We are NOT a crafty family...

so you could have knocked me over with a feather when The Big Dude suggested that the boys could paint their pumpkins from the patch. Here's what we ended up with: a skeleton (the Littlest Dude's), a Death-Eater (Middle Dude's), Iron Man (Eldest Dude), and Cat Woman (as copied from the Lego.Com site by The Big Dude).



Tomorrow, I'll show you the piece d'resistance on the back of the Cat Woman pumpkin. Stay tuned. Same bat channel, same bat time. (hmmm, I'm probably dating myself a bit by quoting that...)

Pumpkin Patch

Really. The drive to Julian really was all about the pie. But, that there was also a beautiful pumpkin patch, was a total bonus. An organic, pretty, pumpkin-still-on-the-vine, pumpkin patch filled with tiny little frogs. Super duper bonus. The boys were in heaven. And I was happy to have a beautiful, natural backdrop for our pumpkin gathering pictures. The pumpkin "patch" closest to home is the dumb "Pumpkin City" that is erected in the Sears parking lot, replete with amusement rides. ugh. I like this patch much better, thankyouverymuch.

I AM the Vine...

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it,
that it may bear more fruit...

Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine,
so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches;
he who abides in Me, and I in him,
he bears much fruit;
for apart from Me you can do nothing...

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit;
and so prove to be My disciples.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you;
abide in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love;
just as I have kept My Father's commandments,
and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you,
that My joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:1-11 (excerpted)

A Little Walking Tour thru Julian

We really were just there for the pie. But here are a couple sites along the way.

This is the old Miner's Diner. Built in 1886. Supposedly the oldest, still operational, soda fountain in CA.


Of course, we had to swing by jail. And threaten to leave a couple, or three, boys.



Here's a building I just thought looked interesting.



Oh. So this is why it was so stinkin' busy the day we went. Had we known, we probably would have waited for a different day. I'm NOT fond of crowds. Incidentally, Frommer's asserts that the fruit in Julian has proven to be more of an economic boom than gold ever was.