Mess on aisle...

I had stored the white pumpkins in my pod, whence they turned yellow.  It's cool and dark in there, so I didn't worry about them... I figured, hey, when I need them, I will get them out to feed the chickens...

Ugh.  What a mistake.  I didn't take into account, cool, dark place doesn't mean 27 degrees.  Yeppers, it was well  below freezing for a few days, might have even been cooler than that, but it was cold...

I figured, well, I am not going to use the pumpkins, I am going to gift them to the chickens for Christmas.

Oh, what a mess...  I opened the pod door, and the pumpkins had shrunk.  They were lopped over to one side, and looked a bit like a mis-colored flat tire.

Uh, oh...

I tried lifting up one, and well, let's just say, it didn't work.  I ended up using a shovel, and the chickens, well, they tore it apart and ate the seeds, but it wasn't exactly the feast I'd planned...   I sprayed the pod area with Lysol, and, since it was still cold, decided to close up shop, and deal with it later...

Fast forward to about a few days ago.  Husband and I were chatting about a change that he was going to make to the pod, and he said, did you ever get that pumpkin mess cleaned up?

Oh, @$^%!!! 

Er, no, honey, forgot all about it...  So, we had a rare January 50 degree day, and I got out a mop and a bucket, some towels, and went out, expecting a slurry, mold, SOMETHING disgusting...

But it really wasn't.  There was a long area where the pumpkins had leaked liquid, now dust dry, and two little spots that were bits of pumpkin where they had sat, also dry. 

I mopped the dust up, and it was nearly undetectable, once I had finished, except for one bit of pumpkin, that I will have to use a plastic card or something to scrape up, because it sort of stuck.  Not bad for a 'what are we going to have to clean up after nearly a month?' (Whew!)

Halloweenie stuff...

Well, a very quiet Halloween.  The ones I expected, showed up early, and so it was a race to put my costume on, so I could greet them at the door. 

I was a black cat, a hoodie with kitty ears, black fingertip gloves, long(er) fingernails*, black pants and shoes. 

I greet the little guy at the door, he just started kindergarten this year.  First thought, Bummer, his older sibling isn't along.  Second, I am trying not to crack up at the dumbfounded look little one has, he is dressed as a Dalmatian dog.  He finally came to the door, and bless him, holds out his bag and says "THANK YOU!" 

That's when I did finally crack up.  We managed to get "Trick or Treat!" figured out, and I gave him his bundle.  I have so few kids, the ones who do show usually get a haul.

We turned on all the lights, I even waved at a few people from the window.  No others showed.  I really kind of miss having kids come to the house.  Even the next door neighbor boy didn't show.   I keep sniffing to see if I have bad  breath or pit odor...eep!

As for the pumpkins...

I thought, well, if I am going to decorate, guess I should haul the two pumpkins from the pod.  I had them in there to be cool and dark.  This was a good idea, in theory.

I opened the pod door to find my white pumpkins were now banana yellow.  Not white, not orange. Yellow.  Odd...

So, I might put them out for Thanksgiving decorations,  or just seed save. 

But they do look... Different.  Almost iridescent, and banana yellow. 

But, on the bright side, this is November 5th, and I have NO TOYS on the counter!!!

May the go reside in whatever circle of Hades they came from... ; )




* I had probably no more than about a quarter inch or so longer than normal.  This doesn't sound like much, but as thin and wimpy as my fingernails are, it made a very strained month or so, trying to keep them from breaking off.  I guess I should try fake fingernails some time.  Can't be worse than continually catching my nails and bending them backward when feeding or gardening, or sweating them breaking off... Sigh...

Busted, as it were.

I had mentioned all the little Halloween  items that were multiplying around the desk?  And how I had moved them to the side?

Well, the gal who had been bringing them in said that she was disappointed that they weren't front and center, why didn't I like them.

I thought fast.  "I am a klutz, and I kept knocking them over."

She didn't seem convinced, but they are still to the side. 

I was thinking about Halloween. Is it just me, or has it gone from a kid-friendly, get candy and go play games, to rather... Over-the-top sexy costumes, that are much, much for adults?  And the parties, well, I gather there are parties at bars and such... But not just fun, it's like Matin' Place with costumes...

On the other hand, if you need ideas for costumes, (sexy or not), Google has come out with an interesting interactive.  They show the most searched for costumes, and how many people you might see with the same costume at a party...   I looked, and Oregon seems to be trending to witches, Fred Rogers, Butterflies... And Octoberfest wear.  Hmm.

Most of the ones I picked on the costume list seemed to be Meh, you might, you might not see them at a party.  I guess I could dig out my clothes from high school and sell them, it turns out, a hot, trendy costume is 80's wear.  Hot pink, scrunchies, and shoulder pads, anyone?

I am hoping to get the white pumpkins done up as eyeballs soon.  I am going to see if I can put a picture on the blog through my phone.  Don't hold your breath, but we'll see...

And, the scary season has begun, the voting bags are in the lobby!  😉