Published on

As strange as it may seem, reading "It" made me a little nostalgic. I'm sure it was reading about the Losers' childhood experiences. 


It made me want to do something fun before I jumped right into reading "The Tommyknockers". Something that would also make me feel a little nostalgic. 


So – we went to the local pumpkin patch! And I loved it. The kids did, too. They love going and getting the "ugly" pumpkins. 🤣


This isn't just any pumpkin patch. This is the pumpkin patch of all pumpkin patches.


Evans Orchard and Cider Mill offers so many fun activities that picking pumpkins feels like the side quest! 


It features activities for all ages! It's enough to make you feel like a kid again. 


Picking pumpkins. Food with live music. Kettle Corn. Giant corn hole and (sober) beer pong. The ultimate playground for children (seriously – it's massive and has everything). Long slides downhill. A petting zoo. Paintball. Apple cannons that you can actually shoot at targets (safely, of course). 


They had a tractor in the pumpkin field, a vintage Beetle decorated with greenery among the corn, a large swing overlooking a bed of multi-colored pumpkins, a pumpkin-filled shack, and an old truck covered in fall decor at the entrance. All of the scenes were charming!!


Finally, they also have a country store stocked with just about everything you'd hope to find at an orchard. Jams and fresh flowers, hand-picked fruits and vegetables, plushies and knick knacks. And yes, the apple cider is every bit as delicious as you'd hope.


Reading "It" made me nostalgic for those carefree childhood days when every season felt a little magical. A trip to the pumpkin patch turned out to be the perfect reminder that those moments aren't completely behind us. Sometimes all it takes is a crisp fall afternoon, an ugly pumpkin, and a little time spent outdoors with the people you love.


I hope you get the chance to enjoy a pumpkin patch this year and feel like a kid again, too.


Stay tuned, and stay curious.



This pumpkin patch includes carts you can use, but in case yours doesn't I recommend getting one like the one in the link below!

Published on

So...What Am I Doing for 40?


I’m going back to 1987—one book and one adventure at a time.


I’m starting my midlife curiosity journey where my life journey started: 1987.


Vintage technically means anything more than 20 years old, but I feel like TRUE vintage starts at 40. Since I’ll be “vintage” next year, I started wondering what else might be getting the vintage title.


And while exploring that question, I landed on an idea that has me so excited.


I’m going to read the bestselling books from 1987 and see what they spark in my curiosity. Some of these books are not only vintage, but I’d say they’ve become classics. I’m excited to read some for the first time and revisit others with older, hopefully wiser, eyes.


I want to see what people were reading and enjoying that year—and see what the year of my birth had to offer people besides just me. 😉


I also plan to throw in some trips and experiences that tie into these books. I’m seeking out nostalgia, familiarity, new experiences, and the kinds of things that remind me that “stress” doesn’t have to be synonymous with “everyday.”


Over the next year, I’ll be:

  • Reading some of the bestselling books from 1987 and sharing my thoughts on them
  • Exploring new places and sharing travel adventures
  • Reflecting on life, growth, and what it means to approach 40
  • Documenting the lessons, surprises, and occasional misadventures along the way


This isn’t a travel blog.

It’s not a book blog.

And it definitely isn’t a guide to having everything figured out.

It’s simply a place to document a season of exploration and celebrate curiosity.


If you’re reading this, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s see where this year takes us.