It’s getting quite cold here. The weather forecast calls for hard, killing frosts every night this week. Today, we spent the better part of the day harvesting the rest of our gardens. I have tomato vines loaded with fruit and hanging in the garage. I have boxes and boxes of tomatoes in the kitchen and porch that will hopefully ripen in time. I have a table full of pumpkins and other various types of squash.
It’s a bounty.
It’s a cornucopia.
It’s going to be a lot more work.
These are my two favorite pumpkins! The one on the left is my largest and brightest. I don’t know what it weighs but it’s quite handsome and awkward, all at once. I’m going to let RW carve it into a jack-o-lantern! He dearly loves pumpkin carving (it makes me itchy). The wee one on the right is my favorite pumpkiny little darling. He’s so tiny. Just look at him.
I’ll be processing all the pumpkins into puree form so that RW can make pumpkin pies with it later in the winter. He dearly loves pumpkin pie. We might make pumpkin soup but I had some terrible experiences with pumpkin soup whilst living in New Zealand once upon a time and I’m not so keen on the stuff. What else can I make from preserved pumpkin? Oh. Cheesecakes. Any other ideas?
The garden is officially gone, pulled up, composted, and in some areas, the soil has already been turned. It’s official. Autumn has arrived!
Because most of the day was dedicated to gardening I only had the later afternoon to spend in the studio and was so inspired by my squash harvest that I decided to create a new little enameling template for small white squashes. They’re sweet, crisp and beautifully over fired. I think I’m going to concoct necklaces with them. More on that, I’m sure, tomorrow.
I hope Wednesday treated you well!
xx
Plume
PS I’m looking for a new pair of eyeglass(es) frames. My options here in Pocatello are rather sparse. Does anyone know of any online eyewear shops that carry bizarre frames? I had a vision of green or turquoise frames with little wings on the sides — I know that some company SOMEWHERE must make them. Right? Of course right.
PS I’m looking for a new pair of eyeglass(es) frames. My options here in Pocatello are rather sparse. Does anyone know of any online eyewear shops that carry bizarre frames? I had a vision of green or turquoise frames with little wings on the sides — I know that some company SOMEWHERE must make them. Right? Of course right.
Oh golly do I have answers for YOU!
Pumpkin – roast those seeds!!! Yummyyyyyy.
and glasses…Optical4less.com
I have become QUITE addicted to buying cheap glasses and I love every pair!!
xo
m
pumpkin muffins!!
I haven't tried these (http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/pumpkin-and-feta-muffins-recipe.html) but they look super yummy and honestly EVERYTHING she makes is deliciously wonderful!
Pumpkin…smashed/mashed: butter, salt, pepper…maybe a wee bit of molasses/syrup/agave with stew on top: beef, antelope, elk
Side of green beans with pecans and a bit of jam compote (or dried fruit & basalmic reduction)
That's what I'd do :)!
How about these:
http://www.contactsandspecs.com/boz-eyeglasses/boz-eyewear-kanel-513.aspx
A local store has some by the same designer (Boz) that are actually shaped like butterflies, with spotted wing-y bits on the sides. But I can't find them online anywhere.
Pumpkin carving makes me itchy too! What's up with that?
your blog is darling, so happy to find it!
m.fay
http://www.amateurcouture.com
hope you stop by my blog and say hello.
Plume, first things first: I love your boots. Ha! I also love your awkward pumpkin. Eye Bobs have some fun eye wear at decent prices if you want to check them out. X!
http://www.urbanspectacles.com/
Jillian, this guy is an amazing craftsman. His frames are way out of my budget, but one day I am determined to own a pair!
Cheers,
Brittany
You would look like a foxy cat with turquoise winged glasses… spectacles, a darling spectacle in and of itself.
I would have loved to help you with the harvest, it is daunting-full and yet a fruitful job:)
Reaping what you sow is satisfactory, for sure.
snailentina took my answer! not cheap but SOOOOOOO fabulous
Of course pumpkin chocolate chip cookies,,,big and tall ones!
I think eye blob has some nice frames (actually I am not entirely sure if it is eye blob).
xo
Aw, I found 'em but they're sold out:
http://www.contactsandspecs.com/boz-eyeglasses/boz-eyewear-java-528.aspx
Pumpkin bread! I bet you can find a gluten free recipe online.
Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips.
Everything is better with chocolate. Or bacon. Or both.
And you should check Etsy for vintage frames.
I'm home which is good and bad and you know why for both.
LOVE your pumpkins!!!
I love the glasses from here, I bought 5 pairs. Cheap and good.
http://www.peeperspecs.com/Products/productDetail.asp?PROD_ID=917&DEPid=52&ROOT_dept=0
http://www.warbyparker.com/
pretty good deals, the glasses might not be exactly what you had in mind but they have a few bright colorful frames listed.
also i'm extremely addicted to pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips. so good.
-Sam
p.s. i think your blog is so inspirational and that you're a very talented person all around. my mom showed me your blog a new months ago and i've been a reader ever since, don't stop
OH MY GOSH.
There are some great links here and some fabulous ideas for pumpkin baking! Thank you! I'm going to respond to your comments fully tomorrow but FIRST….what do you all think of these:
http://www.framesdirect.com/framesfp/Cynthia_Rowley-mgnfki/r.html
!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can substitute pumpkin for carrots in a carrot cake. But you need to try pumpkin risotto. Or pumpkin, baked with butter and parmesan (freshly ground) in the oven. Heavenly!
yes.
absolutely.
gorgeous funky frames.
[*love* your little pumpkin….]
Oh, Autumn!
i adore the way you two consciously work/cook together, such a team!
i can only wish my man would gear towards such things…sigh…
I got mine from warbyparker and I love them…
and the Cynthia Rowley frames you found are HAWT!!!
I bought my last pair of frames from Anthropologie and had my doctor put my rx lenses in. He gave me a little guff ("now, these are what you would call over-the-counter frames…") but he did it and I love them.
jillian i LOVE pumpkins!
i like to make a little pumpkin stew with this recipe http://www.nibbledish.com/people/Yamesh/recipes/sweet-potato-spinach-and-peanut-stew (i swap the sweet potatoes for pumpkins!). make sure you add the peanut butter, it's the best part!
if you want to save your pumpkins just chop the fresh pumpkin into chunks and then freeze them. then all you have to do is let them defrost before you start the stew!
jillian i LOVE pumpkins!
i like to make a little pumpkin stew with this recipe http://www.nibbledish.com/people/Yamesh/recipes/sweet-potato-spinach-and-peanut-stew (i swap the sweet potatoes for pumpkins!). make sure you add the peanut butter, it's the best part!
if you want to save your pumpkins just chop the fresh pumpkin into chunks and then freeze them. then all you have to do is let them defrost before you start the stew!
jillian i LOVE pumpkins!
i like to make a little pumpkin stew with this recipe http://www.nibbledish.com/people/Yamesh/recipes/sweet-potato-spinach-and-peanut-stew (i swap the sweet potatoes for pumpkins!). make sure you add the peanut butter, it's the best part!
if you want to save your pumpkins just chop the fresh pumpkin into chunks and then freeze them. then all you have to do is let them defrost before you start the stew!
Hey Jillian, since you have so many green tomatoes, have you tried making green tomato pickles? I also have a bumper crop of tomatoes everywhere in the house so I made them using a dill cucumber pickle recipe and they're delicious! Also do you ever go to the Pioneer Woman blog? She had some GREAT pumpkin ideas here:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/?s=pumpkin&submit=
And do get the glasses, they're zany! 🙂
Katy
Pumpkin smoothies.
the cold sounds wonderful, i wish it would get colder than 95 degrees here in the desert.
To one VW owner to another. i finally have my bug up and running, nothing gives me more joy than cruising around in her. my husband loves her so much he already wants to buy a bus now.
Love at first sight.
Heres a cheep amazing place to get eye wear
http://www.zennioptical.com
Have a blessed Thursday
those glasses are funny…I think they are you! : )
or vintage shops (shameless plug) like mine!
The specs are spectacular – turquoise for you!
As I read this, on either side on my computer are tiny, rolly, nubby pumpkin fatties, hanging out on the countertop till I redecorate for harvest.
I'll eat pumpkin with you. But maybe not soup.
OH! I'm making a huge batch of butternut squash raviolis tomorrow – I think pumpkin ones with aged goat cheese and a hint of sage would be divine!
Ooh yes, pumpkin bread/muffins/cake!
And those CR frames are totally chic. Also search around Etsy for some vintagey ones!!
Pumpkin chocolate chip bread, my favorite! Those pumpkins sure are beauties.
I bought my latest glasses from Warby Parker and could not be happier. They are wonderful quality, and each pair is only $95 delivered, and for each pair purchased they donate one to someone less fortunate. A good deal all around!
http://www.warbyparker.com/
I love the pumpkin muffin recipe in "Babycakes" by Erin McKenna. They are gluten free and delicious with some chocolate chips in there.
WOWEE!!!
There are some great pumpkin ideas here! Thank you all for helping me find some great ways to spend a pumpkin! I'm so excited to use these veggies now! RW will be thrilled with some of your baking ideas too — he's been doing all the baking around here lately.
As for frames, I managed to snaggle a set of the Cynthia Rowley frames on the cheap via eBay! But I'm not sure they'll suit my face so I've also got my eye on a pair of Eye Bobs!
Thank you all so much for taking a moment to send me these links and these ideas!
You're all such gems!
x
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Vintage50sEyewear?page=1
XOXO
THANK YOU FOR THESE COMMENTS EVERYBUGGY!!!!
I have now selected two sets of frames via the interwebulars. I don't know how they'll look on my face…but I'm excited to find out! You're the helpfullest!
xx