BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN...

Yesterday, the Captain and I had an old-fashioned,

 relaxing,

 just plain fun,

 day.

We went to the Bishop Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland. 

 It's about one hour away from us, and their 42nd fall season, but we've never been there before. 

 We went on a Monday, on purpose, to miss the weekend crowds and that worked out very well.

  The parking was free, the admission was free, the food and rides were very reasonably priced, and the pumpkins were sold according to their size 

so you could spend very little on a nice size pumpkin.

The farm planted 90 acres of pumpkins this year. 

 They have a huge selection in all shapes and sizes,

 ranging from 1/2 pound to 200 pounds,

 along with fifty varieties of gourds and winter squash.

Some of the attractions featured at the farm are:

A scaled down railroad that travels all around the property...

Pony rides for the kids...

A corn maze and sunflower field..

Porko Arena where you can see a pig race..

An apple orchard where birthday parties can be held...

A zip line...

Numerous antique trucks and tractors dot the farmscape...

A puppet theatre, barns and outbuildings

 where the kids can climb on haybales and pretend they are farmers...

...and they supply 'equal opportunity' restrooms where all are welcome.

The Weeland Farm Animal Display.

As advertised, "the animals have taken over this town 

and they have elected a mayor".

I think it's safe to say 

 this must be

 the Honorable Mayor Guy.

They have quite a few small animals in Weeland

 but the goats are the most entertaining.

This little guy carried this ice cream cone around for quite awhile...

...until finally a bigger 'kid' took it away.

OMG!! Thank heavens we human mamas don't have to go through this:

What doesn't show in the photo
 is that this baby takes his head and butts his mama every time he latches on.
  At one point he actually lifted her back feet off the ground! 
 The whole while she just contentedly stands there 
and takes it!

This is Abilene, a Texas Longhorn.
  They say she is gentle and likes to be scratched behind the ears! 
 You are a beauty, Abilene,
 but I think I'll pass!

Now for the real reason we went to the Farm and where this post got it's title...

Do you remember my post two years ago, at Christmas (here)
 where I talked about my first job as a teen-ager back in 1957? 
 I was an elf at Santa's Village and that is where this carousel began its life. 
 I must have spent many hours riding these same horses back then.

After Santa's Village closed in 1979, the carousel sat neglected on the grounds until 1985.
  It was then purchased by the Balboa Fun Zone of Newport Beach,  CA. 
 It was restored and took its place there in 1986. 
 It remained in operation until 2011 when the property lease was not renewed.
  It was then disassembled in September of 2011 and stored in a barn near Lake Elsinore.
  Financing fell through to keep the carousel in Orange County and, 
now, two years later,
 the Bishop Pumpkin Farm rescued the carousel and re-constructed it on their property.

So, here is the old gal 
back in the saddle
 along with her sidekick.

  It was really a treat to hear that unforgettable merry-go-round music again and a very pleasant surprise to remember the bell that rings every time the carousel starts up.
  But, I do have to add: 
 The horses seem a lot taller
 and a person has to lift their leg a lot higher,
 than they did
 57 years ago!

It was a great day and such fun to watch all the families enjoying their time there with their children.
  We did a lot of people watching while we enjoyed our 
hot dogs and ice cream cones...

...and like all great days it included a little shopping in the gift shop.

I added this colorful picture on a burlap canvas, 
and a couple of small pumpkins,
 to tuck into the harvest display,
 into my shopping cart. 

This beautiful Porcelain Doll pink pumpkin was part of the bounty too
 and $1.25 from the sale was donated to local and national breast cancer charities.
  Doesn't she have a wonderful shape?

Shhhh...Tami is getting this one.

And last, 
but not least,
this sweet little Boy Boo 
came home with me too.


...Judy...

Doesn't he have the most amazing eyes?


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