Riley's Farm -- Oak Glen, California Oct 13, 2001

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Oak Glen, California
October 13, 2001

Dear Friends & Family,

It's cool and clear and the box elder trees are turning bright yellow this morning. According to Brother Scott there will be apple picking, u-press cider, and lots of pumpkins in the patch this weekend. The Belgian Draft Horses will be pulling hayrides, and the general store will be open. All systems are go: Autumn has taken the stage.

Our nine-month old, Gabriel, would not sleep last night, and five year old Samuel woke up with a detailed dream about alligators that he recounted at length at 4:00 AM. With children advancing on our bedroom, Mary retreated to the family room at 5:00 AM, to try to catch an hour of sleep. After getting Gabriel back to sleep, Lockton, our four year old, slammed into the room and woke him back up. So if you see a tired Greek woman with a twinkle in her eye--that's Mary, my beautiful wife. (Wish her happy birthday.)

I took a picture of a nice family in the pumpkin patch last week, and I was going to post it here, but upon closer inspection, we saw a couple ardently kissing in the background. There is some dispute among the rileysfarm.com editorial staff (my kids and I) as to whether we should post the picture. The kids think I should post, but I'm thinking this will drive too much traffic to the site and we'll make Matt Drudge look bad. Let's just say the pumpkin patch might do wonders for your courtship!

Hey--do you like, hate, love, or feel just lukewarm about Riley's Farm and its crazy inhabitants? Let us know what you think by signing our guest book. We are just American enough to admit our blatant capitalism, and we want to know what you think of, and want from, us.

Thanks again. Hope to see you soon,

Your Humble Servant,

James Riley,

Betty the Mighty Milk Cow yields up nearly 3 gallons this morning.

Last weekend's scene in the country store.

Pumpkin Pickers back from the field.

Part of the Revolutionary War School Field Trip staff, takes a break before the arrival of 140 guests yesterday.

The Pumpkin Field -- October 8, 2001

P.S. For the sake of those "web portals" constantly browsing the internet to update their search engines, we include the following boiler-plate. (Feel free to read this, if you're new to our site.)

Riley's Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm in the Oak Glen area of Southern California. In addition to farming, we love history and we have provided a venue for re-enactment units comprising many different eras. The farm regularly hosts banquets, birthday parties, weddings, and office parties. Every year, literally thousands of students participate in one of our school tours, where they experience everything from weaving, candle-dipping, and cider pressing to the drill and muster of a Revolutionary War or Civil War battle. Our farm has appeared on the History Channel and in the recently released feature film, Amistad, as well as many other film and television productions. (We even try to get the producers to include us as on screen talent, but that's another story.) On selected weekends throughout the year, we offer "farm-stay" weekends, where families can experience--clothing, wood stoves, muskets, and all--the life of an 18th or 19th century American farmer. We grow sweet corn, apples, raspberries, pears, and sunflowers, just to mention a few of our crops. Our nephew, Devon, keeps some beautiful Belgian draft horses for country hay-rides. We love America--its traditions, its people, its history, and its cherished heritage of liberty in Christ. Have we said enough? Well, one more thing: In the fall, thousands of families make an annual pilgrimage to the farms of Oak Glen to experience the closest thing to a New England fall California has to offer. Why don't you stop by and say hello?

P.S. Stay Clear of this "Cider House"

The hills by the Corn Patch

A Picture of the Riley Family

Contacting us via e-mail at: info@rileysfarm.com.

Sign our Guest Book.

Riley's Farm
12261 S. Oak Glen Road
Oak Glen, California 92399

(909) 797-7534

Event Schedules Subject to Change: Please call to confirm!