Sunday, October 17, 2010

Just 'Cuz

Just because I thought it made a pretty picture.

'Course, maybe you have to be a squash lover to appreciate this wheelbarrow full of bounty.

One day this past week I harvested a total of thirty fruits in various sizes. Only two had bad spots on them; the rest should be good keepers . . . for as long as you can manage to keep winter squash, that is.

Haven't started processing most of them for the freezer yet. I hope to get to that sometime this coming week, but the week is already looking too, too full.

Finally got my Halloween decorations out this morning. Most years I would have had them out shortly after the first of October.

Criminy, would somebody please do something about slowing time down a bit! Halloween is in two weeks, then only four weeks until Thanksgiving. We all know how the time flies between Thanksgiving and Christmas. After Christmas, the first of the new year is here in a blink and it will be WHAT HAPPENED TO 2010??

16 comments:

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

It sure does fly by, except February. The shortest month is the longest for me. It's cold, nasty, and you just want it to be spring already. If you want to slow time down, just get a job you really hate. Each minute feels like an hour. See, you must really love what your doing.

Chicken Mama said...

Mom, was it necessary to put such a fine point on Halloween . . . closely followed by Thanksgiving . . . closely followed by Christmas?! I'm already stressing out about it mentally - I didn't want to make it reality by seeing it in writing! ;)

Erin said...

you don't have to be a squash lover - those are beautiful! You are right about time flying by now, seems like summer took forever and I couldn't wait until fall but now it's going too fast!

The Apple Pie Gal said...

Something about this year that seemed to whiz by faster than others. It seems like a blink ago I was planting stuff and now I just wonder where it all went!

Mama Pea said...

Jane - Oh, yes, I remember those days of having a job you hate. A lot like sitting in a classroom and watching the hands of the clock c-r-e-e-p around in slow motion.

You're absolutely right. I do love what I'm doing. My GREAT BIG FAT PROBLEM is that I'm always trying to do too much!

Chickie Mama - You and I both suffer from the same affliction . . . setting up to high of expectations of ourselves. Do you think there's any hope that we could become a little more realistic especially concerning the upcoming end of the year/holidays? I'd sure like to try but I'll need some intensive hours of head readjustment to get where I want to be. You, m'dear, after what you've been through this year, DEFINITELY deserve (and should!) allow yourself to scale back for a few months and slowly start this new phase of your life without putting all kinds of pressure on yourself. It's not forever; you can get back to your superwoman demeanor again after you take care of yourself. (How's that for sounding like a mother?)

Erin - When I yammer on (grump?) about time going by too fast, I always think of when my cousin and I were about 7 or 8 and we asked my aunt when Christmas would be here. She said, "In about 30 days, only one month." And I can so distinctly remember thinking, "One whole month!!?" At that time in my life, it seemed like an eon! Oh, to be able to think again that a month would be a long time!

Susan said...

Oh, you show-off. Strutting out your wheelbarrow full of beautiful squash! Love your decorations - I am sorely lacking in that department.

Mama Pea said...

Apple Pie Girl - I know, I know, I know. So often hubby and I will comment on something saying that it feels like it happened just last week and in reality it was four months ago. Where did all that time in between go?? (And what did we do with it?)

Susan - Well, I always say if you've got it, flaunt it. ;o)

No Halloween decorations? Shamey-shamey. You get yourself right out there and purchase a ghost, a witch and a bat. I think seasonal decorations just chirk up a your environment!

mtnchild said...

I have never eaten a lot of squash, but I also haven't been exposed to them. Your picture is beautiful and perfect for fall.
Yvette

Mama Pea said...

Yvette - If each of my squash didn't weigh so much (they feel like they're made of cement), I'd love to send one off to each of my blogging buddies. Wouldn't that be fun to share?

Jenyfer Matthews said...

I have been behind on hanging my seasonal decorations as well - and I have some adorable ceramic pumpkins and dried gourds plus wall hangings. Shame on me!

Kelly said...

I love your header photo and the barrel of squash. Fall is such a beautiful time of year. Best of luck getting your work done in the kitchen this week!

Mama Pea said...

Jen - Get those wall hangings up and enjoy them, Girl!

Thanks, Kelly - Can you come help me in the kitchen?? All the squash and apples you can eat . . .

Drew said...

What kind of squash are those? They look like a cross between pumpkins and -maybe?- hubbard squash?? I don't think that I've ever seen an orange one, though!

mtnchild said...

Oh Mama Pea, that would be such fun! You would have to send me a recipe too, all I've ever cooked is zucchini.
Hugs
Yvette

Mama Pea said...

Drew - Welcome and thanks for commenting.

The squash are Red Kuri, also known as Orange Hokkaido. They're a "baby red Hubbard" style and I got the seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds.

The package description says you should get 2-3 fruits per plant but I got 30(!) from my five plants!!

They're my favorite flavored squash and, yes, they do double as pumpkins for decorations!

Mama Pea said...

Yvette - Winter squash is super easy to prepare. Cut in half, take out the seeds and stringy pulp, place cut side down in a pan with about an inch of water in it. Put pan in 350 oven for about an hour, flip squash halves over to test for doneness. When it's very fork tender, add a healthy pat of butter, salt and pepper and put back into oven until butter is melted. Mmmmm, good!