Long Neck Pumpkin Patch

It was pumpkin patch day. And we discovered that pumpkin patches in our new neck of the woods are a little different. There's an admission fee. And for that there's a world of activities and a pumpkin to take home. It was a blast. I think the corn kernel bins were the biggest hit, although there were close seconds like the tennis ball launchers and wagon ride. There are some sample photos below. All the photos are here. This was the Long Neck Pumpkin Patch. Then fabulous pumpkin pancakes for dinner courtesy of Matt and Fina. There must have been 200+ cars in the lot, at least 500 people there but never felt crowded. We drove by another similar patch that was equally busy.

Rubber Duckie races.

Foam block castle building.

Corn bins (ala a sand box).

Storytime. And who should jump in...

Tennis ball launchers.

First Day of Snow

Talk about excited kids...

The Slide

Tracy discovered quite the slide just off Voyager Parkway about 5 miles from the house. All the photos.

Sisco Visit

Vickie and Rob visited for a few days this week and weekend. Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City was our theater of operation.

Thursday:

Holden House. Highly recommended.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway all the way to 14,110 feet. All Thursday photos.

Manitou Springs. Fun downtown, some good eats.

Friday:

Seven Falls, by the Broadmoor. All Friday photos.

Seven Falls.

The Golden Bee, at the Broadmoor. Jamie was here a
couple times back in space authority days.

Saturday:

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. All Saturday photos.

Matteo and AJ had swim team practice at the
U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

FUMCAG: Thank You!

Our Methodist church family gave us a send off on our way to Colorado, and included a gift certificate to a restaurant in Colorado Springs, Paravicini's Italian Bistro in Old Colorado City. Lynn and I got to use that gift on our way to meeting up there with Vickie and Rob for our "Manitou Springs Get-Away" for a few days. See other recent post on those wonderful days. Below are a couple pics from our Paravicini's experience, which was great.

Reminded us of a favorite we discovered through Foremost Wine Company
in San Luis Obispo, Renato Ratti Barbera d'Alba.

Important for No Good Reason

Some things that make a house into a home are inexplicable. Certainly no inherent value. Just an odd little thing that ends up accumulating importance. This picture and frame have been in Nana's and Papa's bathroom since their first apartment in Northfield, MN in 1975. That's like 12 homes ago. I have no recollection of where or why we got it. It just seems to scream "us," I guess.

Western Museum of Mining and Industry

And when they say, "the museum that works," they mean it. Most of the equipment displayed actually works! And they demonstrated a few for us. Now they may not be steam driven as originally done, but with the magic of compressed air and/or electrical "supply," they ran. And this place is just down the road from us, about 2 miles. Western Museum of Mining and Industry website. We saw the first snow on Pikes Peak this morning, too, and celebrated with Daou, one of our favorite "mountain top" wines from California. All the photos are here.

This was one of six(ish) miner escape capsules
made to successfully rescue the 33 miners in Chile.

The machine gears are blurry because it's running.

Today's treasures.