Patch-O-Pumpkins...

I just--I mean just upgraded to Blogger's new post drafting settings. I know this has been a spiffy feature of Blogger for a while but when I first tried it out I couldn't find the spell check. Which is to say--the new editing software did not have spell check. And not only do I have pretty bad spelling, I have a heightened paranoia about people seeing my spelling errors. Seriously, if I type up a paragraph and none of the words have red squiggly lines under them, I type the word "blerg" just to make sure spell check is properly picking up my spelling errors. So a post editor that did not have spell check was not for me.

Thankfully, Blogger added spell check and I can join the New Age.

On to those pumpkins mentioned in the title...

Clare's preschool had a trip to the pumpkin patch a week ago. Her preschool teacher thoughtfully scheduled the filed trip for the late afternoon so older siblings could come along. This timing also meant our arrival at the pumpkin patch coincided perfectly with the arrival of "The Fog". "The Fog" in this part of California does not mess around. It is not a soft whisper of mist clinging to the tops of trees or skirting far off fields...no, no. "The Fog" is more like rain--except it doesn't fall from the sky--it just sits all around you: on your skin, head, car, stroller and any other surface foolish enough to be out in "The Fog".

We had a great time. The Pumpkin Patch was decked out in a Mythology theme. Wyatt liked seeing the big metal statue of the Minotaur--we are listening to the first Percy Jackson book and had just heard about Percy's run in with the Minotaur.

Wyatt raced around the hay bale maze and Clare rode the little train around and around and around--while I stood (with a forced smile) getting sopping wet with each passing second. Finally--about the time my clothes were drenched with mist and I was a standing puddle--it was time to go. We hastily picked out pumpkins and the kids raced to the car. With chattering teeth I started the car and thought: "I'll never do that again, at least not with out hip waders and a rain slicker."

Believe it or not, it was a good day.