The Great Pumpkin Farm

Our October field trip was to a nearby "Agri-business" that is a pick your own farm with extra family attractions.We negotiated the best price possible ( 7 dollars each including a pumpkin, under 3 free) and then our homeschool group voted to supplement each person's admission with 3 dollars. We thought that 4 dollars was reasonable for each to pay and 60 folks from our group came out!

 After an educational tour about apples and pumpkins, we headed out on a hay ride to pick a pumpkin from the very large patch.

This apple sluice was interesting.

Each of the kids got a cup of feed for the goats to eat.

This farm was located on many acres and the petting zoo had a lot to see.

One of the most unusual features of this place which many of the kids remembered from coming here three years ago is it's huge jumping pillow.This could hold lots of kids.It was inflated with air like a moon bounce.

 There were three different types of mazes. This one had ropes that you couldn't cross to get to the lookout tower in the center of it.

This farm was located in a scenic valley and they offered many different things to do that were fun. It was obvious that they understood that there is money to be made  from folks who want to get out and spend some time in the country.

The outdoor amusements were simple and plentiful.

There were swings,

and a pumpkin-chucking dinosaur used on the week-ends.

The corn-crib was set up like a giant playpen for toddlers. It was full of corn kernels.Netting covered the sides to keep out the birds.

Another area of the farm held giant wooden toys to climb into and play in.

Pretty Fall sights were a delight to the eyes.Someone described these as "Cinderella Pumpkins" and I could immediately picture her carriage made out of these flatter, squishier looking pumpkins.

 Although our homeschool year has been much more difficult than in years past as far as getting the daily work accomplished, we have certainly been on some nice field trips!There is probably a relationship there! It has definitely been a pleasure experiencing so many of the beautiful things that this area has to offer, while getting to know our fellow parishioners in a relaxed setting. I am very grateful for the opportunity.

Bridal Party Hair Flair

I decided to call the hair salon that is a beauty school that I frequently pass to see what they would charge to do an up-do for the bride.When I found out that it would be only 20 dollars, I made an appointment for myself and the entire bridal party!

Sweetpea had already had her hair washed and rolled on sponge curlers at home, but was able to sit under the dryer to get it finished. The girls at the shop offered her a jelly donut.

Each gal had something unique done to her hair.

It was a quaint shop and we had fun getting pampered.

The bride got an up-do and had her veil placed in her hair where it stayed for the rest of the day and evening.

These girls got lots of beautiful ringlets put into their hair. The  students sprayed the "do's" to last and they did. W hen we were all done, we  tipped the budding beauticians and skedaddled home to get dressed and made up in an hour and a half! That cut it a bit too close- but it all worked out fine as you can see!

Here is the bride updating her status just before leaving for the church!

Flower Girls

When my friend, Valerie, heard that we would be having a wedding, she volunteered to do the flowers! She had supported herself through college as a certified flower assembler. She is very creative and dependable and this was a great relief to us all.

We had met with the flower person at Costco who recommended that instead of ordering flowers, we just come in on the morning when she received her shipment and buy what we liked. In this way, we wouldn't limit ourselves but would have access to whatever was available.This worked out beautifully. On that day, the bride was in school, so Cindi and I met there when the doors opened. We bought the most gorgeous fall garden bouquets, large red roses, tea roses and extra greenery.

The day before the wedding, Miss Valerie brought her homeschooled daughters with her and proceeded to teach them how to arrange bouquets. They had had some practice doing this before and were quite good at it. We were all impressed with the sunflowers, burgundy mums, rubria and even the wildflower fillers that came in the bunches of flowers. They were extremely well priced  because we bought them right off the shelves.

Valerie, after working for three hours arranging each bouquet, placed them all in vases of water and took them to her house for the finishing touches. She picked up some pew brackets and made bows for them and created boutonnieres for the guys and corsages for the mothers. She bought ribbon that matched better than our Dollar Store selection and the next day, delivered them all to the church and distributed them. Then she helped everyone to get lined up on time! I enjoyed her company at the reception, too! All this she did with her signature CHEERFUL patience and sweetness with us and her own children. We appreciate so much this tremendous gift of self. God willing, I plan to help her when her daughters get married !

Pumpkin Centerpiece

For Meg's wedding, we decided to use a pumpkin for a centerpiece decoration on each table. We really lucked out when Aldi grocery store had very large pumpkins for sale for 2.29 each! We bought 25 which required three trips to the store. We put the boys to work washing them off with the hose and a scrub brush.

By Googling "Pumpkin Centerpiece" we were able to see many ways that a pumpkin could be used as a decoration beyond the typical Jack-o'-Lantern.This idea seemed promising and Kristy took it upon herself to obtain the supplies and try it at her home.She brought her finished project over to us to evaluate. We loved it and picked up the needed supplies from the Dollar Store.

Tuesday before the wedding was set aside for creating all the centerpieces.We needed time to get them finished but had to balance avoiding last minute pressure while not cutting into our pumpkins too soon to cause them to spoil.These were definitely big pumpkins!
We removed the stems using a screwdriver and tried to just barely shape the tops to receive a candle without cutting into the guts. We were hoping that the glue gun used to hold the candle in place would "seal" the pumpkin and retard spoilage. This turned out to be the case!

Within 2 hours we had all the candles glued in. These off- white pillar candles smelled like vanilla! I had test burned one candle already and after 4 hours of burning it had lost only an inch of wax. I knew it could last through a 4 hour reception.

Next we glued on silk leaves in fall colors, beautiful fake "berries", small twigs and acorns from the yard.We covered up the large amount of glue used to hold the candle itself in place.This was so much fun to do. Each pumpkin was totally unique.

 Next, we rubbed olive oil into each pumpkin. Kristy had told us that that was the secret. Sure enough, the olive oil gave each pumpkin a rich, deep color and finish that made them even more beautiful.

While preparing for this project, I realized that we would need a way to store and transport these big boys to the reception hall when the time came. So, I picked up boxes at costco to fit 25 pumpkins (one or two in each).As each pumpkin was completed , we put it into the box.

We carried them to our Pumpkin Storage Room to await Friday's decorating of the hall. At the reception, these centerpieces exceeded expectations because they were so timely and natural looking and the candlelight was so pretty and fragrant. I'm hoping that the next person who googles "pumpkin centerpiece" gets a chance to see these! This entire project came in under budget because of the great deal we got on the pumpkins themselves and was terrific fun to make.At the end of the evening, we invited our guests to take a pumpkin home to enjoy for as long as it lasts!

Perfect Patient

When Miss J.was scheduled for a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy after not being able to breathe through her nose for 10 days, Tim and Kristy brought over some ice cream and pops to put in the freezer.It is a good thing that they did- I forgot to buy some before her surgery.

This is her excited smile on the morning of her surgery. The Ear Nose and Throat doctor's office had given her a CD to watch on what to expect for this operation. She watched it 5 times. The people in the CD were locals and she recognized them when we got to the hospital.

 

In the instructional CD, a girl brings her teddy bear to the hospital while she is getting her tonsils out. Miss J. was inspired to bring her doll, Sarah, who is having her wristband applied. Sarah's outfit was crocheted by my late Mother-in-law many years ago.

I was absolutely amazed  by the success of that CD in that this child had not one drop of fear as we went through the preparation for surgery. Everything was unfolding just as the CD said it would. It was like an adventure for her.

The entire operative team came in to introduce themselves. Miss J. continued to recognize people from the CD.The service was first rate. I felt very grateful for it because my daughter had been ill for many days. I felt a pang of concern for other moms all over the world who would give anything for this kind of excellent medical care.

Here she is still smiling as they wheeled her away. She was completely at ease!

In Recovery, Miss J. was taken care of by a nurse I used to work with. When I complimented the instructional video, the nurse was thrilled because she had helped to write it and film it.

At home, the popsicles and ice cream were the main things she ate for a week.She did very well in her recovery except for a time of severe pain every night despite the round the clock pain med. administration.

 The whole experience and the hair net prop gave her some inspiration for some "nurse" role-playing.

Who knows! God works in very mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. Maybe a health-care career is in her future.She certainly is breathing better during the day and night.
Thank you, Dear Lord, for bringing her through this operation and recovery period safely. Please be with all mothers of sick children and provide for what they need.Amen.