jack-o-lantern
You know, when you've lived in Wisconsin for nearly a decade, as I have, your personal definitions of "good weather" and "bad weather" shift, as do your notions of what is "warm" and what is "cold." The other day the temperature barely cracked 40, and I wore flip-flops the whole day without so much as a shiver. Mostly, it was because I couldn't find any matching socks. But the way I see it, the fact that wearing mismatched socks drives me bonkers more than not wearing socks when it could potentially be snowing outside proves that I have toughened up to some degree.
Today the sun was out and it was warm (52), so we took an impromptu trip to Eplegaarden. Now, I have mixed feelings about this place. I've only been twice, and the first time was a while ago, maybe when I was pregnant with Daniel. It's always busy and crowded. There are the usual u-pick fruits and squash, plus wagon rides, concessions, corn maze, a playground and in the fall a haunted house and they charge you for ALL OF IT. The wagon ride is $4/person unless you're under two. Ditto the corn maze. Ditto the haunted house. They even charge you to go down the slide on the playground. Not that you have to do any of those things, of course, but it's a little annoying. On the other hand, it is a local farm with lots of yummy produce, and those other things, as gimmicky as they are, bring in the crowds of people, including kids who can see how some of their local food is grown, so if that keeps them in the chips, more power to 'em.
(We did do the wagon ride, and it was pretty fun. Just saying.)
We also found ourselves a 30# pumpkin and carved it into a jack-o-lantern. Daniel was the Creative Director on this project. He requested triangle eyes and a round nose, and when I asked him if it should be happy or sad, he said "sad." The fangs and eyebrows were my idea.
We are very proud of our jack-o-lantern. I found three tealight candles to put inside, and all evening we've been ducking outside to watch him glow on the front porch. We'll see how long he lasts. The neighborhood squirrels are not generally shy when it comes to decimating local works of pumpkin art.
Today the sun was out and it was warm (52), so we took an impromptu trip to Eplegaarden. Now, I have mixed feelings about this place. I've only been twice, and the first time was a while ago, maybe when I was pregnant with Daniel. It's always busy and crowded. There are the usual u-pick fruits and squash, plus wagon rides, concessions, corn maze, a playground and in the fall a haunted house and they charge you for ALL OF IT. The wagon ride is $4/person unless you're under two. Ditto the corn maze. Ditto the haunted house. They even charge you to go down the slide on the playground. Not that you have to do any of those things, of course, but it's a little annoying. On the other hand, it is a local farm with lots of yummy produce, and those other things, as gimmicky as they are, bring in the crowds of people, including kids who can see how some of their local food is grown, so if that keeps them in the chips, more power to 'em.
(We did do the wagon ride, and it was pretty fun. Just saying.)
We also found ourselves a 30# pumpkin and carved it into a jack-o-lantern. Daniel was the Creative Director on this project. He requested triangle eyes and a round nose, and when I asked him if it should be happy or sad, he said "sad." The fangs and eyebrows were my idea.
We are very proud of our jack-o-lantern. I found three tealight candles to put inside, and all evening we've been ducking outside to watch him glow on the front porch. We'll see how long he lasts. The neighborhood squirrels are not generally shy when it comes to decimating local works of pumpkin art.
Comments
Yeah, Uncle John's Cider Mill just up the road is the same deal. Tons o'fun, but everything costs. *shrugs* You make a good point about it being local, so I'm happy to spend the dough.