More requests for pumpkins....{Contest closed...a year ago:)}

So, here are the instructions again! Yay for pumpkins! I just made some more to be auctioned off at a family reunion and thought it would be fun to give away a few here, too! So, leave a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing. Put a post on your blog with a link to the pumpkins and you'll receive another entry. I know TONS of church groups and sisters and friends have gotten together to make these cute little pumpkins. If you're the lucky winner - you'll receive a box of pumpkins, handsewn by moi.

Passionate about pumpkins...
I have been beside myself with utter and complete happiness as I wander through stores and see ALL of the fall decorations coming out. In fact, just this morning I was flipping through the mail and looking at some magazines with some fun Halloween stuff. I showed Brett and said, "Don't pumpkins just make you happy?" He doesn't quite share my enthusiasm for decorating. Ha! Fall is my absolute favorite time of year to decorate. Maybe it's because it's the beginning of my favorite time of the year - holidays, traditions, family time, happy memories. Maybe it's because the weather starts to cool down a bit and I can open my windows and enjoy the fresh air. Maybe it's because our neighborhood comes alive again as neighbors wander the streets, go on bike rides, and hang out in the front yard for hours chatting about life. Maybe I'm just looking forward to making harvest loaf cake, delicious soups, and homemade bread. Mmmm...yum! I must admit, it is hard for me to think of all this when it's still over 100 degrees outside. But, I'm getting so excited to decorate that I can hardly stand it! So, since I've been asked (probably at least about 50 times) to post my instructions for the pumpkins, and I took the pictures a year ago.... I guess it's time to share with you my passion for pumpkins.

Originally, I saw these super cute pumpkins in a boutique and they were $20-$25 a piece. Um...yikes! I decided to make my own. I went to Jo-Anns and bought their red-tag home decor fabric. I don't think I paid more than $5 a yard for fabric (and you don't need much!). I bought deep orange velvet, green and brown brocade, mustard swirls, etc. I kind of made it up as I went, so hopefully you have some "sewing knowledge" and I'll try to be as specific as I can (I am gonna apologize right now - because I'm obviously not so good with instructions!).

Okay, first step... find some fabric that makes you happy and cut 2 pieces about the same size. You can do them all different - some taller, some wider. Whatever you want. I believe that for this particular pumpkin I started with 2 pieces that were 12x14.

Take your first piece, fold right sides together and sew this - sorry I never measured to see how much I did... aren't you glad that I took pictures? Do this to both pieces, separately.

Trim off the excess fabric on both pieces - your front and your back

Open up each piece and it should look like this...

You'll need to make a stem - again you can do random sizes and colors - sew right sides together, leaving the bottom open, turn right side out, and stuff with your favorite stuffing... Place the back side of your pumpkin, right side up, place stem on top (like you see in the picture), place the front side of your pumpkin right side down, and pin your pieces together. When you sew all of these pieces together, round out the corners and make sure to leave an opening on the bottom so that you can turn your pumpkin right side out. Before you turn your pumpkin right side out, trim off the excess fabric.

Oh, look how cute! Aren't you excited???

I made little bean bags and stuffed them with rice - I'm sure you could use beans or sand or whatever else you want - to weigh the bottom of the pumpkins down. Then I put the little bags inside the bottom and handstitched the bags just inside the pumpkin, while stitching the pumpkin closed at the same time.

Then you can add bows, raffia, wire curly-q's, or whatever else you want!

Make enough to decorate your tables for Thanksgiving. I placed them in little groups up and down the table with candles and garland...so cute!

Oh man, I can't wait for fall!!!

Washington, DC - Day 5

Our plan for Day 5 (our last day IN Washington, DC) was to tour the Bureau of Engraving & Printing (the Mint), visit the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and then head off to the Library of Congress, finished by a walk around the Supreme Court building. We arrived in DC, me a bit anxious about being on my own with the kiddo's, but excited to see the last few things on our list. We found a new garage to park in, right next to the mint, and politely carried on a good 20 minute conversation with the parking attendant. We started walking toward our destination and watched a long line of people go into the Mint. Just as we got to the main door, a security guard stuck his head out and said, "I'm sorry, but we've just filled up our last tour right now. You can try to come back for the 12:30 tour. You might be able to get in that one." The kids were bummed. I was bummed. Dang it! I asked if they gave out tickets and they said no. Ugh! They let us tour the little visitors center and gift shop. Next we walked over to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Everything is always so much bigger than you think it's going to be. I'm just disappointed that I didn't take a picture of the outside of the memorial. Too many kids to keep track of, I guess.

We grabbed some hot dogs, chips, and lemonade for lunch and sat in the grass and giggled while we ate. We started our walk back to the Mint to try to hit the 12:30 tour. As we got closer and closer, we noticed the ultra long line outside. The kids looked and me and I looked at them and they said, "No thanks!" We were tired of walking, tired of lines...just tired. So we had a little change of plans. We DROVE by the Library of Congress (which I've heard is amazing inside) and DROVE by the Supreme Court building. Then we waved goodbye to Washington, DC and headed back to Virginia to find a pumpkin patch. Now the pumpkin patches are apparently a bit different in Virginia than here in Arizona. It was only $9/person to get in, compared to the $15/person it is here. Included in their price was: hay rides, unlimited fresh apple cider, as many apples as you could eat, and a FREE pumpkin. My kids thought that was the BEST! And it was grassy with little rolling hills...unlike the dirt we're used to. We had a BLAST!

Chubbers thought this rope swing thing was pretty much the coolest thing around...

The hay ride was the best I've ever been on, with trolls, and space creatures, and riding through little lakes, etc. So stinkin' fun!

Then the kids saw this.....

and I spent the next hour at the bottom of this....

Around and around and around they went....

When we were worn out from running around the pumpkin patch, trying out all of the different slides and activities, and our bellies were full of apple cider, we headed back to the Jones for an evening of perfectly beautiful weather, soft grass between our toes, loads of laughter, and happy cousins.

The boys enjoyed ALL of the awesome boy toys - endless supplies of nerf guns and light sabers...any boys heaven!

And I got to enjoy this smiling face! She started walking and had her first birthday while we were there. The kids wanted to take her home as one of our carry-on's. Love that baby girl!!!

To me, it's officially fall...

when I've made some Harvest Loaf Cake. Maybe it's because I have happy memories of coming home from school, opening the door, and being enveloped in the pumpkin-y aroma. Then sitting at the counter, talking about our day, and licking nutmeg and cinnamon spiced frosting from our lips and fingers.

And the other day I made some. Doesn't it look tasty? I still don't know why I torture myself with baking yummy treats and then not eating them. Remember? The whole NO SUGAR thing. Well, I make my husband eat some and then I kiss the crumbs off his face. I know. I'm truly pathetic. But I don't think he minds.

Harvest Loaf Cake

1 3/4 C. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/2 C. butter

1 C. sugar

2 eggs

3/4 C. pumpkin

3/4 C. chocolate chips

3/4 C. nuts

Cream butter, add sugar. Blend in eggs. Sift together dry ingredients and add to butter/egg/sugar mixture, alternating with pumpkin. Stir in chips and nuts. Turn into greased loaf pan (1 large or 2 small). Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes. Cool.

Drizzle with glaze. Let stand for a few hours (if you can resist) before slicing.

Glaze:

1/2 C. powdered sugar

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

1-2 Tbsp. cream

Now go...make some Harvest Loaf Cake...and then tell me just HOW delicious it was! Your home will smell DIVINE!!!

Thankful {Day 4}....

I know, I know. I'm way off. But, I guess that's what happens when life gets busy.

I'm grateful for holidays and traditions and having something fun to look forward to. The kids were SUPER excited for Halloween this year. I don't know why, but I had a hard time getting into the spirit of it all this year. We decided not to spend money on costumes ....so our Halloween pictures from this year look almost identical to last years. But that's okay with me. We still had tons of fun!

I did buy a few pumpkins and instantly the kids were begging and begging and begging to carve them. The only problem? Brett was gone on a scout campout and we wouldn't want him to miss out on all of the goop...I mean, all of the fun :). As soon as he got back, we got started on our pumpkin carving and pumpkin seed roasting...YUM!

Chubs would NOT let us carve his...apparently he liked it just the way it was. We did end up drilling some holes along the outlines so a little bit of light would shine through.

Pretty much the same trick-or-treaters as last year. I'm grateful my kids just go with the flow!

Laughing my head off...never did tell him how awesome his nose looked with the mask on :)

Our neighborhood seriously does the best carnival every year! I am going to miss this, for sure! Tons of fun games, yummy chili and treats, hanging out and laughing with friends, dancing to fun music...then hooking up with friends as the sun starts to set for trick-or-treating.

Then I hung out at home with my little sis and her fam, loving on her little baby, laughing at my nephews and handing out loads of candy to all of the trick-or-treaters, while Brett ran around the neighborhood with the younger kids. Happy Halloween!