Lake View

A fine place from which to relax and view the lake.

Thank you to those who asked and those who expressed concern about my Naples house and Hurricane Ian.  I am still in Connecticut.  Friends in SWFL say that trees and branches are down in my community, the waters are high in the roads and lakes, and power is out, but so far I have not heard about water entering any houses in my community or injury to people or damage to houses.  It is still early.  Like everyone who is not in Florida now, I worry about the widespread devastation and I await specific information about my house.

Make Believe Farm

 Truth in farming.

A Little Fair in the Park

 While the giant pumpkin weigh-off took place at one end of Ballard Park, a nice little fair took place in the rest of the park.

Henny Penny Farm brought a half dozen sheep for kids to pet and feed hay.

Karate instructors waged sword fights with kids.

And had them break boards with blows from their hands.

A box of "donuts" was a clever entry in the pumpkin decorating contest.

Pumpkin man handed out candy.

Cheerleaders from Ridgefield High School staffed a booth.

And four Suzuki violin students demonstrated the skills they have learned. 

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off

 The 10th annual giant pumpkin weigh-off took place yesterday at Ballard Park.

Local press did some interviews.

Val Jensen, the woman who leads the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield bought a farm in Wilton last year.

She and her "Prospects" have started growing giant pumpkins.  This is their first entry.

A farmer loaded his three entries onto a trailer after they were weighed and left the park. 

I also left before the results were announced.

More From The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

The Statue of Liberty is 25 feet tall and is made from 114 carved pumpkins.

A couple sit on a bench and feed pigeons.

Two dinosaurs.

And a unicorn.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

 I went to this wonderful event in Sleepy Hollow for the second year.  It is fun to see what can be created with carved and lighted pumpkins lashed together.

In the section celebrating famous artworks, we learn why Edvard Munch's character screamed.  

The headless horseman was in pursuit.

Frida Kahlo.  With that headless horseman chasing Ichabod Crane over her shoulder.

Jeff Koons' balloon dog was a natural for pumpkins, but where on earth did they find huge and perfectly formed pumpkins like this?

There is lots of local lore celebrated.  This is the Headless Horseman Bridge.

And a terrified Ichabod Crane racing to escape the headless horseman.

Horses

There are many horse farms in this part of Connecticut and across the line in New York state.

These two were in a small paddock in Ridgebury, the northern part of Ridgefield adjoining Danbury.