The pumpkin patch

(superb photo by Kathy Moyd at psaphoto.org)

We went to the local pumpkin patch today (this isn't it, though the appearance is similar.) We park in a field. Buy tickets to do a variety of things, among them an 8 acre corn maze, a corn cannon, various games for little ones that we skipped, and the hayride out to and from the pumpkin patch.

The kids are getting older so gone are the days when I had to carry every squash. We all picked out pumpkins weighing between 14 and 21 pounds. We're going to have a lot of toasted pumpkin seeds this year. Back when I had to carry the pumpkins for the kids, they weighed more in the 8 to 10 pound range. So what I no longer have to carry makes the wallet a bit lighter.

We also had some good pork barbecue. You can also grill hot dogs over an open pit with long metal 3-pronged skewers. (Forget the health implications, and enjoy.) A DJ was actually playing music from the '50s thru today that wasn't blasting us from under the tent, but was upbeat enough to have everyone dancing or singing along.

We'll talk about corn mazes later and we'll be talking about pre-teen music concerts and state fairs tomorrow. I can't wait for Monday when I can post something about autumn foliage or watching squirrels play in the driveway.

I ask you, what about your fall rituals? Any special pumpkin carving templates? You can send me photos and, if they fit the tone of the Happiness Notebook, I'll post them with a write-up.

Happy Birthday, Alex.