Thank God! It’s so much nicer to bring in a bounteous harvest when we’re not wading through wet weeds (yep, we’ve got ’em) and leaves. I’ve been busy canning more sweet corn and another big batch of salsa yesterday. As I seed out the paste tomatoes, I cut out the stems and cores, then toss them in a big stockpot. When it’s full, I bring it inside and grind them up with onions, jalapeños, and sweet peppers, adding garlic, then cook it down. It doesn’t take long as a lot of the juice comes out when I take out the seeds. You’ll find my recipe in my book, Growing and Canning Your Own Food.
Today, David and Delilah came over on their four-wheeler and I asked if they wanted to go out and get some pumpkins. Of course they did! I drove the golf cart and they took their four-wheeler. Delilah was in heaven, running from one pumpkin patch to another. Even though our friends, Diane and Gina from the Watering Can in Cook took a lot to sell at their greenhouse, there were a whole lot more out there. Both Delilah and David chose pumpkins. I didn’t think David could lift their Big Max onto the back of the four-wheeler. But he managed. Wow, what a beautiful pumpkin! Then they chose several more to carve. Delilah was so excited. Now, that’s a fun day, even though it’s cloudy out.
— Jackie
Oh my goodness! I LOVE that photo of David and Delilah! So precious!
I’m wishing you speedy recovery on knee surgery in January.
Thanks Toni. All of us love our pumpkins. Delilah runs around the pumpkin patches, hugging and petting the different pumpkins, especially the big ones like Big Max and Atlantic Giant. So much fun!!
Just a beautiful Fall picture. I started my pumpkins late so I am hoping I will have enough good weather left to get a few. Happy Fall.
Good luck, Bette. May you escape the dreaded F word!!
Delilah sure is a cutie! She will have great fun with Dad carving pumpkins or just decorating with them. Your salsa looks wonderful! I make your salsa and love that recipe. We are of course, still dry here and are having another surge of hot weather. We are in the low 90s this weekend, which is so hot for this time of year. They are expecting it to break records. Wishing you much luck with your next knee replacement. Happy Harvesting! Prayers for a blessed week
Yep, we got the heat too. Eighties in Northern Minnesota, in October??? But we’re not complaining. It could be snowing.
The joy of little kids is so delightful and uplifting ☺️
It is so much fun, watching them discover all the world around them.
Nice pumpkins. Here’s a little tip for you, Use a canning lid to clean out the inside of the pumpkin, Makes it much easier then with a spoon and it also gets all the strings.
Ah, that’s something I never thought of. Thanks for the tip!!
I am also in Texas, we did not get any measureable rain in July. We did get 2 inches in the early part of September, all the rains last week skirted around us. We have a chance this week so praying we get more. Our garden burned up in the continuous 110 degree days. It was a warm summer for sure, looking forward for cooler weather. Glad your knee is doing better. Those pumpkins are spectacular!
I’m so sorry you got that dratted drought and heat! The weather was crazy everywhere this year. I’d hate to be in New York City this week….. Talk about flooding!
So glad you have a time for your other knee. Blessings.
Not looking forward to it, but it is a necessity. We’re planning around it.
I love the Watering Can! They have such a spectacular clean greenhouse operation. Those pumpkins!!! Wowzers!!
We love them too! Now they’re not just a greenhouse operation, but friends. That’s so nice.
Delilah has really shot up. She’s a daddy’s girl and so cute. Tell her we want to see her pumpkin after it’s been carved.
I’ll make sure to get a picture up to show you. Life is such an adventure for her, right now!
Yep, I made my appointment for the 2nd knee today, January 7th. It’s hard to figure out when things are “less” busy around here.
Yep, David and family will be saving Big Max seeds, as they got the nicest pumpkin out there.
Nice pumpkins!! Carving pumpkins is a great activity for kids. Here we got 5 inches of rain (Southern Wisconsin). We’ve been in a drought. I’m beginning garden clean up. This was a banner year for raspberries-and I’m not sure why. Our garden harvest ,although reduced, has been adequate and we are blessed.
Yes, we are! Our harvest is spotty. Some of the beans were so=so, the peppers really super slow, but the corn, squash, pumpkins (obviously!), and tomatoes are awesome. We’re still getting rain, although not 4″.
Hi Jackie,
Here in Texas, we are still fighting 95 degree temperatures although 95 beats 110 to 112 degrees day after day this summer. Received 3 inches of rain in the month of September which is wonderful since we haven’t had any since the first week of July which was 2 inches since May. It has been a rough summer needless to say. I canned salsa in the spring also. It’s so good. Your pumpkins look beautiful.
I am also in TX (N. Central). Last week we saw 106 and twice this week 100. Come on fall!
Bless you both! There’s no way I could handle that kind of heat for so long. In our part of Vermont we usually get about a dozen days every year over 90º and a couple of weeks over 80º which is more than enough for me. This year was odd, only one day over 90º, that was July 6, and only a half-dozen over 80º. I loved it, the garden not so much.
I couldn’t deal with such hot temperatures. We cook when it’s 90 out! I guess that’s one reason we live way up north, huh??? It has been a crazy year for everyone. Here’s hoping next year will be better.
When we moved from the hard winters, deep snow, and blizzards of Oklahoma, to far north, dry and warm California, it was such a relief, mostly put a sweater on in winter and hardly a coat; and we were in our mid-twenties, and got so spoiled. I’d love to move north to more beautiful country, but it’s tough because the winters are cold.
It is cold, but we dress warm and don’t have to be outside for long periods. So we don’t mind the cold; it keeps the riffraff away. Lol
What colorful and beautiful pictures….wonderful bounty from all your collective hard work! Orange is almost my fav color…those pumpkins provide it! Your granddaughter looks a sweetheart.she is a lucky little girl! I love your blog…I’m in NE Washington state..we are winding down here, smoke and heat are gone…but my dear neighbor’s garden is still supplying me with cukes and eggplants!
Take care of yourselves!
Roxanne
I love growing pumpkins and all the smiles they bring out on people, especially kids. We’re still frantically harvesting as next week we have a few nights in the low 30’s F, and we’re usually 5 degrees colder than forecast for some reason.
Eh David is young so not surprised he got the pumpkin on the four-wheeler. I’m a bit of adrenaline watching Delilah helped. We don’t grow any pumpkins but bought some from a local fundraiser. I presume David and family will save the seeds for you?
Don’t blame you for ensuring you don’t run out of salsa – so many uses for it and it tastes so good.
We’re getting the 80 degree weather too starting this weekend. Looking forward to crops/woods drying out. Its been a bit muggy here despite the temp only being around 70. While we technically didn’t need a fire in the wood stove, we’ve had a few.
Wishing you luck on knee #2. Upside is you have one under your belt re: lesson(s) learned.
Yep, just as Jackie is doing–making all the salsa she can stand–you never know what crops are going to be a success or a fail. You must get, while the getting is good!
Comments are closed.