She woke to a crisp autumn morning, an unusual day for Florida. Today was the opening of the pumpkin patch out at Hunsader’s. She looked forward to this day, and her hopes for a cool day finally came true.

She tucked a stray curl behind her ear as she organized her camera packing up for the day. She donned her burgundy boots, jeans and a long sleeved shirt, along with her hat, appropriate for falls up north, but suitable for today as well.

She arrived at the farm. The dew on the field was just right for some early shots of the patch. It looked like frost clinging to the round orange gourds covering the field. The sun was still low and bounced around the dew and mist, creating a calming scene. If it were any darker, it might turn eerie.

As the mist and dew evaporated, the field opened to the public. Her boots squished a little in the soft dirt as she walked through the rows. Her hat bounced the rays off her head, offering some shade. A breeze floated over the patch, keeping the air unseasonably cool.

The pumpkins varied in color and size. She couldn’t resist her desire to carve a jack-o-lantern for the upcoming holiday. She always kept hers sweet – kitties in the moon light, a witch flying through the air, or the classic jack-o-lantern zigzag smile. This year, she decided to be a bit more decorative, scroll work with dots, meaning she’d get to work with a drill. But first, she needed the perfectly round and squat pumpkin to make her work of art.

She found tall ones, short ones, even a few fun looking spooky ones, but her hope waned. She wasn’t seeing “it”, that perfect pumpkin. As she approached the far end of the patch, she finally sighted not one, not two, but three perfect pumpkins in staggered sizes and shades of cream to bright orange. She squealed with delight for the pumpkins were just right.

She picked up the two smaller ones, taking them to the stand to pay, then returned to lug the third one, a weighty large pumpkin, and hauled it to the front as well. The farmer running the patch smiled at her collection and offered to take a shot of her. She laughed as she posed like a little kid with her pumpkin finds, then loaded them up in the car and headed home.