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Carol Perkins: The Pumpkin patch Halloween's ritual has evolved over the years but Carol Sullivan Perkins keeps the best part of it alive for her grandchildren with a trip to the king of Metcalfe County pumpkin growers, Brandon Bell. The next earlier Carol Sullivan Perkins column: Who would have believed it? By Carol Perkins This is the time of year when pumpkins light up my life. I love looking at them, piled high on truck beds, headed for market. I like how they hide under green vines and can be seen only when they begin to turn orange. The best part of fall, other than the weather, is the sight of a pumpkin patch. I don't have to go to Jackson's Orchard, although it is a good day's outing, to take my grandchildren to a pumpkin patch to choose their own pumpkins. Although I would not be able to enjoy their ice cream or buy dozens of apples if I didn't go, I can find pumpkins right under my nose. All I have to do is call on Brandon Bell, the pumpkin king of Metcalfe County. Saturday morning I tracked him down. "Brandon, can I take my grandson to one of your patches?" I knew the answer. So, I invited my mother and off we went. The last time I was in a pumpkin patch, the field was muddy and Luke (now seven) got his shoe stuck in a mud hole, but this day was dry and gorgeous. Joseph (four) hopped out of the car and headed straight for the biggest pumpkin as if the territory were familiar to him. He is a city boy and this was his first pumpkin experience. Immediately, he reached through the vines for it, and his arm came out as quickly as it went in. "Ouch!" I had forgotten how prickly the vines were. He tried again. By the time he tramped through the field, he had chosen ten little pumpkins and seven big ones. Of course, they weren't all for him, but he didn't know, so he loaded the little ones while I heaved in the bigger ones into my vehicle and off we went. On the way home, I took a back road that led me to an unfamiliar part of the county, and to the most breathtaking views I have seen in this part of the country. I was in Adair County part of the time, but ended up on Mell Ridge and back to Hwy. 68. Joseph fell asleep saying, "Let's go back to your house." Once back home, I raised the door of the SUV, and the biggest pumpkin in the bunch hit the blacktop. It didn't stop until it rolled down the bank, across the field, and almost to the road. Joseph was right behind it. When it stopped, he tried to carry it to the house, but couldn't lift it. "Get Papa Guy!" he yelled while he waited beside the pumpkin, guarding it. We moved the pumpkins to the porch and then to his car. "What am I going to do with all these pumpkins?" his mother asked. Parents can sometimes take the fun out of everything! As we were on our adventure, I thought of kids who never leave the city. They see pumpkins, of course, but don't have pumpkin patches just a mile down the road. We are so lucky. When I was a kid, a pumpkin was the most important part of fall and especially of Halloween. Each year, my dad cut a hole in the top and plunged his arm deeply into the guts to dig out the insides. This was a ritual. Then my mother melted wax from a candle and let it drip onto the bottom of a jar lid, so the candle would stand up once it was pressed to the hot wax. Then very carefully, she slipped it through the opening of the newly carved jack-o'-lantern. We set it on the back step and admired its beauty as it lit up the yard.My children loved carving pumpkins. Carla would stick her little arm as far down in the slushy guts as it would go and grab as much of the mush as she could, over and over, until the pumpkin was clean. We followed the candle tradition just as I had when I was a child. We sat our pumpkin on the doorstep and by morning, it was gone. The neighborhood kids had saved me from having to get rid of the thing, but someone else probably suffered from their mischievousness. When I think of the fall and of pumpkin patches, I also think of the Pumpkin Festival in Edmonton, which is this weekend. I am looking forward to the day. Come join me and feast your eyes on hundreds of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. (My second book, Let's Keep Talking, has just been released and will be on sale beginning today at Ivy Bookstore in Glasgow for $15. I will also be signing copies at the Uptown Design booth at the Pumpkin Festival Saturday. I look forward to seeing you. Please contact me at cperkins@scrtc.com if you have questions. -Carol) This story was posted on 2010-10-24 12:40:07
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Carol Perkins:
Carol Perkins: Who would have believed it? Carol Perkins: Article to make Oprah feel bad Carol Perkins: Let's Talk About...The Flood of 2010 Carol Perkins: When the morning began Carol Perkins: Lets talk . . . about Depps Restaurant Carol Perkins: A Free Trip Carol Perkins: School Bullies, Part II Carol Perkins article on School Bullies draws interest Carol Perkins: School Bullies I Carol Perkins: Parasailing View even more articles in topic Carol Perkins |
 
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