Eckert's Farm

It's almost a tradition! This is Lilie's second year of scoring late-season pumpkins and apples with the Bennett family at Eckert's Farm in Grafton. (www.eckerts.com)

It was a great day. I checked the weather forecast, and saw that we were headed for a high near eighty degrees. I failed to take into account that it wouldn't *be* that warm in the morning, and forgot that the farm is actually perpetually windy... We kept Lilie covered in a blanket or sweater for the first part of our adventure...

On to the pictures!

Liliana picked out her outfit, but we refused to let her accessorize with a flashlight...

The Bennett women.

The rest of the party.

The obligatory arm's-length self-pic.

On the tractor - getting closer!

We learned two things: first, crocs don't work well at the orchard.  Second, dandelions are more intriguing than apples...

Brian saw a *really good apple*, and Lilie was glad to help.

First, she peeled the apples.  Then, she threatened Katie with the knife!

Yummy apples -

but don't you hate it when it gets caught in your teeth?

Chloe found two pumpkins that had fused together....

...and it took two seconds for the girls to turn them into a bum-joke.

This is the point where Lilie had enough of the camera.

Uncle Brian explains, "Camel spit is actually really good for your skin."

"Thanks for joining me on another episode of the 'Pig Whisperer'."

"They have ponies!!!  Can I ride one?"

Uncle Brian, spoiling Lilie...

I found a chicken feather, and Marci *really* didn't enjoy it as much as I did.

Neither did Katie.  They think chicken have lice.

As we left, Lilie shouted, "Bye pumpkins! We come pick you next year!  Bye pigs, bye apples..."