It’s a Shady Pines Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
Halloween’s A Comin’
It’s that time people! 
Halloween in Shady Pines is a big deal. Around our small Southern town folks get gussied up in costumes.
They decorate their houses and stores and come up with all sorts of pumpkin drinks and recipes.
But first things first. Before that ghoulishly fun night of candy hunting gets here there’s something you’ve got to do.
It’s best done with friends and family.
Can you guess what it is? You got it. Let’s go to the Pumpkin Patch.
I’m Scoop, the Cub Reporter with The Shady Pines Gazette and I’m going there now. My assignment is to discover why so many folks say this is their favorite thing to do each year.
One thing I can tell ya, it doesn’t matter if you’re a toddler or a teen like me. A pumpkin patch is fun for everyone. So let’s Skeedaddle!
Good To Be Outside
We picked a beautiful day to be on the hunt for an orange orb. Hey, look. This working farm is so big you don’t have to worry about bumping into people. And think about this. Running around looking for the perfect pumpkin is good exercise isn’t it?
Okay, now that I’m here where should I start? I’ve gotta find people to interview for my story.
Oh, good. Here’s a mom with two youngsters. 
“If your kids don’t explore the outdoors very often, this is a great way for them to discover nature. Seeing how pumpkins grow out of the ground and are attached to vines is very educational. It helps them understand that pumpkins don’t just show up at the grocery store automatically.”
You know there’s something else that’s good about a pumpkin patch. Around every corner you can make all sorts of discoveries.
The Unexpected Finds
For instance, take a look at this photo I took. 
Do you see the colors of that butterfly next to the pumpkin? Being out on the farm you can be amazed at Mother Nature. I think this kind of stuff is really cool!
I met another mom who told me, “From the second we arrived, my children ran off with smiles, but quickly, they realized how much work it was to be in a field of pumpkins. Even running took work since the vines were everywhere, waiting to trip little, toddler-sized running feet.”
It turns out that not only is this a great way to spend time with the family, there are lessons to be learned. There aren’t a whole bunch of people working the farms these days. 
So a lot of kids don’t realize it takes hard work to be a farmer.
One young girl I met was getting a little taste of that. Just trying to push a wheelbarrow with a big ‘ole pumpkin was something she hadn’t done 
before.
She said she didn’t know pumpkins grew from tiny seeds. She also didn’t realize that they come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. “It’s kinda like people, isn’t it?“ she asked.
I have to admit, I’d never thought of that before. One couple I met said they love coming out here each October. But this year it was especially important to them. “We know so many farms and other small businesses are struggling right now. It was important to us to come out and support them.”
Pumpkin Carving and Fun Recipes
That’s reason enought for me to go home with some pumpkins of my own. I don’t know about you, but our family usually has a pumpkin carving contest. Last year my dad won. It’s 
time for me to take the title back!
The other reason I need to pick up some pumpkins is to inspire my mom. Around Halloween she likes to scare up some pumpkin dishes for us. I’m talking about everything from pumpkin pies to pumpkin pancakes. Here are some recipes for you to try: PUMPKIN RECIPES
There’s one more thing I want to mention.
These pumpkin patch visits make for some great family photos. Everywhere I look I’m seeing parents taking all sorts of shots.
Oh, No! Look at the time. I’ve got to get back to the Gazette office. My editor, Zulah Talmadge, is probably wondering why I’ve been gone so long. But this is just so darn much fun. Hope you’ve enjoyed it!
– Scoop Out
Get ready because Earth Day is Saturday.
Does that lamp really need to be on while the sun is out? Electricity doesn’t just happen—it has to be produced from things around us. A lot of times it comes from fossil fuels (like coal, oil, or natural gas) that contribute to 
It might seem like it’s everywhere, but clean, drinkable water is a limited resource. Did you know less than one percent of the water on Earth can be used by humans?
With a parent’s permission, you could volunteer to pick up trash. 
Editor Zulah Talmadge and I are going to be at Shady Pines’ Stonewall Park on Saturday to cover a ‘Trash Pick Up’ event. Maybe you could find something like that where you live.
Hey, it’s me. I’m Scoop, your cub reporter with The Shady Pines Gazette newspaper. 
This just in. It’s that time again. Get, it, “time?”
“Yes, Ms. Talmadge. I’ve been doing some research and here’s what I found out.”
Otherwise, when you wake up, you’ll be really behind
up to daylight saving time to help adjust yourself to the change. That’s why you need to start now.
Dreams are the wings that let us soar through life. And this year, 
I’m Scoop The Cub Reporter here at The Shady Pines Gazette news and we’re learning about this in school.
hopes that a dream would give them advice, comfort, or healing. How about that?
I get lost in my thoughts sometimes. But you should know that a lot of folks get some really good and creative ideas while they’re daydreaming. So don’t knock it!
A long time ago in 1865, a man dreamed up the idea of a little girl falling into a magical land and having all sorts of adventures with the characters she found there.
in an amazing way in this children’s tale. Not only that, but it has become one of the most beloved and enduring children’s stories of all time.
Here’s another example. In 1925 a man turned a mouse into an empire.
Big, small, and everything in between, we need dreams and wishes to make us want to do more. Some dreams even inspire us to make our lives better for ourselves and for the people around us.
Most importantly, all the folks here in this tight knit community wouldn’t be here. And we know how much fun they have telling stories to kids to help them grow up to be good and decent people.
Hey look! We’ve got a new year upon us and that means new opportunities for the good folks of Shady Pines Story Town. What do you want to happen in 2023?
Ask questions to help you find out what’s most important to to your kids. Some examples:
And here’s something else you can try. Write thank you notes. Yep, one expert said they wrote to all the people that had helped them this year. It made that person feel good. And it helped the person sending the note to feel gratitude heading into a new year. 
Oh, boy, the big day will be here before we know it!
The countdown to Christmas is on here in Shady Pines Story Town. Have you seen the advent calendars? They’re popping up everywhere.
Now that Thanksgiving is in our rear view mirror the holiday season is in full gear. 
It has been seen by Christians around the world as a way to get ready for the coming 
These days, most Advent Calendars have numbered paper doors or pockets that open to reveal an image, chocolate or other small object. Some of the folks here in Shady Pines will hide messages of kindness, caring and love behind those colorful doors.
For instance, a long time ago you might have seen a really old fashioned calendar that looks like your great, great, grandmother might have made it. 
These holiday calendars are fun. And just like the spiritual theme of the season, they offer anticipation, and the joy of discovery.