Autumnal Bliss

Pumpkins [1]
Originally uploaded by Lost Albatross.

I took this photo last Saturday at the Dane County Farmers Market. It was bizarrely hot that day, but we still had a great time hunting for seasonal goodies. The outdoor market runs until November 3rd, so be sure to get out for it while the schedule and the (now much cooler) weather allows.

I was accompanied on this most recent trek by my sister and two of her friends, all of whom had come into town from Chicago for the weekend. They make a point of coming to the farmers market whenever they're here, a sort of pilgrimage for cheese curds, jam and honey. They also usually buy a few packs of New Glarus beer to take home with them, too. And who could blame them? Every time I travel out of state and go to get a beer, I'm faced with the harsh reality of Spotted Cow only being available in Wisconsin. Perhaps that's what adds to its appeal and mystique?

With the hot snap out of the way (hopefully), we can now get on with a proper autumn. According to the Wisconsin Tourism Board, the trees should be reaching the peak of their colors some time in the next two weeks. Pumpkins, squash and gourds are all in season at the various u-pick locations in the area. That one house on Spaight St. is well and thoroughly decked out with Halloween decorations, and a whole slew of parties, concerts and other events are planned for the week around the holiday (for a good rundown, check out dane101.com's "31 Days of Halloween").

Tomorrow, I'll be diving head-first into Wis-Kino's annual rite of film making passage, the 48-hour Kabaret, which lasts until the screening on Saturday night. If you've never been to one, it's definitely worth attending. Whether you're an aspiring film maker, a complete novice or just like watching movies, it's one hell of a good time.