Another Pumpkin Patch

While I was in South Carolina, Silas and I had several "adventures". One such adventure was a visit to a pumpkin patch. Saturday morning, we loaded up the car and drove to Inman to the Johnson Farm.

After perusing the various offerings, we purchased a ticket for the hayride and then explored the pumpkin fields while we waited for the whistle to begin.

Silas was especially enthralled with the tractor that would be pulling the hayride (no hay, but a trailer with comfortable seating). They driver, Farmer Andrew, helped him climb into the cab. Although he was quite excited about that prospect at first, he approached it much more tentatively after he was  asked if he'd be driving the tractor.

We climbed aboard the trailer and enjoyed a ride through the woods and other fields where storybook characters were set up in simple displays.

Silas commented more than once, "This is fun, Lovey!"

There was a playground set up that he enjoyed after our ride, as well.

When it was time to pick our pumpkin to take home, we loaded up one of the wheelbarrows and headed to an area where I was sure we would also be able to watch the tractor come by.

All the big pumpkins in the field, and this is the one that he picked.

Last, but not least, we visited their barn to see the chickens, goats and donkey.

We spread out our picnic blanket in a grassy area near the parking lot and enjoyed our lunch while watching the tractor. Lunch probably took twice as long as normal because of that tractor, but there was a happy boy eating, so it was worth it! I bought some of their homemade mini donuts for our dessert. YUM!! They were really good---and warm!

The ride back home was easy and I kept Silas busy so that he wouldn't fall asleep in the car. (Having him take his nap uninterrupted at home is just as good for him as it is for Lovey!)Our time together was so fun--I love him so much and wish I could see him every week!! I can't wait until our next "Lovey and Silas Adventure"!

November Instagram Challenge - Make It Wild

I don't know if it is the cooler weather, the recent trip to Colorado or the fall festivals, I've attended, but lately I just want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Perhaps I was inspired by a recent article I read about the 30 Days Wild program that is sponsored by the Wildlife Trusts in the UK, a program that encourages participants to get outside each and every day for 30 days in a row.

November is traditionally a month that we really focus on our gifts and blessings and one of those is certainly this wonderful world that God has given us to care for.  Hence, this month's challenge---Wild November. I challenge you to get outside each and every day this month and find something that is photo-worthy. You may need to re-arrange these prompts to fit your particular situation or weather conditions, but if you include the prompt in your caption, we'll be able to follow along just fine. (hint: I generally post the photo caption, then the prompt in all caps, followed by the hashtag, like this:   WILD - #mtwildnovember2017)

So here's the list for this month:

If you are interested in "upping" the quality of your phone photography skills, be sure to check out the handbook, Picture Practice that is offered in my online shop over at www.DotToDotConnections.com/shop. While you are there, feel free to browse through my other offerings as well.

See you over on Instagram!

Pumpking Picking

Even though October is almost over, the pumpkin picking continues. Our first adventure in a pumpkin patch this year occurred in the middle of the month, at the Dixie Corn Maze. On the way out there, we stopped in a nearby cotton field so that Toddler could see how cotton grows.

Once we arrived, he had fun with some crafts and then the outdoor fun began.

There were chickens to talk to,

pig races (which were hysterical, by the way)

and a pony to ride.

There was even a cow train!!  How cool is that!

While the real pony was fun, I think he had just as much (if not more) fun riding the sawhorse and roping the cow.

Everyone thought that was pretty fun!

We rode out to the pumpkin fields to pick out the perfect pumpkin.

As it turns out ToddlerD is quite picky about his pumpkins. "It needs to be little so I can carry it." "It needs to be smooth." "It needs to be all orange; no yellow or green on it."

And did I mention how tricky it is to walk in a pumpkin patch!

There was a beautiful field of zinnias, too, that we were allowed to cut flowers from. I loved that!

(Hay is kind of prickly on bare legs.)

Last, but certainly not least, was the corn maze itself! We wandered through the trails with ToddlerD leading the way most of the time---until it was time to actually find our way out, that is. We let Papaw take over at that point.

What a fun Sunday afternoon!