Bob's Pumpkin Patch 2020

October 4, 2020

After church on this Sunday, we drove to Snohomish to Bob's Corn and Pumpkin Farm.

This pumpkin farm is our favorite. I love that they have roasted corn, not every pumpkin farm does. Roasted corn is a big part of going to a pumpkin patch given that they have a corn maze. It just makes perfect sense. 

And I think it's wonderful that besides them placing pre-cut pumpkins you can also walk over to the field filled with pumpkins of various shapes and sizes and cut your own pumpkin. I think that's the coolest. It gives a more authentic pumpkin patch experience. This creates the most coziest of memories, in my opinion.

 The country store where one can shop from delicious jams and jellies to butter, milk, and cheese and beyond. 

Even though the farm employees were wearing masks they still remained nice and didn't refuse service to those of us that weren't wearing one. That's how it should be. No one forcing something on someone. 

The bi-color corn, yellow and white that they plant is the sweetest corn I have tasted in my life and it's so crisp! It's just perfect.

Enjoying some corn before heading out to pick our pumpkins.

This is the only way Riley will eat corn, on the cob. 

Across the road is where they have the large corn maze, sunflowers, and bonfire pits. You can get to it by hayride at no charge.

You go down fast on these slides. Riley loves them.

Pretty dahlias

We got a wheelbarrow and trudged through the muddy field.

It was a bit tricky maneuvering through the pumpkin plantings, holes and areas of slushy mud ... but it was fun!

I love all the trees in the background. Such beautiful landscape.

I find joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world.

Riley enjoyed using the water pump while Jacob scrubbed the muddy pumpkins. 

Afterwards we stopped by a taco shop for a carne asada burrito and then we drove to Des Moines to enjoy the views of the Puget Sound.

We can live a fine life without having extravagant experiences. We just need to be grateful with what we have, our home, and the loved ones in our life. When we live this way, we create memories of togetherness and intentionality that we can't help but to share.

Nature's beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.

Visiting Family

 August 22, 2020

It had rained quite a bit the night before and into the early morning. Taking a drive on back roads is something I love to do. It is relaxing and enjoyable ... something I do often. Washington definitely has endless back roads. The dense pine trees along the road, moss, and ferns displayed all around is so beautiful to me. 

Some weekends are spent with family. We drove over to my in-laws for dinner. After dinner the guys went outside and threw the nerf vortex howler around.

It's always nice to see my husband with his dad and our son together. It's important that we make an effort to find enjoyment in one's relationships.

My in-laws

The pumpkin patch we go to every October sells sweet corn in the Summer at their farm store. I remembered this so we headed out and stopped by and bought a dozen. We also got some for my in-laws. Their roasted corn they sell during their pumpkin patch in October is so sweet and crisp. It's a favorite. 

Finding the little joys in life feeds the soul.

On our drive home I noticed that some trees were already beginning to turn color. Somewhat early but once we're in September the weather does change drastically. I sure love to see the changing colors of the leaves. Occasions for gratitude are all around us. Make it a point to notice them. 

Truly loving another requires awareness. To love we must

be aware of people---complete with their flaws, foibles, virtues, vices, and quirks.

Pumpkin Patch 2019

October. It's such a gorgeous month.

I often take a leisurely drive on some backstreets just so I can dwell in this crisp season longer. The scenery brings so much happiness to me. October is also a month of traditional outings, pumpkin patch visits, hayrides, sweet roasted corn, overcast skies and flavored coffee. A time when we also embrace the crisp weather with gladness because the hot days are finally over but we're also not dealing with bitter cold temperatures yet. In essence, October offers perfect weather.

It's been a few years now that we visit two pumpkin patches on the same day. We do this because one of the pumpkin patches has a great deal of children activities but their food is not really that good, the other pumpkin patch doesn't have as many children activities but their food is a lot better especially the fact that their sweet roasted corn is truly delicious! This works well with our family and given that we have one child with us now, doing things has gotten a lot easier for us.

Always try out the corn maze. It's fun ... unless you've been trying to find your way out for like 20 minutes then things can become a little frustrating, LOL! Good thing that didn't happen to us this time but it has in the past. 

Jacob had the map, obviously trying to figure out the way out so he wouldn't get us lost.

Boys are fun! On the hayride back to the main activity area.

Not sure why Riley's faced the wrong direction. My son, he does quirky things sometimes.

He loves the slide. He must have gone down this thing about ten times.

And of course there's a petting zoo. Super cute farm animals.

Riley mentioned that these "carts" were hard to peddle. Jacob had to give him a push a few times. 

This took place at the second pumpkin patch. The first thing we did once we arrived was to eat. Delicious.

Then we went searching for pumpkins! I remembered to bring my shears. So glad too because you know the stem/handle has tiny prickly things on it and it hurts like heck if you touch it! I hate it.

I enjoy taking my time walking through the pumpkin patch. I try to get pumpkins of different shapes and sizes. They make interesting jack-o-lanterns. 

Cleaning the pumpkins on this old water spigot is super messy. The muddy water splashes everywhere. One has to be prepared to get dirty.

We sure look forward to this pumpkin patch outing. Sometimes we eat at one of the patches but sometimes (even if we do eat a sweet roasted corn) we go to a restaurant after the patch. It depends on what we're craving at the time. But, we always leave these patches with funny and fun memories.

Enjoy each stage as you go through life.

Double Pumpkin Patch Fun

{October 2018}

For the past couple of years we've visited two pumpkin patches. One sells the best roasted sweet corn ever made and has two large pumpkin patches, the other has a large fun kids area and a fun corn maze. Theses two pumpkin patches are about fifteen minutes from each other so that makes travel time easy.

It was a cold foggy morning. The road that takes you to the pumpkin patch has pretty acreage properties that we like to admire. Some houses are very cute and cozy. There's one house in particular that has several horses and even has an arena at their property. How cool is that!

There was quite a bit of people at Bob's pumpkin patch by mid morning so after a few pictures we didn't waste any time and walked straight to the roasted corn stand before the line got too long.

Oh man. I'm telling you Bob's roasted corn is SO sweet, tender and juicy. I like to put some cayenne pepper or tapatio on my roasted corn ... super delicious and out of this world. Even my in-laws love them, they didn't come with us but we got half a dozen to take back to them.

Once we were done eating our delicious corn we walked to the pumpkin patch that's down the dirt road. There were so many big pumpkins to choose from! This time I did remember to bring my shears, good thing too because the stem is prickly and that hurts!
I love how fog can give the atmosphere that much more depth and makes a picture that much more interesting .... I believe that dark gray clouds give off a similar effect. I love it!

I try to get in pictures every now and then to have proof that I was there and part of the experience, lol. And I love wearing dresses more than anything else. Jacob's always so photogenic.

We got our pumpkins, paid and drove the fifteen minutes to Swan's Trail. Their property is flat which makes it easier to get around.
By the time we got to this pumpkin patch it was about noon and of course this place was packed but thankfully not chaotic.

They have cute little chicks to hold. Super cute!

And look at this cute calf.

These tall hay slides are pretty popular.

And this half bouncy dome is what every kid looks forward to. It's gotten so popular that it's timed by ten minute sessions (I believe) this way it's not overly crowded making it unsafe.

After Riley had his fun we drove to Redmond and had a late lunch at Garlic Crush (Greek food).
WA has a lot of yellow deciduous trees more so than the red/orange foliage ones. So pretty to see and it definitely pacifies the yearning for the gorgeous Autumn colors.

This boy loves his daddy so much and is always attached to his hip.

Sometimes I wonder if we'll continue to take part in all the wonderful Fall festivities once Riley no longer wants to go to them. But as I ponder on this I know we will. Jacob and I are big on celebrating American traditions and so I believe that we will continue to enjoy these fun American holiday traditions for years to come, God willing.

Happiness comes not from having much to live on,

but from having much to live for.