Papa Welcomes a Guest View on “Pumpkin-izing”

Each year as I walk through the corn-lined fence of Papa’s Pumpkin Patch entrance, I tell myself, “This is the year I will not ‘pumpkin-ize’ my life.” You might think I’m referring to purchasing 2 wagon loads of pumpkins or trying to find the largest pumpkin EVER, or even eating too many pumpkin cookies. But my true vice is my overwhelming desire to completely redecorate my house, menu and wardrobe in “pumpkin.”

I know, you’re thinking, “There can’t be THAT many ways you can display a pumpkin on a fireside mantle!” But in reality, there are thousands. As I walk through the rows of pumpkins and let my brain go to pumpkin-wonderland, I am completely unaware of the running children and beaming grandparents because I’m entranced with the adorable baby boo pumpkins and the possibilities they hold. These little treasures not only make a unique candle holder, but also a durable chew toy for my 95-pound chocolate lab!

I mostly blame Martha Stewart, as my annual pumpkin issue holds hundreds of new ways to carve a pumpkin, paint a pumpkin, hallow a pumpkin into a punch bowl, and even dress yourself and your kid/dog as matching pumpkins! Seriously, this pumpkin patch place is just too good to be true if I think it’s a GOOD idea to dress myself up like a round ball that spent too much time in the tanning bed!

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the recipes that I suddenly MUST make with pumpkins. Pumpkin bars, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake, pumpkin seeds—and those are just the recipes from memory! I now have a rule that I leave my smartphone in the car or I find myself googling new delicious concoctions such as pumpkin soup, pumpkin fritters and even spinach-stuffed pumpkins.

With 12 days to the opening of Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, I’m trying to resist the “pumpkinizing .” I remind myself that all things are good in moderation…even if I turn a little orange in anticipation.

Papa says thank you to our guest view from Kayla Effertz. If you’d like to write to Papa about your thoughts on pumpkins, pumpkin patches or fall, email Papa at papaspumpkins@aol.com

Papa’s Opens Two Weeks from Today!

WOOT! WOOT! Two weeks from today Papa’s Pumpkin Patch will open for the fall season and look what Papa picked in his patch this afternoon! There are hundreds of fellas just like this little baby bear pumpkin waiting to be picked. You can bet Papa is getting anxious to get these guys in the yard and welcome you to his pumpkin patch!

Nothing like Celebrating in Your Back Yard

Now how cool is that? Today Papa’s Pumpkin Patch hosted St. Mary’s Parish for their annual outdoor picnic and mass. Close to 200 people spent time enjoying the outdoors, good food, and some quality time with one another and God.

It was a beautiful afternoon and the North Dakota wind calmed down to next to nothing as evening set in. Folks gathered around on lawn chairs and blankets for an outdoor mass that will be hard to top.

For Papa’s part, we had several fund activities available prior to dinner. Slide Mountain, the Log Jam and the two of the three Zoomin’ Zip Lines were open for play. (In case you’re interested, the zip line swing was a HUGE hit!)

Thanks to St. Mary’s Parish Family for celebrating in Papa’s Back Yard. There’s nothing like it!

 

Papa’s Been Busy This Week…

Papa’s been busy this week getting ready for opening day on Monday, Sept. 10. One of the things he completed was Slide Mountain. Can you see the five different slides that cover this tower of bales?

Papa’s also got a great start on the bale maze tunnels. Even Papa’s puppies love to run through the tunnels, and the “ant hill” as Papa calls it, will be even better in a day or two.

Check this one out. Do you think you’ll be able to slither and scoot and step through all of the bale twine without ringing any of the bells? That’s the test!

Footprints! That’s what you’ll find all over the Log Jam at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch. There are duck prints, hand prints, frog prints and turkey tracks that go over and around and under all kinds of old cottonwoods that make up the log jam.

Mark your calendars! Each of these activities is available every day at Papa’s from 12-7 pm, and all of these are free for the fun-making!

What a difference 1 week and 2″ of rain makes

Look at these beautiful speckled swan gourds! They were barely the size of an 8 oz. water glass a little over a week ago. Two inches of rain and a week of 80-degree temps, and these babies are gorgeous. They’re easily the size of adult feet and they’ve got LOTS of cousins in Papa’s Pumpkin Patch.

Oh, BTW, there are just 21 days until Papa’s is open for the 2012 season! That’s right. We’re back in Bismarck and we open Monday, Sept. 10 and you can visit us every day (weather permitting) from 12-7 pm. Plan your visit now, and if you think you might want to stop by more than once — consider a season pass to Papa’s.