Sentimental Pumpkin

For many years I enjoyed going to the orchard, picking out some gourds and pumpkins and decorating the cabin porch. Now I only put one out there, next to "Henry the Hen", the small orange one.

You see, it is ceramic. It was my mother's. It was given to her at the skilled nursing facility where she spent the last years of her life after a fall, shattering her thigh bone. It was filled with an arrangement of colorful real flowers of the season. Every resident at the facility received one. She decorated hers! After she died, I took it as my own and love how her decoration has lasted and I cherish this special pumpkin! It makes me laugh as it must have made her do the same after her artwork was completed! I find it funny that some things really matter!

This is a happy pumpkin and is loved!

Yum!

This is the first baking project of the year. Instead of pumpkin pie, I made pumpkin cake! I embellished its interior with dried Bing cherries! Soaked them in boiling water and then used the same water that was called for in the recipe. The butter cream icing was my own, not from a can. This took me all morning to complete, but now I have some to share with whoever....  My old handheld mixer with the wonderful long cord doesn't go on high speed anymore. Guess it's dying, but it did the job. The reason I didn't use Big Red is because the thick glass bowl is very heavy and my shoulder told me not to. Coulda - shoulda! Oh well....  I gloat with my success! It is wonderful!! Sorry that the mail carrier, propane delivery fellow and the sweet woman who does my laundry all came before it was finished. I'll try to save a piece for the yard guy who might be here for snow removal and my daughter may stop in before the upcoming storm. You'd like a piece? Come on over! Hang on to your hat, it is very windy!

You won't even have to help wash the dishes.

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Mamma's Baking!

In our later years, the Mister used to say whenever I pulled out stuff to bake something, "Look out! Mamma's baking!"  That really meant for anyone in the house to stay out of my kitchen. Seriously! Especially him! Yes, I never minded the kids watching and helping, but as I got older I just needed the space and quiet to make my creations. My kitchen is my domain.

Today I baked a frozen pumpkin pie from Schwan's and have no idea if it will be tasty or not. Testing will be later today. I also baked a pumpkin spice quick bread loaf from Krusteaz. I have always found that anything sold by Krusteaz comes out delicious and perfect.

BUT! last night I took a cup of dried bing cherries and covered them with Amaretto to soak overnight. Then this morning I strained them and added water to the juice to make the 2/3 cup of water that was called for on the box. That means that half of the liquid was Amaretto and the other half water.  I bounced the strained and soaked cherries around in a bowl with a little flour so they wouldn't stick together before adding the liquid, oil, eggs and mix. The results are very satisfactory.

It is always good to have Cool Whip for topping in the freezer and I especially like the extra creamy variety. 

Cleanups are always part of the 'fun to be dun'.

Don't forget to tap on image to smell the goodness

P.S. Got my booster yesterday. Feeling fine.

Pumpkin Players

Every year our grandson grows large pumpkins. Every year they are larger than the year before. This one will be weighed October 3 and he thinks it might go to 800 lbs. His partner is the yard art decorator and she really has a good eye for autumn beautification at their home. She is also the photographer for his sister's family this time. The twin boys posed last year as well.

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Green Thumb Grandson

Alex has outdone himself this year. He thinks this pumpkin might reach the 800 lb. level. It will be weighed October 3. In the meantime it is on display in the lawn as an autumn decoration. He's been growing pumpkins since he was very young. It's a beauty, isn't it! Photos were taken by his partner, Denise. Posted with permission.

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In a Pickle

Our grandson was in a pickle at the local Halloween party for adults.

"Rick and Morty"

The pumpkin weight contest is over. It weighed 413 lbs!! The winner isn't anyone that I know.

Happy Halloween Everyone! Have fun!

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Scary and Sweet

FIRE STARTER

FRIGHT

HONEY CRISPS TAKING A BATH

Weight, Witches and Hags

Giant Pumpkin contest has been extended to October 27. Lots of interest! This is one hot contest!

I caught the blue heron on our beachfront but he went down over the bank and disappeared.

Either the Lake Hag or the Storm Witch frightened him away. I know they scared me!

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 I wonder what else the next days will bring?

Local Artist Tour

Artist Open House Weekend, 2018
Columbus Day Weekend, October 6, 7, 8, 2018 10 - 6 Daily

This weekend is our local annual Artist Open House Studio Tours event.  Our grandson is friends with the fellow who has donated space in his studio for an artist to display her artwork. He has helped our grandson set up, load and display his giant pumpkin in front of the studio as a guessing contest! Entry fees are $2.00. Whoever can guess the closest weight of the pumpkin will win half of the total entry fees and the other half will be donated to the American Cancer Society.  

At a business establishment they weighed two empty pallets and then a forklift weighed the pumpkin on the pallets. Deducting the weight of the two empty pallets determined the actual weight of the pumpkin. I cannot tell you the result yet! Can you guess?

Alex and his giant pumpkin
Photos by Denise Repsher 

Artist web page

Winner to be announced

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Over the Hills and Through the Woods...

...to the orchard we will go! Well, we went and returned with more cider and Macoun apples plus a mix for making apple crisp when I want EASY.

The orchard farm and store are on a beautiful hill. No sun today and it is very grey but still beautiful.

The hillside is very steep.

The old chestnut trees.

Chestnuts are abundant.

The pumpkin pavilion

Looking down behind the pavilion

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