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