Henry and I planted pumpkins waaaaay back in the spring. And now we’ve harvested our very first one of the season.
Charlie wants me to turn it into puree, but Henry’s not quite ready to let that happen.
Our apple tree’s also going to town. This is like a tenth of it.
And Charlie’s now officially a first grader. My, how things do grow!
Last weekend, Joe informed us we were going mini-golfing. I love mini-golfing, but I admit when I picture a mini golf course it’s pretty simplistic. A windmill here, a little “creek” there…but this place was on an entirely other level.
It’s a sculpture garden primarily, and then also the artist created a 14-hole mini golf course. I have to say, this place is something straight out of my dreams. Maybe not your dreams, but definitely mine.
Picnic table
Goat pen, including a nice little visual shout-out to the spoon-and-cherry bridge
A sculpture-adorned little pond
Best.
Apparently the artist traded a new, working tractor for a bunch of old-timey broken ones. Our kinda guy
It wasn’t just me who was lovin’ all this. The boys were in total wander-mode.
Henry was, I believe, being a trailer pulled by the Daddy tractor. Also check Joe’s awesome clip-on sunglasses. Thanks, Grandpa Mel! All three of us found some that worked for our particular glasses.
Yes.
Quadruple Yes!
Charlie had theories about all of the things
Daddy must be the trailer now
Rock Paper Scissors. Oh yeah
These are our silly faces
There is a great area with a bonfire pit. Apparently rentable? Also, they just keep a fire going and provide fresh marshmallows and skewers. And their pig hangs out.
Never pass up an opportunity like this, I say.
Pirate ship you can climb in
Complete with treasure chest guarded by an octopus
I’m just going to have to say it again: I loved this place.
After our stroll about the grounds, we hit the course. Despite how often they’ve done it, putting still just is very awkward for them.
Henry mostly ended up being the Flag Guy.
A hole inside an upturned boat hull!
We all thought it looked like a church
Flag Guy
A hole inspired by Spiral Jetty. I think this was my fave
It was so long, so you could really whack the ball. And it smelled like the Como Conservatory (which is a wonderful botanical smell for the non-Twin-Citians)
Plinko-inspired
The last hole carries your ball meanderingly down this water labyrinth before it disappears below. Wonderful and meditative way to end a round.
Bye, Big Stone!
While we were over in Minnetrista, we stopped by Gale Woods Farm
Charlie said that he wished he were a chicken, and that he lived in this coop
Mushroom Forest
The Learning Garden, AKA: the sample room
Everything was delicious. I still remember the first time I got to wander through a huge garden and pick food right off the plants. It’s one of my favorite memories, so it was beautiful to see the boys doing the same, even if they’re probably still too young for it to become any kind of lasting memory.
Butterfly raspberries
Every year since Charlie started preschool in 2014, the teachers at Judson have asked us to provide a family picture, either for the classroom door or for getting-to-know-you books or whatnot. I’m really glad, because we so rarely take a photo that includes all of us at once. This way, every fall, along with the Welcome Letters from the teachers comes the request for a photo. Without fail, we realize we have none, so we ask whoever’s standing around at that moment to take our picture in the front yard. This year, either Sparks or Talon did the honors, I can’t remember.
So without further ado, here’s this year’s photo
