The Great Pumpkin

Every season, there are so many new things to do, see and learn. For example, last week Mommy and Granny started talking about "The Great Pumpkin". Now, to me, this meant nothing, but I could tell by Mom's excitement that it was something I was going to learn about. Apparently, when Mom and Uncle Bubba were little, they would load up with Granny and Granddaddy and go all over town looking for the biggest pumpkin they could find. Then they would take it home and clean it out and make a big jack-o-lantern for Halloween. So began our hunt for the great pumpkin. Last Sunday, we loaded into Daddys' truck and went lookin'. We went to Ooltewah, not many choices. We went to Highway 58, some possible candidates, but Granddaddy said to keep looking! We went to East Ridge, hardly worth getting out of the truck for. Downtown, nothing, Red Bank, nothing, and finally to Hixson. There were some definite candidates here, the best so far, but I was asleep in the truck by now so we decided to come back later in the week and look again.

You call that a big pumpkin??

Not the Great Pumpkin, but I can carry this one!!

After a long day of searching, we met Bubba and Aunt Audi for supper and guess what??? My JeanJean was here!! I didn't know she was in town, but I was soooo glad to see her!

Then, Daddy found out about a place called Burt's Farm in Dawsonville, Ga. It is a giant pumpkin patch with all sizes and shapes of pumpkins. So, Tuesday afternoon, Dad and Granddaddy took off work early and into the truck we piled. After an almost two hour drive over Fort Mountain and through Ellijay, we finally got there. A little green from the trip, but there none the less. We crawled out of the truck and went through this little barn that was a gift shop into the pumpkin area. WOW!!!! HOLY COW!!! and WHOEEEE!!! I have never seen so many pumpkins! There were big pumpkins, little pumpkins, fat pumpkins and skinny pumpkins. There were green pumpkins, warty pumpkins, white pumpkins and gourds. There was an old tractor that was just for playing on and all sorts of home made goodies for sale in the shop.

I started out in my wagon and ended up pulling it around while Dad chased me and videoed everything I did. Mom, Granny and Granddaddy searched through all the ginormous pumpkins looking for "the one". After I was exhausted and muddy around the edges, Daddy helped make the final choice from the ones Granny, Granddaddy and Mom had found. It is AWESOME!! When we got it home and unloaded last night, it looks even bigger! It is bigger than me, and Mom has some cute photo ideas for carving time. Of course, I'll post pictures of that, but in the meantime, here are some shots from our hunt.

This was my reaction to seeing the huge field of pumpkins ahead of me!

In just a few minutes, I was out of my wagon and walking through the rows of pumpkins like I owned the place. I couldn't see over most of them!

The old John Deere tractor. It's a good thing Mom and Dad are teaching me to share. Otherwise I would have just ignored those kids wanting a turn on this wonderful tractor! I did pitch a tiny fit when it was time to get down. I am just shy of two years old though, so it's to be expected!

Look! This tiny pumpkin is almost as cute as I am!!

My Pumpkin loaded in the truck and ready to take home!! This is "THE GREAT PUMPKIN of 2009"! Stay tuned for "the great jack-o-lantern 2009".