Scarecrow Festival

     After church today - and after a nap - we decided to head down to Hoschton, Georgia to check out their annual Fall Festival, also known as the place to find the Scarecrow Stampede, home of the world's largest collection of scarecrows.  Last year there were 5,441 scarecrows lining the town - but not quite as many this year.  Still, it was a nice retreat for us as you can see. 

     Here Madison is with the Scarecrow Gang.  I have no idea what the gang's real name is, but these outlaw scarecrows were just a few of many dotting the landscape in Hoschton.  We walked along the town square today, just taking in the scenery and enjoying the local flavor.

     Speaking of "local flavor," we crossed another important milestone today:  Madison's first cotton candy.  At first, she didn't quite know what to make of the stuff - it was pink and looked like like the stuff you fill a teddy bear with.  But then she tried some...and that's when our little baby turned into this dangerous  cotton candy addict. 

 

     Here she is, about to lunge at Daddy because he's teasing her with the cotton candy.  Right now she's saying to herself, "Give it to me or I'll tear it from your hands!"  We were trying to use restraint, but Madison was not going to let us off that easy.  She wanted that cotton candy!

     As usual, she was given gifts and trinkets from certain booths set up along the town square.  We used the playground there, and just enjoyed walking along - the weather was ideal.  Afterwards, we drove along and saw many more scarecrows lined up along the roads.  Some were dressed in costumes, like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle scarecrow we saw, or this wonderful display we found on the porch of a beautiful old house:

     Evidently, they've found the Wizard at a Bed & Breakfast.  Unfortunately for them, the wind began to switch - the house to pitch and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch.  Just then the Witch - to satisfy an itch went flying on her broomstick, thumbing for a hitch.  

     Obviously, this was not a healthy situation for the wicked witch.