In the spring, my husband worked really hard and built four big garden boxes for the front yard. He brought in yards of soil, and set up drip sprinklers so we wouldn’t have to think much about keeping the plants refreshed. Then, he recruited the kids who happily had a blast planting our garden – we had had so much zucchini (I have gallon bags frozen in the freezer for winter cooking), a ton of tomatoes (cherry, pear and early girls), cucumbers, beans, raspberries, and even a of couple watermelons!

But the favorite of the harrest around here is always the pumpkins. The vines grow and cover the hill in our front yard with their big green leaves. We get really excited when we spot the first golf ball sized pumpkind at the base of the yellow flowers and then, we keep an eye out as they get bigger and bigger. Making it a game as we pull in and out of the drive way through out the summer months.

When the days start to get shorter and the fog starts to fill the air. When the rain comes down a little more frequently and heavier – we know it’s time to cut the big orange orbs off the vine.  This year we ended up with a dozen of these beauties. All shapes and sizes. We filled the wagon and then walked it around the neighborhood to share with the other kids on the block. It’s a really fun tradition and something my kids get a huge kick out of each October. Who needs to go to a farm when you  have the pumpkin patch right out the front door?!Our cat, Ruben loves when we are out in the yard. Purring and chatting his meowing chat as we work. Sharing the harvest and decorating fun with Jojo (her grandma) back in Reno via Face-time. Isn’t technology so cool?

How about you? Do you grow your own or do you make a day of going to the pumpkin oatch each year? Either way, these little traditions help us mark the change of seasons and make for some really fun memories.

Here’s to a great Halloween, happy haunting everyone !

Keep chasing that light, Vanessa