Pumpkin Patch

Last minute decision to go pumpkin-picking in Red Hook with the Avallone family. Once we arrived at the farm, we followed the posted signs to the pumpkin patch, but we found ourselves confused, because it led to a field of tall weeds. We drove a little further down the dirt road, but it came to a dead end. Upon a closer inspection, we realized that the field of weeds was dotted with pumpkins. I guess we were expected manicured rows of pumpkins neatly lined up for picking, but this was more like hunting in the wild west.

Being late in the season, many of the pumpkins close to the road had already been harvested, so we had to be adventurous and walk deeper into the field. We found a spot that had many medium sized pumpkins and began our search for the best ones, and started to make our piles.

Alan seemed to be more interested in the weeds than the pumpkins, though he did discover a small green pumpkin that I put in the pile. He took stalks and sticks and said "look at my machine mommy!". He also tripped alot, the ground was uneven. But he didn't get hurt or upset. Maybe it's because I prepared him ahead of time that he may fall in the field, and if he did, the ground would be soft.

Ivan had fun choosing which pumpkins to bring home and continues to ask all sort of interesting questions "what is this", etc. He and Nick found a centipede in the dirt that they observed for a little while.

I became a little silly and stuck a pumpkin under my shirt and asked Nick to take a picture of me. (Melanie is 7 months pregnant).

It occurred to us that we would need to figure out a way to carry all of the pumpkins back to the car. We didn't think to bring a bag or wagon, and we needed at least 7 pumpkins for tomorrow's playdate. Nick had an ingenious idea. Note the photos. Melanie is wearing a jacket in one, but then isn't wearing one. Nick created a makeshift sack out of her jacket and made two trips to the car for us.

Afterwards, we went to Gisiano's for pizza and salad (and calamari and dessert) which was very relaxing because of the adjoining playroom for the boys giving us tired pumpkin carriers a much needed rest.

All in all a great afternoon. Tomorrow, more fun as we carve and decorate the pumpkins.