Is it even October if you haven't visited a pumpkin patch?!

I didn't realise they were a thing until last year, I have to admit. It was only when a photographer I follow on Instagram posted some lovely images, and I noticed the location wasn't very far from our place, that my interest was piqued. I convinced my husband that visiting a pumpkin patch, with a 4 month old, in the midst of Storm Brian, would be a fabulous way to spend a Saturday. And I insisted it was in no way for my own sole benefit, as I pranced around snapping pumpkins, myself, a corn maze, and a disgruntled baby half-hidden under a blanket (did I mention Storm Brian was raging? It was a wee bit windy.) I got my photos, we spent a tenner on pumpkins, and raced home to the warm.




This year, I felt a little more justified in visiting, as it wasn't just for me. We visited on a beautifully sunny weekend, popped the wellies on, gathered together our baby gang, and let the little ones loose. I foolishly removed Harry's reins as they were spoiling my photos and he rewarded me by making a run for the fields beyond the patch, sending my husband sprinting after him. Thank goodness for the wheelbarrows provided, perfect for depositing your pumpkin spoils, and for containing a wanderlusting toddler. The pumpkins were cheap, the children entertained, the adults relieved at avoiding a potential soft play visit. It was such a success, I think this might become our autumn tradition.



We visited Foxes Farm Produce, which has two sites in Essex and opens up for pumpkin picking throughout October (weekends and during the week of half term). I'm told they also do Christmas trees... so we may return in a month!

Look, I'm sorry, this post is a year late - hence the tiny Harry in the photos, back when he was like a warm snuggly handbag we carried around with us, occasionally resulting in explosive nappy changes. The thing is, now we've hit autumn again, I'm feeling a desperate yearning to head back to these gorgeous villages. I know I don't have to sell the Cotswolds as a holiday destination - they do this very well on their own, by virtue of their beauty - but if you were thinking of having a weekend away, or if you have a little one and desperately want a holiday but can't quite face travelling abroad, let me recount our experience, and share some of my photos.





 We went with my bestie and her family, so two couples, two babies (4 and 3 months respectively). We stayed in a gorgeous converted stables in a teeny village called Aldsworth, which was ideally placed for our explorations - it was central to all the places we wanted to visit and was just beautifully peaceful. Above is the view from the stable door - just stunning.

We arrived late on Friday afternoon, after gathering food supplies in Witney, and as our babies weren't quite settled in any particular routine, decided we had time to visit the famous Arlington Row cottages in Bibury, just ten minutes down the road. This proved to be an excellent idea. Despite being absolutely chocka with tourists any other time of day, it turned out to be virtually empty at 6pm on a Friday night, which meant I was able to snap some photos without having to edit anyone out of them (basically, my photography gold standard!). Parking was super easy at this time, so we popped the babies in their carriers and went for a wander. If we'd been baby-free, I think we might have popped into one of the local restaurants, but we had a nice M&S dinner waiting for us back at the stables after our walk, so back we went.





The next day, we decided to make use of our National Trust membership and headed to Chedworth Roman villa, again just a short drive away (albeit slightly complicated, meandering through dinky villages and woodland trails). This was more for my husband's benefit as he is a history buff, but we saw plenty of families there - our babies were the youngest though. Again we had to use the baby carriers, as the villa is spread out across a few levels. It was interesting but my favourite part was gazing across the valley and relishing in the silence - bliss!

After this we got pretty hungry from all that history, so headed to the Smokehouse in Burford as we'd been told there was a market going on. The boys bought venison burgers, but Steph and I decided we had our hearts set on afternoon tea, and the market wasn't really suitable for the little ones, so back in the car we went... ending up in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Oh, how we loved it there! We ate the best scones I've ever had in my life in the Bakery On The Water (we loved them so much, we made a point of returning there this summer!) and wandered the back streets, admiring the cottages and dreaming of living in such a beautiful place. The river meandering through the village gives it a blissful holiday feeling, although when we visited in summer it was absolutely packed - I imagine it's a lot of fun with older children!

I've not written much about Harry's life so far, and I know I'm at risk of forgetting what these days are like for us. Much of his first year has just been about survival, making it to the end of each day; I don't feel like I'm making the most of him, if that makes sense. I already know how fast he will grow and change - not so long ago, for example, he had just turned 1 and had just about figured out how to stand on his own - now, he runs everywhere.