Carl was happier (not much happier, but happier) in this compromise Cowboy costume. (thanks for the good idea Meme!) He declined to wear the boots or bandana but kept the hat and special bag from Jess. He was a real trooper trick or treating with his Dad, neighbor pal AJ, and AJ’s daddy Heath.

Carl at the daycare this afternoon.

We had kind of talked about going down to the Circleville Pumpkin Festival last weekend with our neighbors and their little boy, but circumstances kind of got in the way. Val was determined, though, that we were going to do something fall-y, so she found a farmers’ market over in Hilliard that advertised itself with a hayride and a pumpkin patch. Sounds great, we thought, so we invited PJ and Ronda and off we went.

As it turned out, it wasn’t exactly the dream fall-y spot we had kind of hoped (perhaps farms just outside of 270 aren’t exactly the pastoral settings we were thinking of?) But the hayride was great — it was an honest-to-God hayride in a wagon behind this creaking old John Deere — and the pumpkin patch was AWESOME. Enormous. And we found a great one that’s perfect for our jack o’lantern carving on Friday night.

Anyway, here’s some pictures from our trip to see the Great Pumpkin…

Remember how, back when you were in school, you’d be listening to the teacher spend ridiculous amounts of time on some subject, some set of facts, and then some smartass would raise their hand and say, “Is this going to be on the final?”

No? Maybe that was just me. Anyway. Here are two names with which I think everyone should become familiar: Iron & Wine and Calexico. Although we have not discussed the latter in these pages before, the former should be familiar to dcentral readers from earlier this summer.

The two bands’ new EP, IN THE REINS, which is pretty damned good, can be found here.

But yes. Iron & Wine and Calexico. This will be important later.