is free.

There is also a barn located right near the parking area where there is sometimes live music and there is also a gift shop and food area.   The food is very reasonably priced - I got a hot dog, a bag of chips and an apple cider for $3.00.  The pumpkins are also very reasonably priced!  Amy got a pretty good sized pumpkin for only $4.00!

It was overcast and grey this time when we went so I am also including pictures from 2011 when me Amy and Josh went.   Also, I am going to throw in some photos from when my Mom and brother came with us to try to get a Christmas tree in 2011.  This didn't work out as all of the trees were way too big!

2013

2011 - Pumpkin

2011 - Christmas Tree 

Applewood Farm is located in Whiteford, MD about 5 minutes from the Mason-Dixon Line. 

Around Maryland: Darlington Apple Festival

One of my favorite fall traditions is attending the Darlington Apple Festival.   I started going about 4 years ago when two friends and I went on a whim.  It ended up being so much fun and I have been making sure to get there every year since.   It takes place on the first Saturday of October and is one day only, so me and Amy made sure to make time this year.  It was Amy's first time going.

The Apple Festival is mostly a craft fair where people set up to sell things that they made.  I love finding cute decorations that are unique.  It's also fun to browse and see the different things that people come up with.  They also have a hay ride, horse rides, scarecrow making, and of course, Apples. 

 Amy and I ran into her friends Mom who was there with an animal shelter.  These three dogs are hers and I am obsessed!!!

It is a requirement to get an apple delite if you go!

I am really failing on the picture taking.  I forgot my camera in my car and since we had to take a bus from a parking lot to the festival, I was not about to go back and get it so I am stuck with phone pictures again.

Around Maryland: Brooms Bloom

Josh and I had some time to spend together on Thursday so we decided to try a local place for lunch.

Brooms Bloom is actually a dairy farm and this little restaurant/ice cream shop is located on the farm's property.  They are an organic and hormone free farm which puts it at the top of my list.

The menu is definitely catered towards lunch and the selection isn't huge, but there is definitely something for everyone.  I had a pulled pork sandwich and a bowl of cream of crab soup.  Josh also had the pulled pork but got mac and cheese.  Both were really good but the portion sizes are huge!!  So, next time I will be getting the half sandwich and the smaller cup of soup.

They also offered both indoor and outdoor seating.  We were going to eat outside but it ended up being a much warmer day than we were anticipating, so we moved inside.

* Sorry about the photo quality, I didn't want to use the flash inside. 

I would definitely recommend Brooms Bloom.  The cream of crab soup was amazing!! We also got Ice Cream after lunch and it was some of the best Ice Cream I have ever had :)   The staff was super nice and the place was very comfortable and homey.

Brooms Bloom
1700 S. Fountain Green Road
Bel Air, MD 21015