Arata's Farm - An Annual Ritual
Its that time of year: the annual Fall visit to the pumpkin patch. San Mateo is just a stone's throw away from Half Moon Bay, which is one of the prime pumpkin growing areas in the country. Naturally there are many, many farms that transform themselves into pumpkin patch destinations for families in October. They range from the big, obnoxious places like Lemo's right on the main highway into Half Moon Bay all the way down to numerous smaller farms. Nearly all of them are family run, small farms who make a good deal of their income in the month of October providing color backdrops for family pictures, lovely squash and gourds for the Thanksgiving table and a pony ride or two. Oh yeah....and gazillions of pumpkins of every variety for sale.
The visit to the pumpkin patch is something I look forward to, and this year with some particular poignancy. With Zoe being six, its the last year we'll go with the kids' school. We also missed our nearly ritual trip with our friends the Joswiaks, who live in Half Moon Bay. We usually go to their friend and neighbor Farmer John's (yep, honest to God, Farmer John) field off the coast highway. So it was with some consternation that Cherie and I became aware of the rather steady and voluminous rainfall that began at 5 a.m. this morning. By the time I drove Zack into school at 8 a.m. it was a drizzle, but not looking good. The kindergarten teacher said, "We're going, rain or shine" and it turned out to be a good plan as the rain did abait. It was a bit muddy, but kids don't melt like sugar cubes in the rain.
A good time was had by all. They ran through (and ditched the parents in) the hay bale labyrinth. Ponies and the toy train were ridden. Goats, sheep and other livestock were touched. Pumpkins were selected and taken home. Life is good.