Friday, November 30, 2007
Christmas Pumpkins
I saw them last year at a cute little shop while out with my Mom and Aunt. Pumpkins all decorated up for the Christmas season! Well, I knew I must add them to my decorating for this Christmas. And so since about January it has been on my decorating ideas list in my Christmas notebook - I know, but that is for another story.
This week the decorating process began - it never is anything short of a week. Not that we do that much, but that it just seems to take me time to work my way through the process. . . .
One night I washed the pumpkins. The next night they were painted with a beautiful metalic pearl white craft paint - I really like that paint. And last night they were decorated with pretty, shiny red ribbon, raffia, ornaments, berries, and greenery. And today they found their way to the front porch.
They turned out absolutely wonderful!
In the midst of decorating them last night I swooshed through the den on my way to retrieve the raffia and proclaimed, "I really like my Christmas pumkins!"
"I can tell," responded my husband.
As I am finishing my project, I step back to admire them and once more proclaim how cool they are. My husband gets up from the sofa, joins me in the kitchen to admire my work, and then leaves me to the finishing touches of fluffing bows and cleaning up.
I love that man! Not every guy would put up with such pumpkin craziness!!!
simple faith
I saw them last year at a cute little shop while out with my Mom and Aunt. Pumpkins all decorated up for the Christmas season! Well, I knew I must add them to my decorating for this Christmas. And so since about January it has been on my decorating ideas list in my Christmas notebook - I know, but that is for another story.
This week the decorating process began - it never is anything short of a week. Not that we do that much, but that it just seems to take me time to work my way through the process. . . .
One night I washed the pumpkins. The next night they were painted with a beautiful metalic pearl white craft paint - I really like that paint. And last night they were decorated with pretty, shiny red ribbon, raffia, ornaments, berries, and greenery. And today they found their way to the front porch.
They turned out absolutely wonderful!
In the midst of decorating them last night I swooshed through the den on my way to retrieve the raffia and proclaimed, "I really like my Christmas pumkins!"
"I can tell," responded my husband.
As I am finishing my project, I step back to admire them and once more proclaim how cool they are. My husband gets up from the sofa, joins me in the kitchen to admire my work, and then leaves me to the finishing touches of fluffing bows and cleaning up.
I love that man! Not every guy would put up with such pumpkin craziness!!!
simple faith
Labels: Pumpkins
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
It's not just me
I have always rationalized that she must exist out there somewhere - someone even more obsessed with pumpkins than I. But I had not yet encountered her, until yesterday anyways.
It was finally a cool morning and the temperatures were to be in the low 80's. This day was to be a far cry from the past few weeks where our temps have hovered around 90 and the coolness of a fall morning has not been found. I ventured to the plant place and picked up a mum and some dianthus. I know it is also time to plant pansies and decorative cabbage, but I can't bring myself to pull up my impatients and geraniums - they are truly stunning right now. Well, the impatients are a little limp on this cool morning . . . but, anyhow . . .
My next stop is a grocery store which always has a great price on pumpkins. Mind you, this is my "basic pumpkin" buying trip. I walk in and forego the basket to check out the selection. After carefully examining the many pumpkins, I decide there are a few that will work. I return to the entrance to fetch a basket.
By the time I have returned to the produce section with the basket, she is there. Her basket already holds several large pumpkins. She sees me eyeing the pumpkins and the conversation begins.
"That one is a good one. No, that one right there. You should get that pumpkin."
I am a bit taken back. Nobody has ever invaded my pumpkin shopping.
I try to be kind. "I had some others picked out."
She is undeterred. She has spotted the pie pumpkins. She snatches one up and declares it perfect - for me, not her! I again decline - perhaps a bit on the defiant side - it did have a cute stem and shape.
I try to distance myself from her. She has moved to the basket of turban squash. I saw it coming, but hoped I would be gone by the time it happened. The turban squash are 49 cents a pound, not 49 cents a piece.
By the time I have picked out my big orange pumpkins and have moved to the pie pumpkins, squash and gourds I notice the turban squash basket is empty except for one lonely squash. She has made it to the checkout stand with her basket full.
I suddenly decide I am in desperate need of cookies as I dash down an aisle to avoid a confrontation with her that will lead to a discussion of the squash pricing - she is on her way back to the bin with a worker it tow.
I am done shopping and she is still at the checkout stand. I duck into another lane, but observe her closely. She tries to choose just one turban squash. It is impossible. She takes them all. She has been kind to the workers, realizing her misunderstanding of the sign.
I feel her pain. But for the record, she is more pumpkin obsessed than I am!
Of course today I am off to the produce stand to splurge on the specialty pumpkins - blue, green, Cinderella, and boo!
I should probably check my cash supply before going. It is best to never write a check that can be directly traced to the cost of my pumpkin obsession!!!
simple faith
I have always rationalized that she must exist out there somewhere - someone even more obsessed with pumpkins than I. But I had not yet encountered her, until yesterday anyways.
It was finally a cool morning and the temperatures were to be in the low 80's. This day was to be a far cry from the past few weeks where our temps have hovered around 90 and the coolness of a fall morning has not been found. I ventured to the plant place and picked up a mum and some dianthus. I know it is also time to plant pansies and decorative cabbage, but I can't bring myself to pull up my impatients and geraniums - they are truly stunning right now. Well, the impatients are a little limp on this cool morning . . . but, anyhow . . .
My next stop is a grocery store which always has a great price on pumpkins. Mind you, this is my "basic pumpkin" buying trip. I walk in and forego the basket to check out the selection. After carefully examining the many pumpkins, I decide there are a few that will work. I return to the entrance to fetch a basket.
By the time I have returned to the produce section with the basket, she is there. Her basket already holds several large pumpkins. She sees me eyeing the pumpkins and the conversation begins.
"That one is a good one. No, that one right there. You should get that pumpkin."
I am a bit taken back. Nobody has ever invaded my pumpkin shopping.
I try to be kind. "I had some others picked out."
She is undeterred. She has spotted the pie pumpkins. She snatches one up and declares it perfect - for me, not her! I again decline - perhaps a bit on the defiant side - it did have a cute stem and shape.
I try to distance myself from her. She has moved to the basket of turban squash. I saw it coming, but hoped I would be gone by the time it happened. The turban squash are 49 cents a pound, not 49 cents a piece.
By the time I have picked out my big orange pumpkins and have moved to the pie pumpkins, squash and gourds I notice the turban squash basket is empty except for one lonely squash. She has made it to the checkout stand with her basket full.
I suddenly decide I am in desperate need of cookies as I dash down an aisle to avoid a confrontation with her that will lead to a discussion of the squash pricing - she is on her way back to the bin with a worker it tow.
I am done shopping and she is still at the checkout stand. I duck into another lane, but observe her closely. She tries to choose just one turban squash. It is impossible. She takes them all. She has been kind to the workers, realizing her misunderstanding of the sign.
I feel her pain. But for the record, she is more pumpkin obsessed than I am!
Of course today I am off to the produce stand to splurge on the specialty pumpkins - blue, green, Cinderella, and boo!
I should probably check my cash supply before going. It is best to never write a check that can be directly traced to the cost of my pumpkin obsession!!!
simple faith
Labels: Pumpkins
Monday, October 16, 2006
Temptation
I saw him as I passed by.....he was surrounded by many friends, but he stood out. Tall, a little crooked - his character was unmistakable.
I have passed that way several times recently and have not noticed him. But tonight, he seemed to be calling my name.
I resisted the temptation. "I have plenty," I tell myself.
Yes, but none so tall and so crooked. Isn't there always room for one more??
I must be strong. I must send my husband to deliver and fetch my son from football practice lest I succumb to my weakness.
Pumpkin obsessions are a dangerous thing!!!
simple faith
I saw him as I passed by.....he was surrounded by many friends, but he stood out. Tall, a little crooked - his character was unmistakable.
I have passed that way several times recently and have not noticed him. But tonight, he seemed to be calling my name.
I resisted the temptation. "I have plenty," I tell myself.
Yes, but none so tall and so crooked. Isn't there always room for one more??
I must be strong. I must send my husband to deliver and fetch my son from football practice lest I succumb to my weakness.
Pumpkin obsessions are a dangerous thing!!!
simple faith
Labels: Pumpkins
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Porch Pumpkins
It all begins innocently enough. I spy them in the grocery store at the end of September. I take mental notes on who is carrying what and at what price. I usually maintain some form of self control until October officially arrives. This year I even managed to wait until the first weekend of October.
"I think I am going to the produce stand."
"For what?"
"I just want to check out their pumpkins."
My husband offers to come along.
This is odd - I am convinced it was a defensive move on his part to curb my pumpkin spending. It worked. I shopped quickly (for me) and left with only one ghost pumpkin and one cinderella pumpkin. But I did take mental notes.....
The next day a trip to one grocery store secures a bag of assorted gourds. (I am stockpiling everything in the garage until I have gathered the "just right" assortment.)
The next day the true shopping begins.
Yes, that was me. Yes, I did have a shopping cart only for pumpkins - that's all I went there for. Yes, I drove my empty shopping cart through the produce section studying every pumpkin. Yes, I did weigh the pie pumpkins - they were going to be too pricey. Yes, I did climb on the hay bales outside and dig through the cardboard pumpkin bins. Yes, I left with multiple pumpkins.
I put out all my gatherings. Front porch and kitchen porch both properly adorned with pumpkins. Gourds displayed on an antique orange picnic basket in a chair on the front porch.
It's still not quite right......no, I need some pie pumpkins.
Back to the produce stand to purchase a few of the small pumpkins. Their selection has long stems. That makes me happy.
While trying to choose my small pumpkins I am studying one in particular. One of the girls working the stand comments, "That one is really cute." Finally - someone who speaks my pumpkin language!!!
I take that one, and a few others. Home to finish off the pumpkin project. Ah, life is good.
Although, I never did find a good tall one this year.
simple faith
It all begins innocently enough. I spy them in the grocery store at the end of September. I take mental notes on who is carrying what and at what price. I usually maintain some form of self control until October officially arrives. This year I even managed to wait until the first weekend of October.
"I think I am going to the produce stand."
"For what?"
"I just want to check out their pumpkins."
My husband offers to come along.
This is odd - I am convinced it was a defensive move on his part to curb my pumpkin spending. It worked. I shopped quickly (for me) and left with only one ghost pumpkin and one cinderella pumpkin. But I did take mental notes.....
The next day a trip to one grocery store secures a bag of assorted gourds. (I am stockpiling everything in the garage until I have gathered the "just right" assortment.)
The next day the true shopping begins.
Yes, that was me. Yes, I did have a shopping cart only for pumpkins - that's all I went there for. Yes, I drove my empty shopping cart through the produce section studying every pumpkin. Yes, I did weigh the pie pumpkins - they were going to be too pricey. Yes, I did climb on the hay bales outside and dig through the cardboard pumpkin bins. Yes, I left with multiple pumpkins.
I put out all my gatherings. Front porch and kitchen porch both properly adorned with pumpkins. Gourds displayed on an antique orange picnic basket in a chair on the front porch.
It's still not quite right......no, I need some pie pumpkins.
Back to the produce stand to purchase a few of the small pumpkins. Their selection has long stems. That makes me happy.
While trying to choose my small pumpkins I am studying one in particular. One of the girls working the stand comments, "That one is really cute." Finally - someone who speaks my pumpkin language!!!
I take that one, and a few others. Home to finish off the pumpkin project. Ah, life is good.
Although, I never did find a good tall one this year.
simple faith
Labels: Pumpkins
Monday, September 25, 2006
Visions of a Pumpkin Farm
During lunch with friends yesterday, the conversation turned to their young adult children and a high schooler beginning to seek his future. We commented on the value of a college education and the doors it opens - even if you do not go in to your "education of choice field". We discussed Steve Irwin (crocodile guy) and how cool it was to see someone living out their passion. It seems that he always knew what he wanted to do when he grew up and was blessed to be able to live that out. Very few people accomplish that in their lifetime!
Almost all of us confessed that we did not have that in our lives - a one driving passion that defined what occupation we would find ourselves doing. At almost 40 and above, we were still batting around the question of "What do I want to be when I grow up?" Don't get me wrong - we all enjoy (most days) our chosen occupations. But waking up and immediately thinking, "I can't wait to begin my day" is not something that occurs often. I am sure most people ponder this on occasion.
Today I saw a magazine cover of a pumpkin farm. Red barn in the background, all sorts of pumpkins lined up to be sold and mums on a flatbed trailer. There are days I dream of being a pumpkin farmer. I love pumpkins and fall. I envision myself living a big, old, white farm house with a wrap-around porch. It would be a "city person" farm. One that exists for the purpose of personal enjoyment rather than monetary gain. Along with our pumpkin patch, we would have a vegetable garden, a sunflower patch and an entire small field of wildflowers. A menagerie of fun animals including setting hens, those really cool looking show roosters, peacocks, ducks, a donkey, and miniature cattle would live on our farm. I would have a Martha Stewart type knowledge of bee keeping, gardening, flowers, trees, etc. My days would be spent in simple pleasures at a slow pace. The joys of such an existence!
But alas, I know the reality of farm life - whether a "city person" one or a real one. It is hard work! I know my visions would soon fade and the reality of it all would not be my passion.
I think I will hold on to the vision anyway.......
simple faith
During lunch with friends yesterday, the conversation turned to their young adult children and a high schooler beginning to seek his future. We commented on the value of a college education and the doors it opens - even if you do not go in to your "education of choice field". We discussed Steve Irwin (crocodile guy) and how cool it was to see someone living out their passion. It seems that he always knew what he wanted to do when he grew up and was blessed to be able to live that out. Very few people accomplish that in their lifetime!
Almost all of us confessed that we did not have that in our lives - a one driving passion that defined what occupation we would find ourselves doing. At almost 40 and above, we were still batting around the question of "What do I want to be when I grow up?" Don't get me wrong - we all enjoy (most days) our chosen occupations. But waking up and immediately thinking, "I can't wait to begin my day" is not something that occurs often. I am sure most people ponder this on occasion.
Today I saw a magazine cover of a pumpkin farm. Red barn in the background, all sorts of pumpkins lined up to be sold and mums on a flatbed trailer. There are days I dream of being a pumpkin farmer. I love pumpkins and fall. I envision myself living a big, old, white farm house with a wrap-around porch. It would be a "city person" farm. One that exists for the purpose of personal enjoyment rather than monetary gain. Along with our pumpkin patch, we would have a vegetable garden, a sunflower patch and an entire small field of wildflowers. A menagerie of fun animals including setting hens, those really cool looking show roosters, peacocks, ducks, a donkey, and miniature cattle would live on our farm. I would have a Martha Stewart type knowledge of bee keeping, gardening, flowers, trees, etc. My days would be spent in simple pleasures at a slow pace. The joys of such an existence!
But alas, I know the reality of farm life - whether a "city person" one or a real one. It is hard work! I know my visions would soon fade and the reality of it all would not be my passion.
I think I will hold on to the vision anyway.......
simple faith
Labels: Pumpkins
