Search Results for: blog pumpkins pumpkins everywhere

No Carve Pumpkins for the Whole Family

With Halloween just around the corner the kids are itching to get started on their pumpkins! But if you are anything like me, the whole idea of handing those little pumpkin carving tools over to my four year old is a little frightening. Last year Mommy had to do the whole thing for him. Needless to say, neither one of us had much fun with it until it was finished and on the porch. This year I’m thinking we might try a new approach. No carve pumpkins are an easy solution to this little dilemma, and certainly just as fun! … Continue reading →

Pages of Pumpkins on Parade

We love them in pies, bread, muffins, and Starbucks has found a way to pair them with spice in a latte that is heaven in a cup. They are the great gourds of the season: pumpkins, pumpkins—-everywhere. Even in children’s books. Or, especially in children’s books. Fall is prime time for the giant orange orbs and there is no better way to get your kids excited about the versatile fruit than by digging into a plethora of eye-popping pumpkin-themed picture books. One of my daughter’s favorites is Pumpkin Cat by famed author/illustrator Anne Mortimer. The delightful seasonal tale details the … Continue reading →

The Genealogy of Giants (Pumpkins, That Is)

Every plant species has a genealogy of its own, and pumpkins are no exception. There are many types of pumpkins and pumpkin-like gourds that we can see everywhere around this time of year. Some are varied shades of orange, some are white, some are carved, and some are decorated with paint or other embellishments. Oh, and some are big. Really, really big. Hundreds and hundreds of pounds of big. Whenever I see one of these giant pumpkins at a fair or other place, I am simply in awe of its size and cannot help but wonder how it got so … Continue reading →

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere!

Have you carved pumpkins yet? It always seems like we would carve them too early and by Halloween the faces would cave in and they would be pretty funny looking. I can never seem to get the timing right. I always get so excited and want to do everything NOW!! I love roasting the pumpkin seeds and having those around for Hailey to snack on. But really, how many pumpkin seeds does one family need? I love Halloween but don’t necessarily love the mess that comes with carving pumpkins. When I was married my ex husband was in charge of … Continue reading →

What to Do With Your Fall Leaves

Oh boy. It must be fall. There are leaves coming down everywhere, and everywhere people are raking them into piles. In our neighborhood, we have folks who come around in a big truck to take the leaves away. What? I want those leaves! What can you do with leaves, you might ask? Turn them into giant pumpkins. This might be a temporary solution, but if you have a lot of leaves they are perfect for slipping into a big orange garbage bag. Put a scary face onto the bag, and you have an instant giant Halloween decoration, no blowing up … Continue reading →

Savor the Season

Fall is officially here… and so are my allergies. Still, I don’t think designing layouts featuring photos of my puffy eyes, runny nose, and used Kleenex is appropriate for an autumn-themed scrapbook. Fall is one of the most gorgeous seasons of the year with its spectacularly colored leaves, fresh apples and blaze orange pumpkins. There are so many ways you can savor the natural treasures featured during this wonderful time of year in a mini or traditional sized scrapbook. Consider drying apple slices and spraying them with varnish to decorate your album cover. Or, take a stroll through a local … Continue reading →

Get Out in Nature to Boost Your Green

Yesterday was a great day for myself and my family. My husband took the day off of work for our anniversary, and we celebrated by getting way from the indoors. My oldest son still had to go to school, but we packed up the two younger kids and headed to our favorite botanical gardens/historical estate. Fall was in evidence everywhere. From the mums that decorated everything, such as the new electric trains display and the inside of the conservatory, to the pumpkin playground, where the kids could climb over straw bales and use wheelbarrows to cart pumpkins. As the sky … Continue reading →

Pumpkin Pots

Okay, Okay, I know it is not yet September, but everywhere I go I see the fall season. The weather has gotten cooler all of a sudden, with temperatures in the low seventies and comfortable, instead of the high eighties and nineties with humidity. Halloween and fall decorations are already in the stores, and our local orchard is advertising pick-your-own apples. All of this has put me in the mood for a pumpkin-theme craft for the home. While I’ve made this craft in past years, I recently saw a version of this idea in a free magazine put out by … Continue reading →

The Snowman Conspiracy (1)

Is a snowman a fun loving holiday icon or a clever conspiracy? You decide. It finally happened, late last night. The kids fell asleep to the sounds of a cracking fire in the fireplace and the last lines “There’s no place like home” from “The Wizard of Oz.” As my husband carried the little ones off to bed, I padded through the house adjusting the thermostat, turning off the lights and cleaning up stray toys. As I headed back into the family room, I spotted something on the stair rail. Just another discarded sock, I thought, and sighed aloud. But … Continue reading →

17 Ideas for Capturing Couple Time This Fall

Fall inspires romance doesn’t it? Seems like love is in the air everywhere you turn. The cooler weather makes it ideal for snuggling up closer to the one you love. The changing colors are a good excuse to go for a drive or a walk and enjoy some time together. Those are just a couple of the more popular ways to capture couple time this fall, but there are others. Here’s some ideas inspired from my own experiences as well as from articles I’ve read (and noted herein) written by fellow Families.com bloggers. Passing Time at Patches, Orchards, and Farms … Continue reading →