This pile o' pumpkins...
...from this BIG pile o' pumpkins (the early hard frosts this year forced them to pull the whole crop into one big pile and cover it with a tarp during the nights)...
...and the pumpkin patch from which they came...
...provided a pile o' entertainment...
...and nourishment...
...for the birds...
(Usually deer get the pumpkins. Instead, this year, this morning, we found a confused, trapped deer inside the garden fence who was having a hard time finding it's way back out while the chickens and geese feasted in the compost pile just outside the open garden gate.)
...and for ourselves as well: pumpkin butter, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin soup, and still there are a couple of little ones leftover for pumpkin pies or pumpkin bread.
How fantastic that your pumpkins are truly all used up. I drove past several houses yesterday where they had huge trash cans filled with rotting pumpkins and all I could think is that it was such a huge waste. Great job, and your pumpkin butter looks delish.
Posted by: Jennifer | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 01:17 PM
We really do just play at pumpkin love here in County Antrim! I'm muchly impressed!
Posted by: magsmcc | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Siri...these images are so colorful, looks like you guys had fun....and the chickens look pretty engaged.
I wish I knew...I live 2 miles north from here, next time call me, and you guys can come over.
Posted by: camilla | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Like a mini pumpkin hill...I'm surprised you were allowed to walk on them. It's nice to see how everyone & everything benefitted from the squash. My boys would have loved loved driving through the bales of hay maze - what a neat idea - different than the typical corn maze route.
Posted by: Ellen | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 04:38 PM
That is so cute! I love the image of confused deer. Looks like an awesome pumpkin patch, we have them here, but its still in the 90's. Enjoy the pumpkin eating!
Posted by: Amanda | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 05:06 PM
i swear, you should write children books:) these pics are great! i've never heard of pumpkin butter. hmmm, since i have a pile 'o my own pumpkins in the kitchen, i need to look into this.
Posted by: melissab. | Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Pumpkin magic!
Posted by: Lizz | Friday, November 06, 2009 at 02:37 AM
awesome! do you have a favorite recipe you use for the butter? i've never made any before.
Posted by: julia | Friday, November 06, 2009 at 06:09 AM
I love pumpkins. And, I loved this post. Thank you.
Posted by: Melissa | Friday, November 06, 2009 at 06:39 AM
Wonderful post--loved the photographs!
Posted by: Karen | Friday, November 06, 2009 at 03:01 PM
It really is good to see pumpkins used up. I love the fact that it provided you with some fun, then there is the wonderful things you will cook with it and finally the animals get their share too. Great post.
Posted by: Jean | Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 07:06 PM
So great to see that pile of pumpkins. Maine had a poor climate for pumpkin this year, and we've all had a paltry harvest. Jack-o-lantern supplies had to be trucked in from "away." It's a delight to be reminded of abundance...and how it ripples through a place...ducks and deer and chickens and families tucked away in warm places.
Posted by: June | Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Mmm....pumpkin butter, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin soup. You've stoked my cravings for the day! Love the pictures of your chickens and geese pecking away in the compost pile.
Posted by: Paula | Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 09:22 AM
What a glorious post!
What is pumpkin butter?
Posted by: Philippa | Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 01:09 PM