The Great Pumpkin

Today we went on an adventure of epic proportions. Okay, not really epic. But it was fun. We drove to Oak Glen, California. We wanted to check out some fall colors and get some apples and pumpkins. Apparently everyone else in the world had the same idea. Parking was difficult. But we had fun. We looked in a bunch of shops. We saw some goats and peacocks. We walked though apple orchards and a pumpkin patch.

First we stopped at Parrish Pioneer Ranch. It smelled so good there. There was a bakery that must have had some good stuff because the line was out the door. There were shops and apples. They had the goats there and a cowboy show.

After that one, we went to Mom's Country Orchard. This was our favorite. We all agreed that the people were the friendliest. We got to taste a bunch of apple butter and other apple products. We also got to try some apples and some fresh peaches. It was a small store, but #1 in our book. We didn't buy anything when we went there at first, but after a day of checking out all the other cool places, we ended up going back and buying some apples and stuff. We got a bag of Spartan apples. Carolynn and her friend Marissa (who was joining us on our adventure) got caramel apples. I got this apple barbecue sauce I tried while I was there. It was sweet and spicy and so good. I am going to put it on some chicken for dinner tonight.

Our third stop was to Riley's At Los Rios Rancho. This one was very popular. They had so much going on. They were the one's with the pumpkin patch. David, the girls and I searched for the perfect pumpkins.







In the end, only Carolynn found a pumpkin she liked. The patch was pretty well picked over and there was so little to be found. So many squashed or rotted. Oh well, at least the view was nice.



After our day of soaking in Autumn, we stopped at a park in Yucaipa and ate a picnic lunch before heading back to the desert we call home.





Since we ended up with only one pumpkin, we stopped at Apple Valley's own pumpkin patch on our way home. David and Catherine picked out some more fine pumpkins for them to take to the pumpkin carving party they are going to on Friday night. Now they each had their own pumpkin.



We saw Taylor and his girlfriend, Charity, at the pumpkin patch picking pumpkins. (Awwww.... how sweet and adorable.)

So that was our day of adventure. Now we are relaxing at home. Carolynn's friend has been dropped off at home. Catherine has eaten at least 6 apples. I have chicken cooking and I am going to put my new barbecue sauce on it.

Honestly, this has been one of the best weekend of the year.