Pumpkin Patch--Southwest Style

Every fall that I have lived here I have mourned the loss of our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. I kinda thought the only way to get a pumpkin here was at the grocery store or one of those little hay stands by the side of the road...which might as well be the grocery store.

Today I was very much surprised by an impromptu visit to MacDonalds Ranch with Grandpa Mike. I decided last minute to go with so that Easton could participate too, even though I really didn't know ahead of time what we were even doing. Well, MacDonalds Ranch is in North Scottsdale on 1300 beautiful acres of desert. There was horse riding and all sorts of Western style games, lasso practicing, hay maze, a petting zoo, a LOT of dirt and a horse drawn hay ride out to the "pumpkin patch" that was literally out in the middle of the desert. The true desert is really quite a beautiful thing (especially when the temps are in the low 70's).

Now, I say "pumpkin patch" in quotes because it was a little different than I was expecting. As we rode along out into the desert I found myself pondering a pumpkin patch out there amongst the saguaros. I even said out loud, "I didn't think you could grow pumpkins here. I wonder what kind of watering that would take?" And then we rounded a corner into a clearing and it all made much more sense. There is no pumpkin patch in the desert. It was very much staged. There was no patch. There were no vines. There were pumpkins in bins and stacked on hay and who knows where they were shipped in from. But I have to say, it was the closest thing to a real pumpkin patch experience I think you could get around here! I have a LOT of pictures to share because it was so much fun, so keep your eyes peeled for the "pumpkin patch"....southwest style.

still a lot of pointing going on :)

he was thinking about riding a horse, but decided not to when he got up close!

i love this picture :)

i think he thought Wyatt's hair might have been food

a bull

a goat

bunnies!

here she is, people!

check out our driver! his mustache actually curled up on the edges, with a twist.