Pumpkin Patch {Tradition}

Who doesn't love going to the pumpkin patch?  Well probably not many people enjoy this more than me!  My adventures in going to The Pumpkin Patch started about 5 years ago.  Before that I just purchased a regular pumpkin from the grocery store.  It all started one year when I grew my own pumpkins.  I live in the desert of Las Vegas so my experience was a bit unusual.  Well being unusual is not unusual for me!  I purchased two tiny plants from the local nursery and planted them with love, like everything else I grow.  Before I knew it they were taking over my backyard!  They spread all over the grass.  There were blossoms, which turned into pumpkins everywhere!  Two of the pumpkins grew right over next to the pool.  Funniest thing you have ever seen.  A pumpkin lying poolside in the Las Vegas desert all Summer!  I had people bringing boy scouts over to see them.  It was quite a sight.  Looked like something out of the twilight zone.  (Someday when I find the pictures again I will show you.  I know they are somewhere but can't be found.)

Anyway...the next year I didn't grow any and my children were disappointed in what we found at the store.  Who wants to carve a normal pumpkin?  Oh yeah I almost forgot to tell you the result of my pumpkin farming!  I ended up with a dozen pumpkins and most of them were over 80 pounds!  They were like large beach balls.  They were indeed Giants!

So tonight I go to the pumpkin patch!  My two older children are too busy to pick them out but the definitely want their own to carve on Halloween!  So luckily I still have a teenager to help me out on my big adventure to the Pumpkin Patch.  She doesn't want to miss this trip.  When she is gone I will be forced to rent a child or go alone but then who will take the pictures?  Hmm...

Did you take a look at the huge stem on that beauty above?  It wasn't the largest pumpkin but the stem was the fattest I have ever seen and I couldn't resist it!  Couldn't even fit my hand around that stem.

Tips for choosing the perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern.
1.  Look for a beautiful shade of orange.
2.  Try to find a unique stem.
3.  Go for something unique!  Either the roundest, largest, tallest or most unusual shape.
4.  Look for an unusual feature.  A big knot on it might be great for an unusual carving design.

Tips for getting your perfect pumpkin home.
1.  Borrow the two biggest wheel barrels the pumpkin patch has.
2.  Find a guy with the biggest muscles to help put the largest pumpkin in for you!
3.  Make sure you have a helpful teenager that can hold the third pumpkin for you while driving home since it wouldn't fit in the trunk! 
4.  Make sure you have a car large enough to bring home your pumpkin!  I have gone in a truck before or "The Beast" (my son's 4wheel drive SUV) but tonight I was in my "Topless Benz"! 
5.  Make sure the police aren't watching as you wheel that wheel barrel out to the far end of the parking lot.  Pushing that heavy load in the dark you might make you look like you are Driving(a wheellbarrel) UnderTheInfluence or stealing something.  Either way try not to laugh too hard and attract attention!

 

Still laughing as I try to get one of these beautiful giants into the house!  Yes the biggest one had to wait until my husband was home to carry it in for me.  I just couldn't get it up and out of the trunk even with help.  Good thing I didn't go to the gym today.  I am already a bit sore from all of that heavy lifting.

So here they are.  My Pumpkin Patch trip is complete!  Another successful purchase.  Wow!  Look at them.  They fill up the whole kitchen!  Now its time for my kids to decide what type of jack-o-lantern they will carve this year and to come up with their designs!  Last week I found a few pictures of carved ones from years past and have them in a pumpkin photo album on my Wendys Hat Facebook page.  Check it out.

All of this "fun" effort to have a Halloween Jack-O-Lantern!  I wouldn't have it any other way!  On Halloween you will find me carving and cooking and decorating and toasting pumpkin seeds and eating and trick-or-treating and passing out candy and having fun with my family and neighbors and friends!  And of course wearing Wendys Hat (a witch one)!!  Do you grow your own, go to a pumpkin patch or simply dream of it?

PS -- I am sharing a picture and cute idea from a friend.  She brought over a little friendship gift today.  A chocolate covered giant pretzel stick dipped in sprinkles.  How simple and cute wrapped in a cellophane bag and attached to an oversized hand written tag!  Simple and Sweet!!  Love it!  Thanks!