Pumpkins and Apples

 It's almost Halloween and almost the end of the month of October. We are having sunny, crisp weather for a few days, and Tom has been doing a lot of work in the garden. I even got out for about an hour this afternoon, working on collecting and storing yard art.

But most of the day I was busy with other things. 

Sunday, tomorrow, we'll be going to Winlock, to my nephew Ben's home, for our annual Norquist Family Cider Bee. In preparation for the potluck lunch I was busy making food: pumpkin pies and Macaroni salad.

While I was doing that my sister Laurie and her son Ben were east of the mountains getting the apples we will be pressing for cider. She posted this on Facebook. 

Meanwhile Jill was underwater, carving her pumpkin. She said the experience was just OK, and didn't offer any more details. 

These are the pumpkins that the divers carved underwater.

Jill said the bumpy one, for her earlier party, was too hard to carve. Her underwater "ghost" she says looks more like a fish. I think she had fun in spite of the results.

Then this afternoon she want hiking. 

After resting up from being on my feet all morning, I worked outside for a while. I had another rest when I came back in and then I carved my pumpkin. 

It was thick and took some hand strength but I stuck with it. When it was finished, we smiled at each other. Yes, it's a happy Jack-o-lantern. I always carve happy pumpkins. No gory or menacing Jacks for me. 

I even collected the seeds and roasted them. 

We won't have any trick-o-treaters or any parties or even any grands for Halloween. The Jack-o-lantern is just for me.

Carving it was fun. It makes me smile.