Happy Frolic Friday! Time to play, and what better time of year to get outside and celebrate the beauty of nature?

I will admit it: I am gaga for gourds. Girl loves a pumpkin patch like nobody’s business.

Orange for as far as the eye can see. Tall ones. Short ones. Fat ones…I am giddy just thinking about it.

They call to me, begging to be carved into jack-o-lanterns, baked into pies and bread, and made into savory soups. I even get lots of tiny ones to keep on the table — little orange balls of happiness.

This weekend, why not…

• Visit a local pumpkin patch and let each member of the family pick out their own prized pumpkin. After all, beauty is in the eye of the gourd-holder, so to speak. Find a pumpkin patch or corn maze near you.
• Carve a cool wildlife-themed pumpkin! WWF has great stencils you can download for free. You can even make a solar powered jack-o-lantern. How cool is that?!
• Let’s admit it — squirrels love pumpkins! If you have never had your jack-o-lantern hijacked by one, just wait. Roast a few seeds and sit back and enjoy the show!

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to another pumpkin lover. Another sure sign of fall: Linus and The Great Pumpkin. Enjoy!

As always, it does not matter what you do, just get outdoors this weekend and have some fun.

And yes, you can call me pumpkin. I won’t mind a bit.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru