The Buzzing of Serenity

We went to Bandy's Pumpkin Patch in Johnston City with Papa Roman today. We had beautiful weather and picked out three gorgeous pumpkins for carving. This will be Ari's first experience with carving, so we're hoping she gets a big kick out of it.

We had gone to the same place a year ago, and it was strikingly similar to our last visit. We rode the hayride, we ate some burgers and pizza, we let Ari ride in the cart bag to the car - pumpkins in tow. The only added fun was playing in the barn where several child-friendly activities were set up (a bouncy castle, some corn bins, and a big slide).

The thing that caught me today, along with the gorgeous weather, was how peaceful it was on this farm. Despite the crowds of people, the tractors going back and forth to the adjacent fields, multiple children and families and dogs and workers... it was still amazingly calming and peaceful to be tucked among the trees surrounded by bright orange orbs and wrapped in the smell of hay, hotdogs, and the leafy, earthy scent of sunshine hitting an autumn day at just the right angle.

Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. And smile.

Nice Day

There are few things better than an impromptu afternoon picnic with your family in the middle of a blissfully beautiful day of sunshine and light breezes and the fresh, optimistic scent of fall.

Childhood memories of pumpkins and apples, fallen leaves and thick sweaters, hayrides and bonfires abound.

Meanwhile, I watch my little bunny cavort among the playground goodies... eager to climb, run, jump, and move with speed throughout her landscape of brightly colored fun. I look at my partner, my husband, my friend and feel so grateful to be joined... to be living this day together and so lucky as to have these moments of time together - all of us as a family.

The water dances, the trees gossip, and the sun reaches down with warm, long fingers to wrap us together at the end of September as we heave a happy sigh.

Into Autumn

There is a very small pumpkin in the backyard. It was one of Ari's birthday plants that managed to survive in its small pot and was eventually transferred to the backyard when Papa and Num-Num came to visit this summer.

It has pretty much blossomed and died, except for one doggedly determined little pumpkin plant who started life looking more like a watermelon. It has remained alive, despite Ari's enthusiastic but problematic removal of its stem early on and the disappearance of nearly every other part of the plant that once spread out like tentacles from the patch near the garage wall wherein the plant was rooted.

The little fruit has turned from green to orange in the last few weeks, and although Simon has decided this is a prime pee spot and never fails to miss a chance to "water" the plant each and every time he goes out, there is a wee possibility it will survive into October and potentially be fully ripe as we enter autumn.

I am no pumpkin expert, and so I am unsure whether this gestation period resembles the expected pattern, nor have I decided what sort of impact (if any) Simon's generous fertilization should have upon what we do with the plant should it ever come to a fully ready state.

But it's been lovely to watch it grow, to marvel at its tenacity and determination, and to see it's bright little round body grace our yard with spunky bravado in the face of so many seeming obstacles.