Pumpkin Patch

We met Grammy and Papa today at our favorite pumpkin patch. It's not the big flashy one that's in town, but rather it's on the outskirts of town, much more mellow with a home-grown feel. We have gone there over the last several years and I love that the husband and wife that own the farm are there, running their little pumpkin patch: she, selling the pumpkins, and he, driving the tractor hay rides through the corn fields. During the summer they have an awesome produce stand where they sell the fruit of their hard work. 

My son is now 10. This means that I have been shooting pumpkin patches for the last ten years. How many pumpkins can one shoot? Every year I take the obligatory snap of my kids picking out their pumpkins, but it's a challenge to not take the same boring pictures. :) Of course we are usually out there in full bright sunlight so I have to succumb to the light or try and work with it. 

I tackled two of my issues with the first picture below. First off, during this trip I became obsessed with the pumpkin stems. How unique they were, like a finger print. No two were a like! I could have spent all day capturing just the stems. Secondly, I had my husband stand in the sunlight to cast a shadow on this little guy. You work with what you've got!

When we first arrived we were greeted with a squadron of geese. There were hundreds that lifted off from behind the corn fields and sailed over the pumpkin patch in a noisy ruckus. It was quite a commotion. Of course I was not ready with my camera so I just popped of the lens and aimed up in their general direction. They were definitely migrating to warmer pasture and it was cool to see.

Zach preferred using the wagon to carry his finds.

There were a million sunflowers of varying names lining the patch. I liked the buds the best.

My uh...princess-kitty? She insisted on wearing them. 

Headin' back to purchase our pumpkins.

He doesn't need a wheel barrel. He's got muscles.

I am going back tonight at sunset when the light is a bit more gentle and soft on the eyes. 

All those sunflowers and pumpkin stems will be waiting for me. 

What's so funny?

Something was funny...

She could not stop laughing...

Put the two together and the story begins to come together...

One more picture and you can see...

The "chipmunk cheese cheeks"

Cheeks stuffed full of cheese.

Because when you are a kid, stuffing your cheeks with cheese is hysterical.

(As I gag behind the camera.)

Neighbor's Limes

Above: a little something of my neighbor's drooping over our shared fence. This is not the neighbor that I have written about before. No attempting my botanist skills to name this growing thing. I don't mind this lime tree, I just seriously have no idea why someone would want to grow a lime tree?! In our tiny backyards I just can't imagine someone saying, "Honey, let's plant a lime tree in this little space...because out of all the fruit trees we could plant, I really really love limes."

What a day!

I seriously had one of those days that completely exhausts me, tests the limits of my patience, and takes me to the edge of my compassion skills. Let's just say it involved 21 wiggly, misbehaving first graders, one of which threw a complete tantrum in class. It also involved two  "bored" girls, cranky and whiney. 

(Can you say, "I need to come up for air?")

I would have liked to just cover my eyes and make it all go away.

And then I capture this beautiful face and it brings a smile to my funky day. :)

It's hard being little...

He wanted so desperately to be one of the big kids on the slide. Little Willem.

I love that last picture...that forlorn look. Poor Willem. I imagine the deep sigh and his little thought:  "Someday, someday I'll be big enough to run with the big kids."

p.s. These were the only three in-focus pictures of him. He was a spit fire, running towards me every time I knelt down to aim my camera in his direction. 

Harvest Time

Harvest time at Solis Winery. I arrived at 7am with some members of my local photography club. (A beautiful morning, but I seriously need to invest in some of those cold weathered gloves especially made for photographers. It was chilly.) 

Just plucked from the vine, waiting to be crushed.

Vineyard at dawn.

Triplets.

Perfect clusters waiting to be harvested. 

An hour later they were snipped and tossed into the crate to await "the crusher."

I loved finding the old tendrils of vine, their search for something to clasp onto now long gone.

One of the harvesters. His partner is on the other side of the vine snipping from that side. They quickly made their way down the row, chit chatting along the way.

What a great way to start my week.

Apple Pickin'

We went on a little afternoon trip to Gizdich ranch to pick some apples with some friends. Beautiful coastal weather, cool trees to climb, spectacular balancing tricks, and 15lbs of apples later: Golden Delicious and Pippen. This week we'll be making applesauce, apple crumble, apple...??? Gotta Google me some apple recipes!

Lost in a tree. She spent a long time up there. 

This kind of picture brings tears to my eyes. The wonder in her eyes...

I am certain that in Heaven there will be a tree for me, for her...for you.

Just another Saturday morning activity

As I stepped out the front door this morning, I discovered that the stickers had been pulled off the shelf and were now being used by three small girls...each of them covering herself with a decorative collage of stickers. 

While watching the girls, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, this goofy one trying on a special sticker. 

(I love watching her little mind work.)

Of course it caught on, and then it was all about the sticker lips.

I'd say it was a fine Saturday morning activity.

Driveway residents

These little blooms have taken up residence along side my neighbor's driveway.

They have spread like an untamed wildfire, reaching out to lick your feet when you walk by.

Thought I would catch them in the fading light of the day.

Wow, I just realized that it looks I photo-shopped that bud right into the picture above. (His ghostly stem floating above the leaves.) I promise, I did not. I am not that skilled at Photoshop. :)

Autumn is creeping in...

...right into my front yard.

Just as I eagerly await spring, I eagerly await autumn--my most favorite time of the year.

 I am often disappointed by summer's lingering touch. In my opinion, its welcome is well worn out by now. (I'm a California girl that doesn't fit the typical mold.) I look forward to crisp sunny days, pants and sweaters, cozy socks and the smell of autumn air, the crunch of crispy leaves.

But alas, living in California, autumn is but just a short wink of time, a few weeks, and then the dreary grey of winter waltzes in and I am sad.

I must cherish autumn while I can.

My neighbor's tree is more eager to race into autumn.

He is showing off his colors already.

Yippy for Autumn!