Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Cannons!

Many of you will recognise the following scene: A mother attempts to get her children ready to go on an exciting outing, planned especially for them. This is no mere trip to the grocery store, but an event that has been carefully orchestrated around naps and meals, taking in the social needs of each child. After laying out clothes for each of her children, and speaking in a cheerful voice about how "we need to get dressed so we can go see our friends!", things start to unravel.

45-minutes later, the mother starts uttering empty threats like "GET YOUR SHOES ON NOW OR I'M LEAVING YOU HERE!!" and "IF YOU DON'T PUT YOUR SHOES ON NOW I'M NEVER TAKING YOU ANYWHERE EVER AGAIN!!" Tears are shed by all, and any hope she had of arriving on time has dissipated like her patience.

Somehow, though, outings are still worth the pains of getting there, especially if they involve the outdoors, other kids, and other moms with whom to visit.

We visited Hugli's Blueberry Ranch with a bunch of local homeschooling families who graciously included us in their invitation. The tour was educational, well-organised and age-appropriate; it included a very bumpy wagon ride to various destinations: pumpkin patches, a small barnyard complete with sheep, a goat, a llama, an alpaca, a pig, and a miniature horse, a "pirate ship" play structure, and hay bale playgrounds.

 The highlight for me was our travels through the 1-acre corn maze, guided by alphabetised clues.

Hugli's autumn activities include pick-your-own pumpkins, scary Halloween events (I'm dreaming of wandering that corn maze at night!), and pumpkins being fired from a cannon into the lake below (a highlight for Jude!). If you live locally, visit their website for more details...it was certainly worth the trip!