The Sweetness of Simple Traditions

By Melanie Grace

When was the last time you did something just because it felt like fall?

Apple picking is one of those traditions that seems almost too wholesome to be real. Orchards. Hayrides. That perfect crisp apple you eat right there in the field. It’s Hallmark-movie levels of autumn perfection.

And you know what? I love it.

“Apple Picking” is my love letter to those simple seasonal traditions that make us feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. It’s sweet without being saccharine. Nostalgic without being cheesy. It’s just… nice. And sometimes we need nice.

I wrote this song thinking about all those little rituals we do every year. Apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes—things that might seem silly or cliché but actually matter because they mark time. They remind us where we are in the year, in our lives. They’re anchors.

The melody has this gentle momentum, like a walk through an orchard. It’s not rushed. It’s not trying too hard. It just lets you enjoy the moment, the sweetness of being present in a simple pleasure.

In a world that’s constantly demanding our attention, constantly pushing us to do more and be more, there’s something radical about apple picking. About doing something slow and seasonal and sweet just because it feels good.

“Apple Picking” keeps that momentum going after “Sweater Weather.” It says, “Yeah, fall is exciting, but it’s also this—quiet afternoons, simple joys, moments that taste like honey crisp apples and contentment.”

So grab a basket. Find an orchard. Or just let this song remind you that sometimes the sweetest things in life are the simplest.

“Apple Picking” is track 3 on My Thanksgiving, available November 21st.