Peachtreefarm01

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Welcome to my families (I included here lab members) 6th Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival visit since moving to Columbia in 1996.

This year marks 3 years running that the PUMPKIN FESTIVAL was conspicuously lacking in PUMPKINS! The long dry summer made for a poor crop which was apparently devastated yet further by the biblical rains we got in late summer - thus any punkins' that survived the drought were likely to have drowned in the rain! Certainly this poor harvest was not limited to the MO River flats as Peach Tree Farm had by far the shabbiest selection I've seen since we started going there.

There appears to be an inverse relationship between the numbers of pumpkins and people attending the festival. Like last year this year was packed! Kind of Walmart on 'roids - people, crafts/vendors, food and other attractions were plentiful. It's too bad only one of our new students (Jen) could go because the other (Theresa) would have certainly also gotten a kick out of this absolutely fun Mid-MO experience.

The weather was just about perfect this year. A little overcast but nice and cool - not too cold, but certainly not hot like last year. As occurred last year they routed traffic coming in the "back way" around hell-n-creation to park in a partly muddy corn field. Yet we didn't get stuck so all ends well I guess. Ullas and I drove again this year so after last years muddy experience I think Ullas was ready and prepared for the drive!

	Arrival - (l to r) Abby (Tay's friend), Tay, Mannies (III and IV), Janet, Carol (the Super Nanny), Kasey
	Walk in - "Dad, I told you I would have less drama than Brandon"!
	B, give it up, you'll never be one of them!
	Good crowd! A look at the first 'vending' area.
	Janet and Kasey catching up (guess who we're waiting for? Super Nanny, Ms. Tiny Bladder!).
	What a ham!
	...ham no. 2!
	Doesn't Priya look happy with B so close?.
	Just about the extent of the pumpkins this year!
	Music, jesters and wizards - everything thing one expects from a good MO festival. When we got to this spot the band was playing "Sweet Home Alabama", I kid you not!
	First of several food stops. Beth is the lab eating champ! (this was her cheeseburger, corn on the cob stop...keep a running tally!)
	Ullas opted instead for the cotton candy, as Abby looks on in anticipation of the carmel apple she gets. Jen (upper left) also opted for the carmel apple. If nothing else I can say our little group likes to eat - and yet somehow none of us are obese!
	Bubba is ALL boy - grabbing himself while drooling over toy tractors!
	The GIRLS (most of them). (l to r) some random girl, Tay, Abby, Beth (notice the post-burger/corn Coke!), Jen and Priya. Looks like everyone's enjoying themselves. See what you missed Jo!
	Can someone explain to me why Ullas always looks so calm and controlled while Brandon tends to look like a cat who had too much catnip and is about to bounce off the walls?In reality B was quite relaxed on this trip (low drama, phewwww).
	This shot gives one the idea of how crowded it was.
	Finally the sweet elixir of life - deep fried animal bits on a stick! B was patiently waiting for this moment.
	... "Ahhhhh, life is good (until my arteries clog completely shut)" Wait is that Beth behind B and Priya getting MORE food?...
	...yup, sure is - corn dog and cotton candy. Look at the shocked look on the face of the dude passing by. Even he can't believe the horror!
	Jen is more of a 'pacer', she's still milking the carmel apple. Note Ullas still milking the cotton candy (contrast this to Beth's intake total thus far: cheeseburger, corn, Coke, corn dog, pretzel, and cotton candy)
	Ullas steps up to the plate. He's going for the heart-stopper, a funnel cake...alas he is denied this desire as this particular stand was in the process of making new dough. Not to worry,he got one later.
	The boss could only hold out so long. His 24-pack cried for grease - note nearly devoured brat.
	Another good crowd shot - and another shot of catnip tension!
	There's always one present to spoil an otherwise beautiful moment. Ullas looks like his cool is warming.
	Mannie and Brandon enjoying some good 'ol knee-slapping revival music; much to the chagrin of Tay and Abby (although the latter seems to be more amused since she's not related to either of these fools!).
	What in the hell is in the water in MO?
	"Ullas, this guys oil painting are really good. I've always wanted my portrait done, maybe he can do it?" "Go for it B"
	Here goes...
	...hmmmm, doesn't seem to have quite the same quality as the oils does it?
	Nope. Maybe the big "Caricatures" sign above the guys stand should have been a clue!
	A picture of a picture.
	The picture within the picture.
	Another crowd shot.
	A Hartsburg watering hole (there are several, but no stop lights!).
	Priya posing with the festival sign.
	Another great shot of the big crowd.
	Yet another food break. The kids all got 'dippin' dots', Jen got a small kettle corn, Beth (the belly) got a BIG mug-o root beer and a funnel cake (Ullas and Priya got their funnel cake too). Mannie is merely holding the funnel cake that Beth has no hands to hold!! In between the last eating frenzy and now Beth helped Mannie consume a boat of French (or should we say, Freedom, nahhh...) fries.
	The walk out.
	Apparently Kasey is anti-catnip. B seems to have met his kryptonite.
	Can't pass up the corn on the cob on the way out...
	...even Kasey went with the corn (and finished it!)...
	...Tay too.
	Apparently Ullas was feeling a bit 'large' and in need of a ride...
	...either B is providing 'drama' or Ullas did really eat a lot. If B can't pull Ullas I can't imagine what it would have felt like to try to tug Beth-the-belly along!
	What exactly does one say when alone with a pumpkin?
	These people must have 'lifted' these pumpkins off someone's porch...we never saw any pumpkins like this for sale!
	Brandon couldn't leave without his MO slushy...
	...mmmmm, yummy!
	The boss having some last minute fun...
	...what, it's healthy to act like a kid sometimes!
	Kasey have her last minute fun!
	Parting shot...
	...until next year...