Snow, Snow, Snow and More Snow

Snowy Day in the High Sierras

Yesterday, we loaded up our SUV and headed to the Sierra Mountains. With 4 feet of fresh snow fall this week, the twins, their "Momo" from Virginia and I bundled up in our warmest winter wear and spent the day enjoying a taste of winter at an elevation of 4,000+ feet. There were snow showers, snow ball fights, snow angels and snow eating contests! At the end of the snowy day, the twins were sound asleep by 6:30 PM and didn't wake up until 7:30 AM today. Talk about a fun day that totally wore them out...I can't remember the last time the twins were in bed that early or slept that late.

Side note: Our SUV was fantastic in the snow yesterday as we climbed through the mountains - we even got to use the 4WD at some points in our route!!! By the way, I'm happy that we chose to go yesterday and not today because the Sierras are getting another dumping of fresh snow as I sit here and type this posting, and I wouldn't want to be caught in a snow storm in the Sierra Mountains as it's happening at 4,000 feet...

A Day At The Pumpkin Patch

Today, we traveled to the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas to enjoy a day at the pumpkin patch! The twins also took part in their first hayride. A photo montage is featured above in the "Day At the Pumpkin Patch" slide-show featuring some of the highlights of the day.

And, just for kicks, a few miscellaneous pumpkin facts we learned today to help you also get in the Fall spirit.....

* Pumpkins are not vegetables ... they're fruits.

* Pumpkins, gourds, and other varieties of squash are all members of the family Cucurbitacae, which also includes cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.

* Pumpkins have been grown in America for over 5,000 years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere and were completely unknown in Europe before the time of Columbus.

* In 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier reported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found "gros melons," which was translated into English as "ponpions," or pumpkins.

* There was probably some kind of pumpkin served at the first Thanksgiving Feast. Pumpkins and other forms of squash made up one leg of the triad -- maize, beans, and squash -- that once formed the basic diet of American Indians.