Fall Fun with Friends

First of all, we all know that I love, love, love all things Fall. Whether or not we would be visiting a pumpkin farm was not a question. Determining which pumpkin farm, however, was a challenge. After some extensive research, I concluded that Honeysuckle Hill Farm was clearly the best choice. Joined by some of our best friends, Aaron and Erin Howell and Daniel and Rachel Mitchell, Brad and I embarked on a day filled with fall fun!

We arrived late in the afternoon with plenty of time to enjoy a pig race, pet the farm animals, "milk" a wooden cow, wind through a small haystack maze, and lasso a few bullheads. After each couple picked out a perfect pumpkin to carve and a few of the (free) baby pumpkins, we grabbed some hot dogs and nachos and waited for the sun to go down, and the temperature to drop.

Once it got dark, Brad read us the legend of Scream Creek before we rode the hayride to the haunted trail through the woods. Yes, it was scary. The other girls needed quite the coercion before they would even consider it. We did all survive the many jumps, screams, chainsaws, chases, and masks, but Rachel vowed to never do anything like that again. To calm down, we decided to do the 5-acre corn maze shaped like Johnny Cash - in the dark. What were we thinking?? We got far enough into the maze, to realize that we couldn't find our way out, even with the smuggled digital picture we took of the map. Out of desperation for a heat source, we decided to manage our way back to where we started. We eventually found our way out of the dying corn. It just happened to be by the sign that said "Entrance" rather than "Exit." Oh well.

Sad to leave Honeysuckle Hill Farm, but happy to be warm again, we headed home with every intention of carving our new purchases and enjoying some home-made caramel apples. Well, we only had enough energy to perform one of the exciting activities, so we tackled the apples. They turned out super delicious. The Granny Smith sourness was perfectly complimented by the sweet taste of caramel. Mmmm. They were so big, none of us could even finish ours. Well, except for Aaron, who ate all of his as well as the rest of Erin's.

Oh, Brad did manage to carve a special little pumpkin. He couldn't wait until we have the official Pumpkin Carving Ceremony with our friends Monday night (while watching Titans vs. Colts). He's very proud of his mini ode to the Cubs. As he should be. I can't wait to show you all of the rest of our perfectly sculted Jack-O-Lanterns. So stay tuned!

Complete Pumpkin Farm Album