Visiting with the Pumpkins 2010

Visiting with the Pumpkins 2010 - Part I

As children, growing up in Iran, neither Mr. Urban nor I, were ever taken to a farm to take our pictures with any sort of vegetables.

But one of the many things I love about my adopted North American culture, is the commercial celebration of the seasons. I love the spirit with which cities and stores embrace each and every seasonal celebration from Valentines Day, to Easter, to Halloween and Christmas. And I love how these celebrations spill into our lives, from the food we cook, to the outings we take and the music we listen to.

Like yesterday, in an effort to escape the heat wave, and get ready for our Second Annual Urban Pumpkin Patch visit, the UrbanToddler and I spent some time at a chain kids' clothing store which was already playing Christmas music.

At first I felt it was odd to hear jingle bells in October, especially when it was 90 degrees outside the door. But within a few minutes the music began working like a charm on me, inspiring me to get a good chunk of our fall/winter clothes shopping out of the way.

Anyways, last October, my girl and I took a spur of the moment drive to Half Moon Bay, and drove into the loudest pumpkin patch off of highway 92, with a choo choo train, pony rides and a petting zoo.

As I mentioned, I was not raised on visiting pumpkin farms, and so I had no idea of pumpkin patch visit etiquette. For one thing I had dressed my baby in a hot pink track suit. And I soon learned that fall color pallets including browns, oranges, and creams are much more suitable to situations where you may find yourself in an embrace with a big orange pumpkin.

Nevertheless, something about being on a beautifully decorated pumpkin farm nestled in the mountains, and the smell of ocean lingering in the air made me quite sentimental about pumpkin patch visits.

More importantly, we needed an opportunity to right our pumpkin patch fashion mishaps. So as we were leaving the farm last year, I told my girl that we'd come back here again next year...

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