Smith Farms Part One

Aunty Becky had the day off and suggested we head into the Smith Family Farms for a day of fun and it turned out to be a GREAT day to be there. I guess since it was Columbus Day and all, there were NO SCHOOLS at the farm! So, it was really nice and empty. We got to take our time looking at everything and I didn't have to stress about where the kids were or anything. We had a nice picnic and lots of fun picking out our pumpkins. Just coming in to the farms there was a field full of HUGE , cold pumpkins for kids to climb and sit on. Also, a tractor with a scarecrow on it. So, here we (minus me) all are, ready to go in a play! BRRR - it was a brisk morning!
The donkey, Sandy, getting carrots. The sign said not to feed the animals, but Aunt Betty (I think that's her name) said we could share some carrots with Sandy. Sandy just gave birth to a baby girl, Bella. They are Italian donkeys and probably the same kind of donkey that Mary rode to Bethlehem while pregnant with Jesus. Pretty cool. Here's Bella, she just had some milkies and is ready for a nap.

At the Miwok village Aurelia and Ezra got to crush corn for quite some time. They really seemed to enjoy the "work" but I can imagine that having to grind corn all day just to have some breakfast (or lunch or dinner) would get pretty old. The docent we enjoyed speaking with was very well informed and part Cherokee, Blackfoot and something else. She really made the village come alive for us.

Here's Ezra with his pumpkin pack on -- ready to climb aboard the "hay" ride.
Aurelia did not choose this pumpkin after all, but she liked it's lighter color and the wrinkles all over it. I just love the contrast of brown earth, orange fruit, green fields and blue sky! Wow!

Ezra pretty much picked the first pumpkin he came to and put it in his backpack - but it was so heavy that he literally couldn't stand!! It kept pulling backwards to a sitting position. He's only 26 lbs! That gave us a laugh!
The last laugh of the day, however, was on me. I put Oliver down near some pumpkins so I could help Aurelia put her pumpkin in her pack and find my pumpkin. While he was down there near the dirt, he decided to shovel some into his mouth. Not just a little - as you might be able to see if you double click on the photo - but a WHOLE mouthful! He thought it was great - as you can tell by his expression - but there was a little bit of gagging when the dirt turned to mud in there. Yes, I did pull out as much as I could, but he also swallowed a nice portion of the mud too -- and he washed it all down with a sip from Ezra's water cup. SO - all's well that ends well. It was a lovely day!