We spent last Saturday roaming the corn husk covered fields at Boxx Berry Farm in Ferndale. Our mission: find two perfect carving pumpkins among a thousand. When you are on wagon pulling duty and following two excited boys, let me tell you...it was a bumpy ride from one end of the field to the other.

I realize I can get a pumpkin at the grocery store, but it seems to lack adventure to just pull one out of a box and dump it into a shopping cart full of random groceries. So, off we went to the farm where the pumpkins have been slowly growing and ripening to all shades of orange. Inviting us to come see them...come pick them...take them home! We saw some unusual gourds and white pumpkins mixed into the lot of potential jack-o-lanterns.

After only half an hour of hunting, the boys made their picks: 46lbs later we headed home with plans of carving creepy faces and roasting seeds. Once the cobwebs are hung and the carved pumpkins are on the porch, it feels like the official change of season.

Fall in Western Washington is my favorite season, I welcome the blustery days and falling leaves. If you have some time and want to get out and see some of the beautiful fall leaves changing colors and drifting to the ground, take a look at one of many Scenic ByWay drives in Washington. You could spend a few hours or a whole day on one of these road trips, just enjoying the view. It doesn't matter if it's cold and blustery or you get the fall sunshine - the trips are worth your while!