Before I start today's story/memories, let me say Happy Birthday to Breanna! She turned 6 today and we joined her and her family at Jerry Bob's this morning for a birthday breakfast (French toast with strawberries, whipped cream and a little chocolate on it for good measure!). The whole place serenaded little Breanna - she was so happy!!
Agua Linda Farm...we were there this weekend, one year ago...hard to believe it would only be a couple of days until Kimmy went to St. Joseph's...we had such a good day - Kim showed absolutely no signs of pain or fatigue - that's a heavy pumpkin she's holding!!
Kim loved Agua Linda. When we moved here, we started going to Buckalew's, out at Three Points every year. Cody made the news there, while pumpkin hunting, when he was 3 years old. But then, they started to charge admission...the next year, they started charging for parking...so, we started to go to Wilcox, a little over an hour drive, but plenty of places to go to hunt for pumpkins.
We found many little farms and had great times over the years taking the bambini down there to petting zoos, pick your own produce places, tire swings, hay rides and, of course, pumpkin picking.
Although many good time were had at Apple Annies', the Walmart of Wilcox pumpkin picking, their expansion seemed more commercial and less quaint, farm experience (like the gi-normous red barn they built a few years ago). There just seemed to be more bees, larger crowds and growing fees, after a long drive. And the pies, well...one year we bought a peach/raspberry/apple pie - it was stacked high! I believe we paid $12, for a pie. We got it home and Kim was all anticipation. She dug in, took a bite, chewed, looking at me thoughtfully and said:
"Hmmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm."
Oh oh. I knew what that meant. Her wheels were turning. Nothing happened that day. Or the next...but, within a week, I came home and there it was. Sitting on the counter in all of it's glory. A peach/raspberry/apple pie! Kim was excited for me to try it - but not as excited as I was to try it. It was Heaven. Simply put, fillet mignon...making Apple Annie's pie taste like minute steak. Seriously. It was foreshadowing of things to come...
Sure enough, the next year Kim told me "I think I found a place I would like to try to hunt for pumpkins this year...and ever since, we've gone to Agua Linda Farm...
And here we were today...after our wonderful breakfast...Cody taking the lead...
The bambini spent a lot of time pushing each other on this giant tractor tire swing...it was good to see them laughing...
And then it was time to find the 'perfect pumpkin', as Kim would say every year...
Here's my little pumpkin!
They sure had a great time and found the best pumpkins!! We watched a sheep dog herding show - one of the dogs looked a lot like Bella...ate the pie (just as good as Apple Annie's, but not even close to Kimmy's!)...at one point, I noticed Cody staring out into one of the fields that they were not using this year...looking, as if out to sea...Autumn quietly said "Isn't that where we found our pumpkins last year?"...
"You know Mama's here with us. Right now." I told the bambini...
And we were off...with our pumpkins in tow. Cody pulling the wagon over rough terrain...Tonio pushing. Autumn took my hand, looked up, deeply into my eyes...her eyes so blue it hurts...and smiled at me. "C'mon Dad, let's go."....
Love,
Dave
PS Yesterday morning, Autumn, Antonio and I went to Mass at San Xavier together. After Mass, we hurried to Mary's chapel, next door to light our candles for Kimmy. As we entered, we all looked for Kim's photo on the right side of the altar...it was gone! Before any one of us could react, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Ivan, the young man who works so hard to keep the church and surrounding buildings clean. He also teaches First Holy Communion classes. And during Mass, sang traditional Indian hymns to celebrate Indian Days on the reservation. He told me "I moved her, look." My eyes panned to the left, where he was pointing..."I cleaned all of the statues, as well as your wife's photo" He actually dusts Kimmy's photo for us daily! We appreciate all he does...
...Tonio lit a candle for his Mama on our long, quiet, Friday...
Agua Linda Farm...we were there this weekend, one year ago...hard to believe it would only be a couple of days until Kimmy went to St. Joseph's...we had such a good day - Kim showed absolutely no signs of pain or fatigue - that's a heavy pumpkin she's holding!!
Kim loved Agua Linda. When we moved here, we started going to Buckalew's, out at Three Points every year. Cody made the news there, while pumpkin hunting, when he was 3 years old. But then, they started to charge admission...the next year, they started charging for parking...so, we started to go to Wilcox, a little over an hour drive, but plenty of places to go to hunt for pumpkins.
We found many little farms and had great times over the years taking the bambini down there to petting zoos, pick your own produce places, tire swings, hay rides and, of course, pumpkin picking.
Although many good time were had at Apple Annies', the Walmart of Wilcox pumpkin picking, their expansion seemed more commercial and less quaint, farm experience (like the gi-normous red barn they built a few years ago). There just seemed to be more bees, larger crowds and growing fees, after a long drive. And the pies, well...one year we bought a peach/raspberry/apple pie - it was stacked high! I believe we paid $12, for a pie. We got it home and Kim was all anticipation. She dug in, took a bite, chewed, looking at me thoughtfully and said:
"Hmmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm."
Oh oh. I knew what that meant. Her wheels were turning. Nothing happened that day. Or the next...but, within a week, I came home and there it was. Sitting on the counter in all of it's glory. A peach/raspberry/apple pie! Kim was excited for me to try it - but not as excited as I was to try it. It was Heaven. Simply put, fillet mignon...making Apple Annie's pie taste like minute steak. Seriously. It was foreshadowing of things to come...
Sure enough, the next year Kim told me "I think I found a place I would like to try to hunt for pumpkins this year...and ever since, we've gone to Agua Linda Farm...
They've added a hay pyramid...
And extra tire swings...Cody's always loved those!
And an double enormous hay maze!!
And, of course, a petting zoo! Look at the animals!
The bambini spent a lot of time pushing each other on this giant tractor tire swing...it was good to see them laughing...
And then it was time to find the 'perfect pumpkin', as Kim would say every year...
Cody pulled the boy...
Here's my little pumpkin!
They sure had a great time and found the best pumpkins!! We watched a sheep dog herding show - one of the dogs looked a lot like Bella...ate the pie (just as good as Apple Annie's, but not even close to Kimmy's!)...at one point, I noticed Cody staring out into one of the fields that they were not using this year...looking, as if out to sea...Autumn quietly said "Isn't that where we found our pumpkins last year?"...
"You know Mama's here with us. Right now." I told the bambini...
And we were off...with our pumpkins in tow. Cody pulling the wagon over rough terrain...Tonio pushing. Autumn took my hand, looked up, deeply into my eyes...her eyes so blue it hurts...and smiled at me. "C'mon Dad, let's go."....
Love,
Dave
PS Yesterday morning, Autumn, Antonio and I went to Mass at San Xavier together. After Mass, we hurried to Mary's chapel, next door to light our candles for Kimmy. As we entered, we all looked for Kim's photo on the right side of the altar...it was gone! Before any one of us could react, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Ivan, the young man who works so hard to keep the church and surrounding buildings clean. He also teaches First Holy Communion classes. And during Mass, sang traditional Indian hymns to celebrate Indian Days on the reservation. He told me "I moved her, look." My eyes panned to the left, where he was pointing..."I cleaned all of the statues, as well as your wife's photo" He actually dusts Kimmy's photo for us daily! We appreciate all he does...
...Tonio lit a candle for his Mama on our long, quiet, Friday...
those are great pictures of kim! So hard to believe how much life would change after that...so many wonderful memories :)
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see the kids having so much fun together...that is because of you Dave. You give them so many new opportunities and adventures!