Pumpkin Patch 09

My dad and his brother (Uncle John) have had a pumpkin patch for years. Of course, we've always benefited from this, in the form of UNLIMITED pumpkins, gourds, etc. --of every size, shape, etc. John even entered a few in the famed Circleville Pumpkin show a few years ago.

This year, the patch seemed just a little more intriguing than in prior years, as we couldn't wait for our littlest pumpkin to experience and enjoy herself.

Saturday morning, after swim class, and Eric and I canning another 10 pints of salsa (which, I might add, he has PERFECTED the recipe for) we headed to the lower Caldwell farm, where the patch is planted.

Amara was all geared up in her jeans, tennis shoes and hat, and IMMEDIATELY began shouting and pointing out the window at the giant orange shapes, as we approached the patch. Grandpa Jahn was waiting on us with the white truck--which Amara immediately spotted. Also in tow were Grandma Jahn, Grandma and Grandpa Young, and of course, mom and dad (Ily stayed home for some peace and quiet.)

As soon as her feet hit the soil, she was off towards the watermelons. Why, do you ask, are there watermelons in a pumpkin patch? Well, dad plants watermelons, tomatoes, gourds, AND pumpkins all down there...the watermelons just happened to be the first thing we ran into, LITERALLY. Grandpa Jahn cut one open and shared it with us all, it was the sweetest, juiciest melon ever! Grandma Jackie was our videographer, and got some great footage of the adventure too.

She made her way across and through the vines, blossoms, past butterflies, and beans, and wouldn't be held back. Each time one of us tried to help her over an obstacle, she'd kick and want down to do it herself. She picked up every gourd she could snap off a vine, and made sure to point out all the best pumpkins to us too. I'm not sure who collected more gourds though, Grandma and Grandpa Young collected quite the assortment of unique and pretty ones too!

After we hunted all our treasures, we piled them up and rounded up the troops. We vowed to come back in another month or so--after all, it IS only September, and it was almost 80 degrees. I'm sure there will still be hundreds of pumpkins waiting just for us, and we can't wait.

In the end, I think all the parents and grandparents had a swell time, and I know our little pumpkin did too. After a quick sandwich, ride home, and bath, she was out like a light. What an amazing adventure.