Dear Reader:

With Halloween over and All Saints’ Day here….the weather seems fitting today with its cloudy overcast skies. This is the day we remember loved ones we have lost in the past year and/or years prior to that….it is a day of reflection…hopefully mostly happy memories.

I find it interesting that Mexico has its “Day of the Dead” at the beginning of November with the belief that the monarch butterflies are ancestors’ souls returning each year to the family.

When we study history and cultural customs around the world…we find many similarities between all of us…different names for our ceremonies but, still, quite similar…it just re-enforces the belief that we are all connected in this world..no matter where we live.

Cindy Ashley found these five  interesting tidbits on pumpkins ( sent to her through Suburu e-newsletter)

*I figured with Thanksgiving just around the corner…filled with lots of pumpkin pies…this article might just give some good ideas!

Name origin

The pumpkin hasn’t always been called by that name. It actually has quite the linguistic history. According to KCET, this large, orange fruit was first called a “pepon,” which is the Greek word for “large melon.” Pepon was then nasalized by the French into “pompon,” but the English later changed this to “pumpion.” Finally, American colonists began calling the gourds “pumpkins,” giving them the name we use today.

The history of the jack-o’-lantern

Jack-o’-lanterns are a go-to Halloween decoration, but they weren’t always used for ornamentation. According to Country Living, the tradition of these carved, smiling pumpkins started when the Irish used carved turnips, potatoes, rutabagas and beets to ward off evil spirits. When Irish immigrants landed in America, they realized that pumpkins were easier to carve and much bigger than potatoes, making pumpkin-based jack-o’-lanterns the perfect way to keep evil spirits from entering their homes.

Medicinal properties

Feeling a bit sick? If you were living in the 18th century, then it is likely you would have been prescribed pumpkin to help cure your ailments. Country Living suggests that pumpkins were a cure-all in America during the 1700s, helping to heal people of everything from snake bites to freckles. Each part of the pumpkin is edible, which made it easy for 18th century physicians to find a “cure” to fit any illness.

Pumpkin production

Every year, the United States produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins; think of all the pie that could make. The top pumpkin-producing states include Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California, making these states the perfect places to search for the ultimate Halloween pumpkin.

Different take on pumpkin pie

When you think of pumpkin pie, it’s likely you imagine a smooth, sweet taste that has a touch of cinnamon. Pumpkin pie did not always taste the way it does now, however.

According to KCET, early European settlers would instead create what they called “pumpkin pie” by cutting off the pumpkin’s top, hollowing out the shell and filling it with milk, honey and spices before baking it on hot ashes. This interesting take on a pumpkin pie isn’t as sweet as ours, but still sounds delicious.

(This article is presented by Crews Subaru of Charleston, South Carolina.)

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Let’s start with the babies….Way too cute to spook. I had gotten Jakie and Lachlan matching penguin outfits (even with a top hat!) They were adorable…but obviously not popular…with either boy. Jakie let his anti-penguin costume be known more visually and loudly…whereas Lachlan just resigned himself to sleep through it. *But they were so cute!

My first sweet surprise was finding pink pumpkins lined up on all the steps leading into the house….some Halloween elves must have all brought their race participant gift pumpkins for the occasion…it made me so happy. Love you family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mollie brought a change of Halloween hats…she was ready for it!

Eva Cate was Anna (from Frozen- Kaitlyn braided her hair so adorable)) and Rutledge was a Clemson Tiger (thank goodness that turned out okay….whew!…close game)

We loaded Eva Cate and Rutledge in the wagon and we were off….we would experience scary witches, big spiders, and strange Clemson cheerleaders….but also nice little ladies with bowls of candy for little boys and girls.

Friends came over and look at Jakie and his friend…another little boy who goes to his school…they look like twins!

The “boys” didn’t want to be left out either…so they dressed up too….Rudy, Atticus, and Pip. (Rudy is still delivering the mail…and we love seeing him each time the family gets together….we are still praying hard for him.)

This was our second annual family Halloween Extravaganza and it just gets better every year….it is always a celebration for me to have an excuse to bring the family together.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Don’t forget to say “rabbit”…it is the first day of the month….November (hard to believe)