“Fall makes me think that if I fail horribly at this art thing, and then fail horribly with this writing thing, I’ll go run a pumpkin patch.”
I think there is nothing more magical than a pumpkin patch. And I have lived in Wilmington for 26 years and always wanted to go to the pumpkin patch at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church which has been going for the month of October for 28 years. It is truly magical. To go at night with twinkly lights everywhere, straw pathways and platforms full of pumpkins, families everywhere checking out pumpkins in every shape and size and even different colors, happy children pulling wagons with bright smiles on their faces, and the young teen that helped me pulling a wagon alongside me as I looked for pumpkins that were just right. I picked two bigger ones and two tiny ones to sit beside them. They are on my front porch now. Perhaps if I fail at this writing thing I’ll go run a pumpkin patch!
It is so hard for me to leave the house and I rarely do and don’t go many places but there was something about having the couple here all afternoon yesterday working outside from noon until after 6 p.m. cleaning up the yard, cutting the grass, cutting and shaping all of the bushes, generally making the yard look very nice, even with downed trees and debris piled at the front of the road and still big work to be done with trees that need to come down and big dangling branches in the back that need to be removed it was such a huge improvement it gave me a sense of beginning to get my life back, and thinking about other things besides the hurricane and all the damage and devastation. And yesterday morning when the dogs and I went outside it was so remarkably cool it felt like fall for the first time, and so after my helpers left I fed the dogs and I thought “I need to get my pumpkins!” and I just dashed out without thinking and drove straight to the pumpkin patch. As I arrived I was so nervous it was almost an out-of-body experience but I parked and walked around the side of the church into the magical scene above and I was just enchanted. Nothing existed but that pumpkin patch. It was like being in a fairy tale.
And now, because this is life, I can tell you that I have felt the whole gamut of things since then. I did not sleep well last night, had a dream that left me wistful and heartbroken about a lost love, left me with a sense of longing, and, after what seemed an eternity I went back to sleep. I was not quite right in myself when I got up with the dogs and put them in their harnesses to take them out but then we stepped out onto the front porch and there were the pumpkins, and for a moment the sense of magic returned. Pumpkins do that.
I don’t think I will carve them, I will leave them on the porch through Thanksgiving, and then I will figure out what to do with them. I want to really decorate for Christmas too. I want to live fully and celebrate life. That’s what “These Precious Moments” is all about. And I will be creating a special page just for this project that will talk about the magic of doing one of these 365 day projects too. You will find that new page some time this week when you click on the graphic link at the bottoms of these posts. For now it just links to yesterday’s post when I changed the focus of this project, but something special is happening now. I will take it one day, one moment at a time. In the end that’s all we ever have, one singular moment. It is a splendid place to rest and be. I am here now.
yay to the pumpkin patch and your front porch magic to brush away the sad dreams.
these precious moments speaks to me, having survived a major hurricane with nothing but a bunch of debris to be raked up. the sun is shining, my cat is snoozing on the picnic table (he has already forgotten no doubt cowering wherever he could find shelter, being a very definite outdoor cat, doesn’t like to be closed in) the sunflowers still waving in the breeze, it’s incredible to be alive, well, and reading your post, with power back!
xo
ka
Thank you honey and oh yes, the pumpkin patch was pure magic as are the pumpkins! And I am SO happy that you all made it through the hurricane okay. Lord Girl aren’t we DONE with this! Now we can enjoy the beautiful, golden autumn days, my favorite time of the year, and oh, I envy you your sunflowers. I miss having a garden full of them. And POWER! Lord Have Mercy no power is a nightmare and you got yours back pretty quick. I had no power for a week! It was GRIM! The things we take for granted…
M. xoxox
Beautiful post dear Maitri and oh what glorious pumpkins, I love the photos! xxx
Thank you sweet Jenny, the pumpkins are grand! I’ll have to post a picture of them on my front porch. I can’t wait for the little trick-or-treaters to come! 😀
It’s a joy to see your happy smile in this photo Maitri. Here’s to many more happy pumpkin moments 🙂
Thank you so much dear Moira. And many happy pumpkin moments all around for everybody everywhere!!! 😀
Maitri,
Your photos are just magical! I am so happy to know you are taking part in this upcoming season of festivities. And of course we will always have ups and downs but it feels so good when joy rises to the top.
Sending you warm thoughts and gentle hugs for a peaceful and restful night.
<3
Thank you sweet Maggie. I surely wish you lived closer. I think we would have lovely times together. I’m so glad we’re friends. And yes the ups and downs and the pumpkins in between… 🙂
Hugs to you angel…
Hey Maitri so glad you are getting out. It must have been hard. I understand what it must be like leaving the house with your agrophobia I hope one day you can meet more people.
You are such a lovely wholesome person. I can imagine you would get along with almost anybody – you are very accepting and open.
Your blog posts would be warming to anyones heart. Maybe one day you will get on top of it but I imagine your home is surrounded by lots of comforts which would be very inviting to a visitor.
I don’t know how you would go about having maybe one person visit with a cup of tea and a chat. I’m praying that you can resolve this issue as nobody deserves to be alone.
Sending you love and warm wishes
Thank you Leeanne honey, you are very dear and this was a very kind note. My daughter comes over usually once a week and we talk nearly daily. My friend Noni comes sometimes. And all of you here who come to my blog mean the world to me. 🙂
I appreciate you being part of my community here, bless you dearheart…
Fall is so magical. The cool air the colors. Tonight we had the most glorious sunset. I just had to go and watch out the window til it was almost faded. Your visit to the pumpkin patch sounds great Reminded me of a pumpkin farm out in the country not far from us. They have a cute little amusement park with little rides and spooky buildings and farm animals but the highlight is the pig races. I’ve been so busy working on Halloween costumes and by next weekend I will be done. Been wanting to take a drive to see fall colors and asked hubby if we could go to the farm. He said yes. I’ll take pictures for you. Thanks. for jogging my memory. Fall is my favorite season too.
Oh Paula the farm sounds absolutely magical. I’m so glad that you are going to be going! DO take pictures, I’d love to see them! And what fun to be working on Halloween costumes. This is the first time in many years I am actually going to be opening my heart and home to trick or treaters and giving out candy. It was the hurricane, you see, so many families with young children came to check on me and it made me want to be part of things, to see them. The hurricane was a terrible thing but there were gifts too. Amazing how that works… Enjoy the farm, I can’t wait to hear about it! 🙂
Hope and you, both beautiful.
I’m hugging you real big sweet Beverley…