The Great Pumpkin Dinner Celebration

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  Although I enjoy all of the seasons, there is something about the color of fall, the cool crispness in the air, and the harvest of plenty that inspires me and reminds me
how much I have to be thankful for.

The Great Pumpkin Dinner has been a tradition in our both the Jones and the Arnold households for many years.  It started when our children were very young, and is still a favorite today, even though they are grown.  We have done this celebration with our own family, but many years we have invited friends, neighbors, etc, to join in on the fun.  Sometimes our furry friends even like to get in on the action.

Amber's puppy~ Half-Pint

  Everyone whether old or young enjoys the Great Pumpkin Dinner.  You may be asking yourself..."What on earth is the Great Pumpkin Dinner?  Well let me explain.

The Great Pumpkin Dinner is a celebration of fall.  It starts out with a Pumpkin Carving Contest, which in our household has become very competitive over the years.  Sometimes we even vote on the best pumpkin and offer a prize for the cutest, scariest, etc.

Landon, Dave and Amber carving away!

 

Dave showing off his Charlie Brown!

We have carved everything from cats, to Frankenstein, to Charlie Brown.  You name it.  Everyone chooses their own particular pattern, and then they go to work.  You can actually find different patterns on the internet, or many times your local store will carry books with pumpkin carving patterns in them. 
When your children are young, it's fun to read the Parable of the Pumpkin Story while you carve.  (see Bear Tracks page)

  Once we are finished carving we set them all up in a row to admire them, but we have to wait til it gets dark to do the official pumpkin lighting.

The Jones' pumpkin display

Of course, after all that carving everyone is good and hungry, so dinner is next on the agenda.  It's fun to make your dinner table festive.  Years ago I found some cute pumpkin bowls that were on a clearance rack after Halloween.
I bought several sets, and have used them every year since.

But you don't have pumpkin dishes to create a great table.   You can also supplement with cute paper napkins and plates that have pumpkins or fall decorations on them.  You can use an orange table cloth, and whatever else will make your table look like fall, such as leaves, corn candy, little pumpkins for candle holders, etc.
Ours table varies from year to year.

Pumpkin dinner at the Jones house

The food on the menu is mouth watering and everyone looks forward to it.  Apple Cider Pumpkin Stew, Positively Perfect Pumpkin  Bread, Hot Apple Cider,  (see Moose Munchies page for recipes.)

While we eat, we try to name all of the stories, songs or movies we can think of with the word "pumpkin" in them, such as Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, etc.
As soon as it gets dark, we all gather around to light our pumpkins.

Dave's Charlie Brown

Landon's Frankenstein

Amber's Kitty Cat

To top the evening off, we watch The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, hoping that one of these years the Great Pumpkin will actually show up.  We watch in suspense as we snack on caramel apples, or popcorn.

 Everyone in our family looks forward to the Great Pumpkin Dinner Celebration.  It has become a tradition that has left many great memories to reminisce about.
What do you do to celebrate fall?  We'd love to hear from you.  If you are not currently doing a tradition for fall, why not start at Great Pumpkin Dinner Celebration?
You will be glad you did!

Janna

Colorado Rain Barrel Mystery

 People living in Colorado Springs wondered why their rain water barrel was almost empty every day. They set up a couple cameras and look what they caught on film ~ Isn't nature beautiful? "

 Gotta love Colorado!

Here are some more fun pics of bears I thought I'd share!

 

Hope you have a Beary Good Day!

Janna

Enjoying the Great Rocky Mountains!

There is a saying that I see in Colorado all the time that says..."If your lucky enough to live in the mountains, you are lucky enough."
I would prefer to say..."If you are blessed enough to live in the mountains, you are truly blessed!"
I feel abundantly blessed to live in Colorado, where every morning I can see Pike's Peak out of my front window. It looks different every time you look at it and it never ceases to amaze me! Every year Dave and I have had the privilege of spending time in our favorite vacation location in the Rocky Mountains.
I thought you might to take a enjoy going on a hike with me! I wish I could share all of the beauty we saw with you, but here are a few pics you can enjoy.
(Thanks to my hubby and his excellent photography skills) The wildflowers were stunning! This is a Rosy Paintbrush. And above is an Alpine Sunflower
A Wyoming Paintbrush above and all different flowers below! Lakita and I are sitting and enjoying all of the colors. This side of the mountain was a blanket of color. (You may have to click on the picture to get in a little closer and see all of the different colors.) We started hiking at 6:15 in the morning, and saw lots of birds and wildlife too. It ended up being a 6 hour hike by the time we got back, but we sat and relaxed and tried to take in all of the beauty. Dave relaxing with Lakita! It was a great day, and I wish you could have been there to enjoy it all, but hopefully this gives you a little taste of heaven!
Well I have to run! Lakita says it's time to log off! Thanks for joining me on today's hike! I hope it has inspired you, as it did me, to worship our amazing Creator!

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 NIV

911 ~ Lest We Forget

September the eleventh two thousand and one
When two hijacked planes came flying out of the sun
This is one of those days when everyone can remember
Exactly were they were and, what they were doing that day in September

As we watched the news we thought this must be a dream and we soon would wake
But before long we knew it was no dream as the news continued to break
As the day went on we knew this was an attack on all we hold dear
Our friends our families, our country our national pride. We had so much to fear

Another crashes at the Pentagon, with more loss of life, another in
Pennsylvania where heroes died
At this time we were trying to comfort each other as all of us cried
We didn't know the whole story then or how much more there would be
We were to learn later one of the planes was headed for Washington.DC

The plane did not make it to Washington as the terrorist had planned
The people on board did not let it happen as they formed a fighting band
And said "lets roll" as terrorist tried to take over of the plane
They were all heroes and given the chance they would do it all again

Do you remember what happened the next few days? There were no planes in the sky
All seemed so eerie, so quiet so’ unreal we were all reaching out and asking why
There were no answers this side of heaven we all felt so helpless and needed each other
Mothers and fathers little boys and girls, friends and neighbors sister and brother’

We were looking for answers we prayed to our God as never before
We called our ministers and said can we meet for prayer? And they opened the church doors
We fell on our knees and communed with our Lord
We asked for strength and were bound together by one common cord

Oh! Yes we filled our churches for a couple of weeks that’s true
Where are the people now? The need is still great for me and for you
The world is no better now just listen to the evening News on any given day
Little Children being killed, Rape, murder And people in high office gone astray

Do you remember what it was like on our roads back then our cars draped with red white and blue
We were together in our fight against the terrorist we even smiled and said How are you
There was courtesy even on our highways; there is no doubt about it we were all one
But look at it today they will take over the road even if it means the use of a gun

My Fellow Americans as we approach the anniversary of that Horrific day
Lets all band together as we did back then seek each other in His love, Join hands and pray
The enemy was hoping to drive us to our knees and he did, but not as he had planned
He only made us stronger as we trust in the Lord and give thanks for this wonderful land

© 2003 Daddy Dan

Cider Time

A favorite tradition in the Jones Family is that of making apple cider.  It started with my husband’s family when he was growing up.  His mom owned an antique oak cider press, and made use of it.  I have known her to produce up to 100 gallons of cider in one season!  Of all the things we have inherited from Blair’s family, the cider press is a true treasure.  My husband is a lover of all things growing, and at the very top of the list are apple trees.  We have 7 of them and they are strong, mature, and productive because of his care and nurturing. 

Our daughter Elissa pauses to snack on an apple.

Our Mantet Apple Tree is an early producer and is the best for making cider.  Since the apples have been dropping for over a week now, we knew it was time; so yesterday was the designated day.  We awoke to a pristine Montana morning—it would be a perfect day to make cider.  Cider day is a big day and a fun day.  Family members and friends are invited to help.  Everyone who participates goes home with cider.  

My husband and I got up early to set everything out and to make ready.  By the time the others arrived, we had a batch of apples cut and ready to grind.  We use old washtubs to wash the apples.  Quartering them makes them easier to grind.   
Next the apples are put into the press and ground to pulp.   


When the basket is full, we crank the press, and then it happens!  
 Liquid gold begins to flow into a large cake pan.  

 

My sweet husband Blair takes pride in the rewards of his hard work!

We give a cheer as the reward of our efforts pours out.  We love the very sight of it.  When it is full, we pour it into a crock with a spicket, straining it through cheesecloth to collect any pulp.  Then we pour it into gallon or half gallon jugs which we have been saving all summer for this very occasion!  
 
 Of course, everyone has to have a sample.

Nothing like fresh cider from your own apple tree!

We freeze the cider and enjoy it all year as hot apple cider on chilly evenings, juice for breakfast, and in many recipes that call for apple cider.  I have a wonderful stew recipe that calls for cider.  Perhaps you will see it in a future blog!

Cider day reminds us that fall is approaching.  (Blair and I love fall the best).  It reminds us that it is worth it to work hard, to keep doing things together as family, and to enjoy the fruit of our labors.  

The finished product!

Wish you were here to have a taste!

RomaLee