As I mentioned in my last post, sometime in September baseball season ends (at least Triple A does which means we get to see Charles for more than a half hour in the morning) and Starbucks brings back PUMPKIN which for me means Vente Non-Fat Pumpkin Chai Latte No Water PLEASE! This marks the beginning of my favorite season. Not only do I love Fall for a lot of the traditional reasons that someone would such as changing leaves, cool crisp mornings but beautiful days, football, etc. I have come to absolutely LOVE what we do as a family this time of year.
A favorite for our family is definitely Apple Hill. It is a collection of about 40 farms from apple orchards, pumpkin farms, wineries, to Christmas tree farms. You drive around these little country roads stopping as often as you want to pick fruit and pumpkins, enjoy homemade yummies such as fritters, pies, apple doughnuts, apple ice cream, many offer crafts and activities for kids as well. It is an amazing family day outside in the beautiful sunshine truly celebrating Fall and enjoying a very special part of California that truly looks like God's country. Our favorite farm by far is High Hill Ranch. We've done it a little different every year but this year we started at the outdoor BBQ where we had lunch right off the grill.
After lunch we have a favorite craft stand where a very talented lady makes crafts out of hollowed out gourds. Melanie's favorite thing is that she sells craft kits where you can make your own ornament. This year she picked a snowman (pics to follow). Then it was off to the candy factory to decorate chocolate covered marshmallows. YUMMMMM!!!!
Melanie was then ready to ride a pony. They have a little pony riding pen set up by a trout pond. Melanie was super hesitant because as she watched the ponies led around in a circle she was positive that if she got on, the pony in front of her just might need to poop during the ride and it just might come flying back right at her. She watched for a few minutes and since poop did not seem to be an issue she decided she was ready to ride. She worried for nothing. No poop from the horse in front of her. But hers decided he needed to use the restroom just as Mel was climbing down. She jumped and was SAFE!!! Ahhhhh, life on the farm.
From there it was onto the hayride and pumpkin patch. Melanie of course picked this green warty type pumpkin that only a mommy pumpkin could love (typical Mel) and she very wisely turned it into a witch pumpkin which you'll see later.
By this time the farm was crazy crowded, like Disneyland crowded, so we headed to the pie shop and stocked up on pies and cakes for us and many to share and then it was back to the car for the gorgeous drive home through the mountains with the changing leaves and a pass by Lake Tahoe. Always one of my favorite ways to celebrate Fall.
Another fun place we discovered this Fall was Andelin Family Farm right here in Sparks, Nevada. It is a wonderful local little farm that I decided to drag the family out to on Nevada Day. In addition to just wanting to try it out I thought it might be a good time to hopefully help clarify Mel's misconception that milk comes from cow's butts. I am sure many of you remember this little bit of knowledge she shared with me as we passed many dairy farms on our way to Portland over the summer. So as we got to Andelin Farm I was very excited to see some cows along with many other farm animals. We visited the chicken coop and also the turkey pen (felt sorry for those fat guys, only a few weeks left to live), then off to the area where the "cows" were. Well the cows were way off in the distance but Mel got to chat with the farmer who educated Melanie on the two yaks and one bull that he had. Mel still seems pretty confused because she thinks yaks are types of cows and they also make milk from their bottoms. So it wasn't the most educational day but we had fun feeding the goats, getting kisses from a llama, riding horses, watching a puppet show, getting lost in the corn maze, and playing in a mini play vegetable farm. This farm is a definite place we will revisit every year. The funniest moment of the day was when we were all fighting our way through the corn maze and as Mel would lead and let corn stalks smack me in the face talking non-stop about which way to go or not go she stops dead in her tracks and says, "I really talk too much, don't I Mom?" As I just stare at her she turns back around and starts walking again and says, "Yep, I talk too much." At least she recognizes her weaknesses. :)
In addition to these fun family days we have of course enjoyed the typical Fall family activities such as decorating pumpkins, dressing up in costumes (Melanie of course had to be ketchup, a sure sign of too many baseball games and hot dog races), and Halloween parties with friends. Truly fun times we wouldn't trade for anything.
While there are blessings from every season, I definitely think I enjoy Fall the best. I hope you and your family make many wonderful memories this season and many seasons to come. Much love from the Lucas home to yours. Happy Fall.
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