I have fun taking photos of our critters. Typically, I like them in their natural setting, but sometimes I add props or backgrounds. This time I chose items from my kids dress up bin to dress up the goats for Halloween. I’m not sure they loved this photo shoot.

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Since the last day of this 31 Day Challenge falls on Halloween, I’m highlighting a pumpkin patch. I’m choosing Roloff Farms, which is in the Helvetia community of Hillsboro, Oregon. The Roloff’s are stars of TLC’s Little People Big World. The pumpkin patch came before the tv show, but certainly had less hype.

Along the drive to the Roloff’s are pumpkins letting you know you’re headed in the right direction.

The pumpkin patch is open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in October.

The Entrance

While waiting to buy your tickets, you can also pick up Amy’s Pumpkin Peach Salsa, Roloff books & souvenirs.

Halloween’s Past

Even before the craziness a tv show can bring, the Roloff’s had a nice pumpkin patch to visit.
Left: Here are Farm Kid & I in 2005.
Right: Farm Kid2 at Roloff Farms in 2005

Wagon Tour

Now days, the way to see their farm is to purchase tickets for the wagon tour. The tour takes you throughout their farm showing you the most popular places, with a short stop in their western town.

While waiting in line to board the wagon tour, we spotted Matt Roloff posing with visitors.

The Roloff home

Matt’s Men’s Crisis Center. In other words, his shop.

Noah’s Ark

Too, too cute! Straw, stick & brick homes from Three Little Pigs. Complete with 3 little pigs. The kids & I oohed and aahed over this, maybe because we recently added a couple pigs to our farm.

Left: Raised chicken coop to protect their flock from predators. Clever.

The trestle

Wedding Barn
It is rustic & lovely

Super cute little church built by Matt Roloff.

Beneath a barn is a wine cellar

Old West Town in 2005
Years ago, we didn’t pay to take a tour of the farm. It was just part of the fun coming to this pumpkin patch. We got to explore the old town as long as we wanted. However, back then it wasn’t crazy crowded like it is today.

The Old West Town Today
The wagon tour stops here for a few minutes to let you explore the town. It really is impressive.

Left: Molly’s Castle 2005
Back in the day, we could also explore the castle.

Right: Molly’s Castle today
I believe our tour guide told us that it was just recently completed.

Adventure Area

The adventure area was pretty great with tons of fun things for the kids. There were slides, tricycle racing, mini golf and even big cats from A Walk on the Wild Side.

Pumpkins

Don’t forget to pick your pumpkins.

The first year we went to Roloff Farms was in 2005. We loved it. It was a quiet evening, slightly wet out and nearly no visitors at the pumpkin patch. As far as I was concerned, it was perfect. While we were paying for the pumpkins, John struck up conversation with Matt Roloff and realized he was working for a company that Matt previously worked for. There was a camera man or two around, but we didn’t think much of it. Later they asked us to sign papers saying it would be ok if we ended up in a new documentary featuring little people. As far as I know we didn’t end up in any episodes. But, we didn’t have cable tv back then, so I didn’t watch the first few seasons.

The next year, I went back with my mom on a Saturday morning. It was so crowded and crazy. It took forever just to get parked. I didn’t go back again after that.

Eight years later, I decided to go back & check it out. I loved it. I went expecting a crowd, so I was prepared this time. Also, they are better prepared for the crowds & parking wasn’t a problem. It was $12 per person to enjoy both the wagon tour & adventure area. Not super cheap, but also not outrageous. It is the most I have spent for pumpkin patch activities, but there was a lot to see & do.

They did have a couple food options available. But, you could also drive the one minute it takes to get to the Helvetia Tavern for a burger if you’re hungry.

To see what others are sharing for the month of October check out write31days.com

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Weather

October’s weather started out nice enough, but has now turned to crap. Rain. Fog. Wind. Typical for this time of year.

Spider Webs

The spiders have been busy lately. Lots of web making going on. And, in the right light they look super cool.
  

Power Outage

This weekend was stormy.

I had to take the long way home due to a tree being across the road. Then we came home to the power being out. Our phone was out for awhile, as well. When it was working, though, I frequently called the power company to report our outage and the line was busy every single time I called. I wonder if there phone wasn’t working either? I never did get through, but thankfully around 4:00 the next day the crew came to fix the line.

I can handle not having tv, or computer, or microwave. But, I hate being without light. And, at this time of year it’s getting dark fairly early. Darn it! However, it did give us a nice excuse to go to bed early. I snuggled with my 2 kids that were home, read them Halloween stories & they were asleep easily by 8:00, maybe earlier. I stayed up a little later and read Wildwood. It is a middle-grade fantasy based in the urban forest area outside of Portland.

I think I have mentioned it before, but it’s worth mentioning again.
Most of the year, I am not a fan of our propane stove. It is very hard to adjust the temperature. There are even special burners that are supposed to help with this problem. One is meant to boil water quickly, which is a larger burner. There is also a small burner & 2 medium sized burners. There is virtually no difference between any of them. We’ve had the stove since we moved in 6 years ago. The stove & I still fight.

On days the power is out, though, I love, love, love that we have a stove that runs on propane. It means on the cold evenings we still get warm food.

Ducks

The ducks, of course, don’t seem to mind the crummy weather. It can be pouring outside and they’ll be splashing away in the pond.

Chicken Keeping

In the Spring we hatched lots of chicks. We sold some at the Spring Swap and later sold nearly laying pullets at the Fall Swap. We didn’t purchase birds for meat purposes this year. Instead, from the chicks we hatched, the majority of the cockerels will fill our freezer next month.

Jack-o-Lantern and Chick

Our chickens are happy to eat the pumpkin guts.

I was a little nervous bringing home hatching eggs from the swap. But, we put them in the incubator and all 4 of them started developing. I was pleased! However, they did not survive the power outage.

Goats

Our oldest son wanted to build the goats a play place. So, Farmer John helped him build this. Unfortunately, the goats don’t like it. They won’t climb it. When I set them up on the top, they just jump off. I think with a few changes, though, the goats will enjoy it.

Pigs

Pig raising seems to be going well. Thankfully, Farm Kid1 is pretty good about taking care of them and they are growing. I don’t know if I can call them super cute, but I do love their personalities.

Aquaponics & Greenhouse

In the aquaponics system set up in the greenhouse, the tomatoes, tomatillos & tilapia are all doing fine.

Wildlife

Neighborhood Deer

Happy Halloween

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Farm Kid2, Farm Girl & I dressed up in an Alice in Wonderland theme for our church’s harvest party. My hubby & Farm Kid1 were at a cub scout event that weekend so they weren’t part of our fun. I would have enjoyed them being there, but honestly it was nice to only have to make 3 costumes instead of 5. We didn’t decide on this theme until a week before the party, which meant I spent every free second pulling together the costumes.

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MAD HATTER

Farm Kid2’s natural personality fits the Mad Hatter character perfectly.
The hat: a Dollar Tree hat as the base, then a cardboard frame & paper mache to make it tall
The wig: Brave’s Merida wig
The jacket: leftover material from when I made our Star Wars costumes.

ALICE

Farm Girl as Alice
The skirt: completely made from tulle
The top: My own design using tulle, blue fabric & shiny white leftover fabric from her Princess Leia costume

RED QUEEN

Me as the Red Queen
I used a McCall’s pattern. The pattern, for the most part, was easy enough to follow. My biggest hang up was putting in the zipper. I’ve never put in a zipper correctly before & was determined to do it right this time. It took me 4 or 5 times to get it right. Too many times undoing my stitches was really starting to make me grumpy. But, I eventually finished it. I thought the kids would enjoy me dressing up with them & they did. But, I’m still not sure it was worth the time, effort & money to make the costume for me.

I do appreciate Halloween as a chance to dress up & have fun with pretend play. I heard  “Off with their heads” & “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date!” many times that day.

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Farm Kid2 is a Cloverbud in the 4-H program. In 4-H you can’t compete until you’re in 4th grade; he is in 2nd grade. He can do many fun 4-H activities, he just can’t win the blue ribbon – which kind of ticks him off. But, he has fun anyway.

We are fairly relaxed with his show skills at the moment. Right now it’s all about learning as much as he can & having fun. There’s no need to have the added pressure of winning.

Getting Ready

Farm Kid2’s show chicken is a SCCL Light Brown Leghorn named Percy. She is a fabulous chicken for him as a newbie to showing.

To get ready for the show Percy got a bath.

At the Show

All small animal Cloverbuds showed together, so there was a mix of chickens, rabbits & cavies.

My favorite part of him showing is when he has to answer questions the judge asks him. I think it’s such a great life skill. He has to speak loudly & clearly, answer confidently, and figure out the best way to answer if he doesn’t know the answer.

Since Cloverbuds can’t compete, they usually get a participation ribbon or some other goody. This Halloween themed show handed out candy.

The fun part of the show was the costume contest. There were many fun ideas.

Percy was a ghost.

Happy Halloween!

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