Pumpkin Season at Murray's Family Farm -- Can Halloween be Far Behind?

I had to drive to Bakersfield on Saturday afternoon for a medical test. This meant a trip down the mountain to the San Joaquin Valley below. I decided to drive by myself to get over the fear of driving that sort of hits one after a car accident.

It's that time of the year, Halloween is coming up and pumpkins are everywhere. I decided to stop by at Murray's Family Farm, located at the foot of the mountain.

It was very crowded, lots of people and lots of kids. Here a woman is selecting pumpkins.

Pumpkins were everywhere.

In the large indoor store, I bypassed the apples

and headed for the nuts – I was after walnuts and I bought a pound.

I left through a side-door and came out on a deck with a view of sunflowers in the foreground and groves upon groves of fruit trees in the background.

There were rides on hay bales for the kids.

Scary critters and

cute ones in the petting zoo,

 raggedy dolls stuffed with straw and

a pretty display of fall fruits.

On my way out, I walked by palm trees and bougainvilleas. All so common in Los Angeles, but they don't grow in Tehachapi.

And isn't this gorgeous? Look at those vibrant colors!

Fortunately no one was behind me when I left the farm so I could stop in the driveway and take these pictures.

Some more bougainvilleas right at the exit.

The drive went OK and I even got tested with a downpour and a hale storm! Boy, was I glad I took the time to locate the windshield wipers on the rental car before I left home. I know I will be OK driving now.

Have a nice Sunday, everyone.