Joan's Pumpkin Farm with Alex

Sunday, October 9th Frank and I took Alex to Joan's Farm and Pumpkin Patch in Livermore. We have lived in Livermore 45+ years and we'd never gone there until this season.  The farm and pumpkin patch is located 4 miles beyond central downtown Livermore and the route rambles along beside and beyond some of the various vineyards, labeled in orange on the map.

 

Shortly after the entry we came upon several pumpkin patches scattered throughout the farm. They were more or less populated by similarly sized pumpkins. Unique resting benches were formed from tractor seats and the contoured seats were comfortable, even if they were made of metal and not padded.

There were animals, live to watch and wooden to look at. I absently commented, "Oh, look. That bull is nursing a calf!" Frank pointed out it could not be a bull. Farm girl I am not, but I do know the difference and merely misspoke. I could also tell that the sheep in the foreground was not real but that the barbed wire behind Frank and Alex was real leaning would be unwise. Frank's shirt and a wooden turkey placard were a great match. Alex did inform us that a turkey says, "Gobble, Gobble". 

Alex did also give a donkey a brief pat on its back. Donkey? Burro? Mule? I am not sure. Definitely smaller than a horse but not a pony. I just looked it up and burro is the Spanish word for donkey. A burro may be slightly smaller with shaggier hair, but burros and donkeys are the same species. And a mule? Even I know they do not have the same skill set as a bull.

We wandered through a few quaint stores in a small western town mock up. Then we feasted on a lunch of hot dogs and chili dogs, and chips. The sign by the concession stand was amusing, and I could understand it for the potatoes and corn in our chips and the beans on our chili dogs. It was new to me however, that hot dogs grew out of the earth!

After lunch we bought some tickets for the activities and started out with a tractor-pulled hayride that circumvented the upper area of the farm.

As we were heading up a slight hill for games, we noticed an interesting fact about the green grass we were walking on. It appeared to be recycled artificial turf, a good idea to keep down dust or mud if it was rainy. My guess is it was perhaps from a football field, maybe donated from a local school or college. The strips were not laid down in order but you could see the occasional number as if it were yard lines out of sequence. We tried to make out the logo of a school but did not have enough continuous turf to figure it out.

There were slides and mazes and other kiddie rides too young for Alex at the top of the hill, but there was Pumpkin Patch Bowling, which he absolutely loved. We bought three rounds of bowling, one each for Frank, Alex, and me. Except for one toss of one pumpkin by Frank, Alex was enamored and we reveled in watching him do all the rest.

Frank was going to show Alex how it was done but Alex would have no part of his help. Alex loved throwing each and every pumpkin himself, three bucketsful, and succeeded in getting some very close, and even through, the square opening at the far end. I was even able to get some action shots.

Alex even like the picking up and gathering part of the pumpkins amassed at the far end. He readily put them in his bucket for another round. We'd only bought tickets for three buckets worth, otherwise I have no idea how long Alex would have continued this activity. He had so much fun!

After the Pumpkin Patch Bowling we wandered a maze made from bales of hay, which was a big snore in Alex's opinion. He saw no point in walking aimlessly around, into blank walls with no real goal, no seating, and no shade in sight. Frank and I agreed. In retrospect we should have apportioned more activity tickets to the bowling and less to the maze. Live and learn. Frank is tall enough that he could peer over the tops and cheat to get us out without further ado. We crossed a field, heading toward the pumpkin patches to select pumpkins for Alex to bring home.

Alex selected two pumpkins, both on the small side. We are lucky he did not want a big one, too big for him to carry and left for Frank and me to haul. He proudly carries his pumpkin choices himself, tucked away in that black tote bag. It was a fun outing, sunny and warm but breezy, and we all had a great afternoon.