We live about 20 miles east of the major metropolis known as Albuquerque, here in New Mexico. Most know the area as the East Mountains. Here in Edgewood and its surrounding East Mountain area, most of the area is still “rural”. Meaning minimum lot sizes are an acre and many homesteading families own large plots of land and actually still run cattle on them. One of these homesteaded areas is called McCalls. Every year the McCalls host their Pumpkin Patch.  You take a hay ride out to the pumpkin field and pick your pumpkin. Then you can visit the farm animals, or get lost in the humungous corn maize. Trot on over to the mining shack, buy some dirt and a sifter, dump it in the water trough and see if you find gold. Pedal carts, tunnel slides, hay pyramids, fresh popped kettle corn, and a bunny rabbit ghost town are just a few of the added features. Not to mention, here in rural NM, instead of a sand box, you get to play in a giant corn kernnel box. Suprisingly soothing, this experience is. So, Abby’s school took a field trip on over to McCalls and needless to say, she and I were there long after the rest of the group split. Too much fun, and a country store to boot.