Last week, Hubby surprised us with the news that he had heard about a pumpkin farm mere miles from where we live.
“What? Really?” Aspie D and I asked incredulously.
“Yes, really!”
So guess what we did at the weekend?
With the sun shining its afternoon warmth through what had started off as a crisp, misty Sunday morning, we drove along country roads until we found this sign ~
(c) Sherri Matthews 2015
Not a sign beckoning us to The Pumpkin Farm in Paso Robles, California, but to a farm in a tiny village in Dorset in the West Country of England.
And there they were, pumpkins galore ~
A small gathering of giggling children crunched their way through the pumpkin patch, but I think we were the biggest kids there. Hubby had never been to a pumpkin patch before and I smiled as I watched him and Aspie D hunt for ‘the one’.
But there weren’t only pumpkins at the farm:
And of course we had to pose:
But look what else – reindeer!
The reindeer – who live on the farm – are young, still with ‘baby’ fur on their antlers. During the build up to Christmas they accompany Santa, bedecked in sleigh bells and reindeer Christmas finery.
Because you see, not only are pumpkins grown at this farm, but so are Christmas trees. For every one cut down, five more are planted. Nordman Fir and Spruce. I think I know where we’ll be as soon as we can, tagging our tree. Just like old times.
New adventures beckon: I thought my days of visiting pumpkin farms belonged to the past. But in this Happy Place, memories of my life with my children in California collided with an afternoon of joy and laughter with Hubby and my grown daughter, as the autumn sunshine smiled down on a village in West Country England.
*********
Some adventures bring repercussions: while Charli was away enjoying her homecoming with her husband’s family at ‘Wolf Ranch’ in Nevada, somebody came by her own ranch in Idaho and raided her apple tree, stealing every single one. She laments the loss of all she had planned to make and bake with her apples, but takes her experience to give us this week’s flash fiction prompt:
‘In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a thief or a theft. Consider motives and repercussions. Is the act a matter of perception? Is it a daring maneuver or a desperate bid for survival? Think about different instances of stealing.’
Stealing is no laughing matter: I wish I could magic back all of Charli’s apples, but I can’t. So I wrote a flash continuing on with the adventures of Ethel and Fred, The Clueless Werewolf, instead:
Werewolf’s Clothing
Fred peeped out from behind the hedge as soon as the upstairs light went out.
Starkers and desperate, he ran for it, grabbing the first thing he felt hanging on the washing line.
A dog barked and the bedroom light snapped back on.
“Oy…’oose there?” Old Mr Cooper called out.
“Look, there it goes!” screamed Old Mrs Cooper.
“Bleedin’ peepin’ Tom, I’ll ‘ave ‘im!”
A shot rang out.
Rumours abounded of a creepy man wearing Old Mrs Cooper’s white nightie terrorising the neighbourhood.
Ethel cackled, relieved that the next full moon was still a full month away.
A View From My Summerhouse 
What a lovely day out! All they need to do is put the chickens to work at Easter time and they have year round income worked out.
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Haha 😀 Yes, although they sell their wonderful eggs and home-grown honey too (bee hives somewhere I’m guessing) in the little farm shop. So happy to have found this place, in all these years, who knew? We didn’t!
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Sherri, love the pictures. Made me laugh out loud. So glad they have a punkin’ patch there you could enjoy. 😀
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Haha…so glad it made you LOL Susan! 😀 Can you believe how happy I am about a pumpkin patch? Crazy isn’t it? Lovely to hear from you as always, thank you! 🙂
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OH, how cool. 🙂 Sounds like a wonderful day. Makes me smile. This place is so incredibly amazing for planting 5 trees for each 1 cut down. EVERY place should do that. Alas, they don’t, so this is officially the best tree place ever. Also, reindeer. Love the photos.
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Forgot to comment my ‘LOL’ on the flash! 😀
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Love to give a good LOL, thanks Sarah 😀
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Yay, best tree place ever! And made you smile too, makes me happy that Sarah 😀 This little gem of a place is hidden away just outside a tiny village and we just couldn’t believe it! I’ve added a couple more to the reindeer pics, had a few probs last night, got a few things mixed up, corrected them now 🙂
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Great photos Sherri! You look pretty as a pumpkin. 🙂 And a good lol, on the flash fiction. xo
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Haha…well I thank you very much Debby, just had to pose you know 🙂 Although not too keen on being a witch, ha! Glad you had a good LOL too…makes my heart smile knowing that 😀
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Sherri, your pumpkin patch is so lovely! I don’t even know where one is here in Phoenix! OK, I give up. What do reindeer have to do with growing Christmas trees? hahahaha
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Oh Luanne, we couldn’t believe we found this, and practically on our doorstep! I wonder how long it’s been there, all these years and we had no idea…..! LOL! Yes, I see what you mean. I meant to load three pics of the reindeer, then put my paras in the wrong order…geeze, so glad you said that! Makes more sense now I hope …reindeer..Christmas trees 😀
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Pumpkin patches don’t excite me, but I can see why they would you 😀 No for me the reason to visit is the reindeer – is there more than one? What a marvellous beast. I hope he is being well-trained for the sleigh pulling. I once saw a real reindeer and sleigh when I was about 5 years old. Honest! I’m not pulling your leg 🙂
Cool FF – I can picture Fred in his nightgown – Wee Willy Winkie and all that…
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Oh Jude, we had such a surprise when, in our kid-like excitement, daughter suddenly cried out, “Look over there, reindeer!” We couldn’t believe it. I put more pics up…had some issues last night, meant to put up three, one showed so I’ve fixed it now for you 🙂 We asked about them and were told that they are indeed trained up for sleigh rides during the Christmas season. What an amazing sight for a 5 year old, no wonder you’ve never forgotten it, and I do believe every word Jude 🙂 Haha…yes, a bit of Wee Willy Winkie going on there come to think of it… 😉 😀 😉
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What a wonderful day out with the family. I love the photos, Sherri. You’re such a cute pumpkin! Excellent FF challenge, my friend! Chat with you soon! <3<3
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Haha…thanks Jill, had to do it 🙂 It really was such a wonderful day out, I’m still smiling at the thought of it, and the weather was perfect too. Glad you enjoyed the FF too 🙂 Chat soon indeed 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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What a good man your hubby is! And that farm sounds like a place to keep in mind all year round – I wonder what they do for Easter…….. Enjoyed the continuing story too xo
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He is a good man Pauline, and we had such a lot of fun 🙂 I loved sharing this experience with him, something that was such a huge part of my earlier life with the kids in CA, and now, right here in Somerset, England! All I need is for the boys to join us! Yes, I will have to find out about Easter. They sell the wonderful free range eggs in the shop, and some veggies and home-grown honey too. Also several apple trees grow there, brimming with red-crisp apples. The kind of place where I could live very happily 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying Fred…I sort of threw this one out, hope I can keep it going and original…let’s see. Thanks Pauline! 🙂
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Pumpkins up your way? I learn something everyday. Lovely farm with lots of goodies for everyone. Gorgeous pictures, Sherri. Shows you have a rocking good time and a grand weather day for it.
An entertaining story with a seamless twist. Love it! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Ha! You and me both Tess! Who knew? We had no idea! Yes, it really was one of those rare and wonderful afternoons when everything goes right,you know? And I love sharing it all here 🙂 Thrilled you enjoyed the flash too…yay, and thank you so much! 😀 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤
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You are more than welcome, Sherri. Nice to see you. I pop in now and again these days. Too busy. 😀
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And when you do Tess, I love it, nice to see you too 😀
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What happiness a pumpkin patch gives. 🙂 We had a blast in one, too, just this weekend. 🙂
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So much happiness Imelda, for sure! How wonderful for your family, many happy memories are made at such times 😀 🙂
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Hilarious! I love the picture of Fred escaping with old Mrs Cooper’s white nightie. What a picture! I’m sure Ethel had a chuckle. Though I think she was previously not humoured by his naked antics!
I love that you found a pumpkin farm. I look forward to seeing what you all do with “the” pumpkin for Halloween. The chickens are gorgeous, as are the reindeer. I can’t believe it’s time to start thinking about Christmas! Isn’t it wonderful that they plant five trees for every one removed. Great practice.
There were some young deer at the farm I visited recently. I wonder if they’ll dress them up for Christmas. Hmmm. The family is heading back there for Granddaughter’s birthday next month but the other grandparents are going this time. We must share. 🙂
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Haha…that’s right Norah, I love that you remember that about Ethel, thank you for that! Last time she was more than a little furious with poor Fred – nuts anyone? 😀 But she’s cooled off a bit now and is beginning to enjoy how Fred’s antics stir up the neighbours a little bit methinks…on small doses that is 😉
Oh yes, I didn’t show a pic of the pumpkin, but it is a big one and yes, will be sure to post a pic when my daughter carves it as she does every year. She is the artist in the family and I always look forward to her latest creation 🙂
I know, I can hardly believe I mentioned Christmas already. Oh your farm visit sounds so lovely. Yes good to share, I’ve got that to come, I hope 🙂
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Yes. I remember nuts anyone now. Had forgotten the clever phrasing. 🙂
Please do share the pumpkin. I look forward to seeing Daughter’s creation. 🙂
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Haha…onions too, so I believe 😉 I will Norah, and thank you! I told Daughter that and she smiled and said she would think of something different, so watch this space 😀
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A pumpkin patch! And some still as green as half of mine! I did get 5 pie pumpkins harvested and have six left to turn more orange. Oh, what fun to have found such a place where you can share the American experience on your own home soil. Great photos! Love the look on Hubby’s face! And your flash — you are having fun with these two! A nightie! Poor Fred, no dignity in being a werewolf caught starkers! 😀
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Yes, I couldn’t believe it Charli, such a thrill!! I was so excited to share this and thrilled for your pumpkins too, that’s a wonderful crop and still there thank goodness… 😮 Haha…I know, Hubby was getting into the spirit of things as you can see! I am having fun with Fred and Ethel, I admit, although I had a bit of a struggle getting this to fit the 99 words as I went off on different tangent at first. In the end it was the white nightie that spoke the loudest. Funny that, white dresses and all…. 😉 I know…no dignity whatsoever. The thing is, Fred has no idea how he got starkers in the first place. Think it’s about time Ethel explained a few things to him 😀 😉 😀 Thanks for another great writing prompt Charli!
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There’s something about a pumpkin farm and choosing the one that’s ‘just right’ … It looks like you had a lovely outing.
And that Fred, always up to something!
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It was a really lovely outing, thank you Marlene, I’m still beaming when I think about it! And yes, that Fred, he just keeps getting into trouble… 😉
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Such fun pictures, Sherri. Reminds me of going to a pumpkin farm with our little granddaughter last year. I even got to do my first ever hayride. 🙂 Your flash fiction made me laugh. Poor old Fred!
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I remember your trip to the pumpkin farm with your granddaughter and all your lovely photos, such fun for you all 😀 Haha…thanks Sylvia, glad Fred is still making you laugh. He just can’t keep out of trouble can he? 😀
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No, poor Fred seems to be his own worst enemy. 😕
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Yep…he really is… 😉
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What an adorable pumpkin you make, Sherri 🙂 I can’t get over the turn around in things over here. The pumpkin fairs are big business in the States aren’t they? Maybe they’ll start happening here too. Just so long as they keep the reindeers! Aren’t they beautiful! 🙂 🙂
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Haha…thanks Jo… I think!! 😀 Yes, so true, and I had no idea pumpkin farms existed over here!. But seeing the reindeer too was such a lovely, unexpected surprise. I can’t wait to go back to get our Christmas tree and hopefully get some pics of them in all their Christmas finery 🙂
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Loved the pictures of the pumpkin-plus-more-farm and the story!
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Haha…’pumpkin-plus-more-farm’ 😀 Yay, so glad, thanks so much Donna! 🙂
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The whole set up of your story is like a 70’s comedy lol, I love it! Reindeers, CHristmas is coming all too quickly again, so here’s me claiming I will beat the shopping rush and put my feet up in direct opposition to that statement.
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Lol! ‘Carry On Screaming’ come to mind? Haha…so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, reindeers too. Not expected at all. But now you can put your feet up…but let’s not get caught up in Black Friday…I expect it will be worse than ever before. Seeing those reindeer and talking about Christmas trees…well, I couldn’t help myself. But first we have a pumpkin to carve…
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Carry On Screaming was the one, we used to have that on the TV every wet break at school, I could recite great swathes of dialogue at one point. Now i work nights Black Friday won’t affect me in a customer way, just a stock way so there is that as a blessing. Soon, that time will be upon us but before then a nap is due and I’m down with that!
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Oh those glorious wet breaks at school…now I feel really nostalgic. So you can escape the madness of Black Friday. Great. Me too, as I won’t be anywhere near the shops that day. Happy napping 🙂
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Those reindeer are so cute! I remember seeing them in the Cairngorms. Your flash is really funny – good job!
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Bet that was a beautiful sight. They are gorgeous aren’t they? Haha…thanks Jenny, so glad the flash made you laugh. I’m being a bit silly here but I feel silly lately… 🙂 Oh…and I love your new profile pic, you look great! xx
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Love it, Sherri! The farm looks special, love the reindeer… and Werewolf’s Clothing was fun to read.
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It was such a fun place to visit Tom! I thought of you when I wrote this, and I am woefully behind in visiting you, but counting on your Halloween posts if last year is anything to go by! Had to bring Fred back…so glad you enjoyed the flash, thanks Tom!! 🙂
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Scary Halloween comedy flash fiction at it’s best, Sherri. I love it! Poor old Fred. I just hope that white nightie of Mrs Cooper is not too tight on him. A werewolf in a nightie sounds like a creature nobody should approach.
What a great find you had as well. Christmas Trees and Pumpkins all in one place? My, I’d have been in heaven walking around that place. So good to hear that they plant five fir trees for every one that is cut down. A never-ending Christmas awaits with plenty of top branches for up coming Christmas fairies and angels to sit.
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Thank you so much Hugh! Haha..you make me laugh out loud!! Yes, poor Fred. He’s cold and hungy and all he could find was that white nightie. Mrs Cooper is not exactly small, so there’s plenty of room for movement. And he’s going to need to move fast if he’s to avoid those gun shots! Time Ethel relented and let him back home methinks…let’s see…
Oh Hugh, I wish you could have been there at the pumpkin farm, think of the fun we would have had, you would love it there and I love your thinking..a ‘never-ending Christmas’…wonderful :-).
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I’m still laughing at the rumors of the creepy man in Mrs. Cooper’s nightie, Sherri. You include the most wonderful details in your writing!
Pumpkin farms are a trademark of October fun in both Colorado and Kansas. When my grandkids were little, we’d let them each choose a pumpkin. Gannon was only three when we added one restriction: he had to choose one he could carry. The little guy was always choosing the enormous pumpkins that required two or three adults to carry. His sister always rescued a little one with a defect of some kind. But she would name it and get attached to it, and hide it under her bed or in a closet or drawer so it would be safe.
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Haha… 😀 It’s fun to go down the flash fiction road after writing memoir, so glad you enjoyed it, you encourage me so much Marylin! Oh I love your pumpkin stories, brought back instant memories of my boys doing just the same, trying to carry the biggest, heaviest ones they could! That is just so sweet of your granddaughter ‘rescuing’ a defected one and hiding it beneath her bed! And giving it a name too! Thank you for sharing this deligthful story with me Marylin, just so precious 🙂 ❤
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What a wonderful place to wander. I have never been to a pumpkin farm. The mind boggles but your photos show it beautifully. I’ve grown pumpkins perhaps 1 at the most 2 vines. It must be triffid like as they grow. Thanks for the wander. Just loved it. 🙂
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It really was Irene, one of those really lovely autumn afternoons with the sun not too hot but warm enough and just a lovely atmosphere of family fun and such wonderful memories brought back too. That’s great that you grew your own pumpkins, and yes, haha, they are like triffids when they really take off as a tangled mass of vines. Did you eat yours? I grew them once (in the States) and ended up with three huge ones which we put outside our front door as an ‘fall’ decoration rather than carved out. I also grew corgettes (or do you call them zucchini there as in the States?) but no luck that year as the gophers ate the roots from underneath, not unlike Charli’s gophers who stole her onions! So glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for wandering with me 🙂
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Yes we ate them. I go through a pumpkin or more a week as I eat it for breakfast. When I was growing them we gave a lot of them away and sold the odd one at the Farmer’s market on the community stall. We do call zucchini zucchini. This is the first place I haven’t had a large veggie garden and I miss having my own produce. Pride gives it added flavour.
I loved wandering with you Sherri. Have a good week.😄
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Really? Goodness, you must really like pumpkin then! I had to get used to the taste, having never had it until I moved to the States, and then only as pumpkin pie. Interesting to know you call zucchini zucchini 😉 It is wonderful having a veggie patch, I don’t have one here either, but people are big on growing then in small veggie bags and pots and such, so it is still possible to have a variety even if with a small garden. I do have my herb garden though with various herbs such as rosemary, sage, lemon thyme and chives. Nothing like homegrown is there? We need to wander more often! You have a good week too Irene 🙂 ❤
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Great post!!! what a lovely bunch of pumpkins…and all those reindeer!
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Thank you so much badfish, great to share this magical place with you, and reindeer too 😀
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love it
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🙂
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Sounds like you had a lovely and nostalgic day! I LOVE the idea of selecting your own tree for christmas, sounds so romantic, although the cutting of christmas trees for two weeks of glamour feels so wrong to me. I still do it every year for my family, though. Very entertaining flash, too!
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It was a really lovely day, and I’m glad you enjoyed the flash too, thanks Ali! We used to cut down our trees at a tree farm when we lived in the States and haven’t done it for years, so I’m so looking forward to the experience again. I’m glad I can reconcile it with knowing that the trees are replaced and then recycled afterwards, but I battle just like you with the concept of cutting them down like that. Strange dilema this one isn’t it…?
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It is. Christmas wouldnt be the same without it, and yet I still feel bad about it.
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Loved the flash… Left me chuckling!
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Thank you very much Roger 🙂
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Oh the lovely California fields covered with chubby pumpkins! Love this automnal post, Sherri. Yoru photos are as always lovely, too.
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Yes, I still can’t get over finding a pumpkin patch here in England, only miles from where we live! Lovely to see you again Evelyne, I’m glad you enjoyed this seasonal post, thank you! I am very slow making my way round since returning from my blogging hiatus, but I look forward to visiting you very shortly 🙂
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Take your time! But stop by to see pumpkins too! 🍂🍁
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Thanks Evelyne.. will do 🙂
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Hello mon ami = as you know I am still catching up on so much – but had to say I am glad I dropped by for this nice flowing post – first – the pumpkins are so natural looking – and how fun…. sound like a nice farm and the reindeer getting ready for xmas here was a nice smile. Ethel and Fred left with me another smile…
❤
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Well hello mon amie, what a lovely surprise! I missed you so much here in blogland and always relish reading your lovely comments 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it, and of course the ongoing adventures of Ethel and Fred! See you soon! ❤
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One word Sherri…..Brilliant, loved that 99 word challenge, you are so very gifted with these. The farm looked amazing my kids would have enjoyed the reindeers for sure.
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Wow…I’m stunned, thanks so much Kath! And yes, your kids would love it there, definitely 🙂
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I’ve never been to a pumpkin patch either but it all sounds wonderful. Fancy someone stealing all the apples from a tree. What a horrible thing to do. I hope karma catches up with them and the apples all have worms,
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I hope you get to go to one Marie, they are so much fun! And yes, I felt so bad for Charli, that someone would do that. Ha, I wonder what kind of justice will be served…
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Karma will work I’m sure
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😉
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No sooner had I just written please keep more of Ethel and Fred coming when low and behold another installment! My cup is full! 🙂 As for the Pumpkin Patch just delightful. As I said I wish I had been with you. Such a great place and enjoyed the photos and imagining all the fun you 3 had exploring such a special place. Here comes Christmas! lots of love xo
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Oh I wish you had been there with us too dear Diane! Think of all the fun photos we would have taken 😉 Glad to keep you topped up with Fred & Ethel too! Love reading your messages, and sending lots of love right back to you too…for now, Christmas and always 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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