Favorite Places: Gordon Skagit Farms
This whole blogging endeavor would be worth it just to praise Gordon Skagit Farms. I took the kids up there to meet my parents for our annual pumpkin patch picnic. Wyatt's been going since he was two. He loves it--don't get me wrong--but the outing is really for my Mom and I. Today she said, "Why do I feel so happy when I'm here?" That makes two of us. Sunshine, bins of eye-popping squash, an exquisite picnic, and the absolute artistry of this place made for another memorable year and one more reason to agree with my Mom's pronouncement of October as the Best Month.
Just an hour and fifteen minutes from Seattle, I marvel at this place more and more each visit. For those who think autumn squash means pumpkins and maybe butternut if you're getting crazy, Gordon's will school you. Lime green bottle gourds, every kind of heirloom pumpkin imaginable, delicata and hubbard squash, ornamental gourds, sugar pumpkins and kabocha, all arranged around outdoor paintings, hay bales, and old farm trucks. It makes me wish I was a better photographer. My 100 photos can't even begin to convey the riot of color and texture. On Wyatt's tenth visit, maybe I'll come a little closer.
We left early this morning, driving through downtown for a Top Pot Doughnut stop--pink sprinkles for Loretta, foot-long maple bar for Wyatt, pumpkin old-fashioned for me. I noticed all the workers--up early on a Saturday, but not for a leisurely day at the pumpkin patch. We drove past the AT&T store where all the blue-shirted employees were having a stand-up meeting. The Airporter bus passed us, the driver's back probably weary from lifting cranky travelers' suitcases. Painters took down drop-cloths from around the doorway of a new condo building, and the barista at Top Pot was so kind while Loretta was prostrate on the floor, crying for her doughnut. I felt lucky to be off the clock, relatively carefree, driving with a full tank of gas up to people who love me. And I felt thankful for everyone working today (including Yancey), diligently doing jobs they hate or love, so the city and the highway out of it keep humming along. Yes--gift after gift.
And my Mom's green tomato blue cheese galette--we are a pair, aren't we? I don't have a photo of her pumpkin chocolate biscotti with garam masala, but I will be hunting down the recipe. Wait--she sent me home with some! I love you all, but first things first. Goodnight, friends.
October 10, 2009
Reader Comments (13)
Looks like the perfect place for a drive this week-end. I wish I was closer.
Sounds so wonderful! I checked out the website - beautiful. It's great to know people can make a living from something as simple as a pumpkin patch. Kinda makes me wish I was a pumpkin farmer. Yesterday I dragged my baby around town in 30 degree weather looking for fresh cider - settled for some bottled stuff in the produce dept, but hope you visited the "cider shack" on the farm. Nothing like fresh cider, yum...
It's 30 degrees there already? Wow. It was 60 here yesterday. I can identify with dragging kids around for the sake of some culinary craving or other. Yes, we did visit the cider shack. Wish I could FedEx you some :)
Don"t really know how a pumpkin patch can make one feel so carefree and happy, maybe it's all the big plump balls of orange staring you in the face asking you to smile, or maybe it just walking underneath the glorious sun's warmth, and realizing there is no one else in the world you'd rather be picking out a pumpkin with than the ones you love most. Thank you Sarah, Wyatt, and Loretta, for another memorable annual outing to declare Autumn has arrived, and for always making me smile amongst the pumpkins
P.S. and yes if you want to be happy, check out Gordon"s, a money back guarantee if you walk away not cracking a smile.
Great pictures, Sarah. I could picture being there. I love October too. It's my most nostalgic month for my family for sure. Autumn in Michigan is BEAUTIFUL and we have beautiful cider mills there as well. My mom and Jess already sent me a halloween package. Queens of the holidays. Margaret/Peg - that galette sounds and looks awesome!!! I'm so glad all your cuisine genes got passed on to the Leftoverist. O.k. I'm at the library and want to get back out in the sun. I'm walking my Sunday errands feeling blissed out after the Farmer's Market. Parsnip Potato Soup is coming up at my apt this week.
One more thing. My friend Shannon contributed a shaved vegetable salad to a potluck meeting at my place this past week and it was really, really good. Raw butternut squash was one of the shaved vegetables - never would have thought to do that. Gordon's squash in your photos and memories of that salad are inspiring me to try it myself.
xo.
i heard there was a sarah sighting at the pumpkin patch this weekend! i saw corey at church today. i have had the pleasure of visiting gordon's and i know how wonderfully beautiful it is. i think i will mark a day on my calendar to enjoy the patch. also, is that shiso next to the gallete? looks like it and i bet was a good way to use it. leave it to peggy! after reading these commments, i'm thirsty for cider!
AAARGGGHHH! Where was this awesome recipe two weeks ago when I had a buttload of green tomatoes and no idea how to use them? That galette looks amazing!
And now, sniff, sniff, it's been 18 degrees and snowing and no more green tomatoes for me. I am filing this recipe away for next year...
Gorgeous pics--especially the bottle gourds and the truck!
Gordon's is our annual PP visit as well. LOVE that place. I could wander for days in the field of gourds. Sarah-- maybe some sugar pumpkin recipes? I can't stop putting them in everything.
I was drawing a blank while making this week's dinner menu and came to your blog for inspiration for one meal...And ended up filling up four nights with your recipes! Ha! One is your mom's version of the galette--so excited! So thanks for being here to put ideas in my head!!
Your pictures of the pumpkins are really making me feel homesick. I hail from Toronto, but I live in Southern China and am planning to move to Southern California (where my husband's family lives), and I really really really miss the cool brisk autumn goodness.
China?! You must have a lot of great food stories. Nice to have you here!
I'm so glad you've found some inspiration here.
I work at Gordon's and am delighted to read your happy responses to the farm. Something that might be of interest is that, although we officially close after October 31, we have a self-serve area for apples, squash and cider until Thanksgiving. Just drive in and go to the front of the barn--can't miss it. Hope we'll see you again!