Day at the Pumpkin Patch...

The Family has been going through a rough patch lately (something I'll share a little later), so I decided that we would take a little trip to a Pumpkin Patch in the next county.  It's a Pumpkin Patch we visit every year, and though we had discussed not going this year - I felt the Family was entitled to a fun day trip.

Plus, what better way to pick out your pumpkins for the holiday season?

I love this Pumpkin Patch's attention to details.  They have fields full of pumpkins and, for the less adventurous, pumpkins ready for purchase.  No slogging through muddy fields.

They even provide little details such as recipes you can make with their pumpkins.  I admit, I haven't used any of the recipes.  Quite frankly, I love the look of pumpkins but I don't like the taste of pumpkins (or the smell).

But this place gets the need for presentation, and they do it well.

They have several of these metal art pieces... This pumpkin is fantastic!  I wish I had the front garden space (because something like this needs to be on display).

And, of course, what pumpkin patch is complete without the old tractors, trucks, and wagons? Certainly not this one!

And the variety of gourds is amazing... I honestly had no idea just how many different varieties there are out there.

I thought these ones looked like acorns.  How awesome are these?!?!?

Of course, I had to take the obligatory photo at the pumpkin patch.  I zoomed in because I'd rather get clear images of their faces than the pumpkins.

And, this year, I actually got a photo of me.  Actually, Mum took this photo.  Yes, my hair is blond... It's temporary.  Well, temporary since June.  It's my time of experimenting, and since I've been every other color... Why not blond? It was blonder, but I went a little darker this month.  I know... I know... It looks more red than blond.  Let's compromise and say it is strawberry blond.

 

And of course, there are these little sets tucked away in nooks, so families can take their autumn photos.

 

Did I mention the details? How cute is this?!?!

Here is another giant metal piece of art... complete with little pumpkins to make the dress.

Of course, we made our selection of pumpkins (and apples).  How can you not? We didn't go big this year... We went more strategic with our choices.  Some for the inside, and some for the outside of the house.

 

 

 

 

How about you?  Are you doing the Pumpkin Patch this year? How are you celebrating the season?  Drop a note in the Comments section and let me know... I'll hop over to your space on the Blogosphere and have a peek at your seasonal celebrations.

Happy Monday!

Going to the Pumpkin Patch

'Tis the season, and I love this season.  Like many families, this one decided to take a trip to the pumpkin fields.  And we had a blast!

 

I love how the owners of this pumpkin patch were incredibly creative with their place.  In this one, they used a hollowed out pumpkin as a plant for tulips.  How wonderful is that?!?!

And look at this giant jack 'o lantern sculpture made from willow reeds! The kids that were visiting the pumpkin patch when we were there were running around it, crawling into the center of the sculpture through the mouth, while gleefully going "boo!" to their parents while inside.

 

And there were all sorts of creative props to display their pumpkins.  It wasn't just hay bales and barrel buckets, but old horse carriages, wagons, and antique chairs.

And, of course, we had our own wheel barrel full of pumpkins.  Mum played wheel barrel driver, while Dawn browsed, and I snapped photographs.

And when the time came to make our final purchases, we brought our wheel barrel up to the scales and weigh out and leave.  I thought this classic scale was just fabulous.  It reminds me of the scales used in those old general stores.

With the sun shining, orange popping out all over, and a slight chill in the air (though not enough to wear a jacket or sweater), it was the perfect day to be out.  How about you? Do you have any pumpkin patch fun to share?  Let me know!

It's Starting...

While out and about, I've noticed a wonderful thing... the beginnings of spring.  Lovely, colorful petals of all shapes and sizes are starting to show themselves to the world.  I admit, I am finding myself getting a little excited and anxious.

As a photographer, I appreciate all the potential images Spring offers to me and my cameras.  As someone who likes to fumble around the garden, I appreciate seeing something I planted as a odd little bulb or seed suddenly blossom into something glorious and beautiful.  And while I appreciate what Winter has to offer, I find myself happier being surrounded by all these petals.  And, of course, with my cameras in hand.

Happy Wednesday!

Tis the Season!

I love this time of the year, and these are one of the reasons why.  I love pumpkins... and squash... and all sorts of colorful, interestingly shaped gourds.  I don't eat them.  In fact, no one in my family likes squash, though Mum and Dawn love pumpkin pie and pumpkin cupcakes.  But for me, I love the color, shapes, and textures.

Mt. Baker

One of the great things about where I live is all the fabulous nature around us.  We have the Pacific Ocean, islands, lakes, rivers, mountains, old growth forest, and all sorts of wonderful things.  It is even more fabulous when you love photography like I do... Like my family does.

Daffodil Delights

The daffodils are blooming and bright in Skagit Valley.  There is always a great source of comfort to be driving in that area of the world and see the fields in the river valley brightly glowing in yellow.  I just can't resist pulling out my camera every time I'm there.

Spring Night

Yesterday was the first official day of spring.  Even though we're suppose to be seeing the end of winter for this year, there are still bits and pieces of it here and there.  But I decided to go out and check out the change... Lovely, isn't it?

A Little Spring in Winter

The other day I took Dawn out and we decided to see what traces of spring there was out there.  It was an interesting experiment, especially since we had just had about 1/2 inch snowfall over night.  While we totally enjoyed the white stuff, we thought our little adventure would be a nice change of pace and give us an excuse to break out our cameras.

Here is what we found...

I love photographing flowers.  They don't complain.  They aren't worried about which side is their best side.  And they aren't worried about whether they look fat or not.  But, I prefer to photograph flowers from different angles.  It's not uncommon to find me, belly-down, in the mud trying to get the right angle in the sunlight.  Or, balancing on one foot while stretching my body as far as possible to get that shot where the sunlight hits the petals.  Often times, on-lookers find my contortionist antics far more entertaining than the flowers.  I don't mind, though.  As long as I get the shot.

Snowy Morning; Spring Afternoon

My little part of the world awoke yesterday morning to the brilliant white of snow.  We didn't have much snow - maybe 2 inches - but it was enough to celebrate.  Though the schools didn't call a "Snow Day" nor did the city slow down it's pace (not even the city trucks bothered to put sand and/or de-icer on the streets), but I called a Snow Day simply because I wanted to celebrate the snow.