Please do not fead - Pumpkins are learning to fly

They say apprenticeships aren’t glory years. In our neighborhood they’re mostly pumpkin years. First-years care for the delicate, wildly neurotic magic pumpkins. That means: pet, rotate, air, praise. Never—and I repeat, never—slap wings on one on a whim. Our pint-size gnome apprentice, Pippi Nosewise, naturally disagreed. “I’ve got a feel for it,” she said—the exact sentence that makes insurance agents cry. So she whispered a spell you’re only allowed to learn in year three, half overheard, half improvised—and boom: a pumpkin sprouted wings and a personality. Both supersized. Flying? Works great. Steering… let’s call it “mood-based.” The pumpkin reacts to adrenaline, foreign languages, and anything that sparkles. It loves loops, hates rules, and delights in skimming chimneys so close the weathercocks need therapy. Because our hero left the field gate open in the rush, the rest thought: Field trip! Some were outraged (“Rule break! Un-pumpkin-like!”), others curious (“Finally out of agriculture!”). Result: a spontaneous pumpkin parade plus loud arguments over who gets to glow in front. Later they’ll call it “a sighting.” Live, we call it chaos. And the master? Our much-respected, slightly terrifying, fully certified witch with a Class B (for Broom) license? She’s in hot pursuit—upright, shouting, with the face of someone who has saved the world three times and filed the paperwork after. Her radio to command (me): “Keep folks off roof edges, douse open flames, and if anyone asks, say: outdoor educational exercise.” Meanwhile the kid is clamped to the pumpkin like a statement accessory, clutching a bouquet of glitter balloons that add exactly zero to aerodynamic stability—though Instagram already loves them. “I’ve got him!” she yells, as the pumpkin treats “got” and “him” like friendly suggestions and attempts a classy side-swerve over Main Street. Cue the educational portion. The witch casts the recall spell—version “gentle but final.” The pumpkin gets a reluctant reminder of its root obligations; our student gets one about her neglected reading obligations. Touchdown in three-quarter time, applause from a safe distance, a sulky pumpkin chorus (“we could’ve done it ourselves!”), and one apprentice with wild hair and a very real learning curve. Lesson of the night: 1. Wings are not a substitute for character development. 2. Gate closed. Always!!! 3. If a first-year says “I’ve got a feel for it,” they’ll have plenty of feeling later—mostly in the arm from hanging onto the pumpkin. 😁😂 Tomorrow we practice mindfulness again: breathe, turn the pumpkin, don’t confuse responsibility with “it’ll be fine.” And maybe—just maybe—two of the best-behaved pumpkins get an approved lap over the town square. With a flight plan. And a helmet. -Samara Blue/Kerstin Ellinghoven Created in DAZ Studio (Iray) with G9 characters, pumpkins, bats, a few effects, and an HDRI background. I mixed and matched textures, shaders, and shapes that were not necessarily designed for this purpose—classic trial and error. The base lighting was built in-render. Postwork was done in Photoshop to strengthen mood and focus. I went intentionally bold with the colors for an HDR-style look, but used no filters or AI—only traditional Photoshop adjustments. Made with Daz 3D I No Ki I Krefeld, 11.10.2025

Hours Spent: 14
Software Used: DAZ Studio 4 With IRAY, Photoshop