Cleaning, Buffing & Shining Pumpkins - Step Two

Pumpkins - Left to right

1) Musquee de Provence (Muscate de Provence) Heirloom Pumpkin.  (Left) Cucurbita pepo

these pumpkins are used by chiefs around the world.  They have orange flesh that is very sweet and flavorful.  From Southern France.

2) Blue Moon - Cucurbita Maxima. (Front) Graysih Blue with a thick yellow orange flesth.  Perfect for decorating or carving.  From Australia.

3) Jarradale - Cucurbita pepo - (Back) Gray pumpkin which with yellow-orange flesh that is sweet, dry, and stringless making it suitable for baking or pies. This variety will store for months. Stores for months.

I've had these stay fresh until February. Not sure where they originated. 

Musquee de Provence

(I call these Fairytale Pumpkins)

Blue Moon

Jarradale

 I'll start with these three beauties. Make sure

you place them on a soft cloth to prevent bruising.  I usually place a soft dish
towel on the bottom of the sink to protect the pumpkin's delicate skin.

 Scrub with a soft toothbrush making sure to get all the dirt from the cracks and creases.
My mushroom brush works very well for this process because it's so soft and gentle. 
Make sure to clean around the stem.

Clean the underside too, making sure all dirt is removed from around the bottom.

Be very careful not to cut or damage the skin.

 Buff with a terry towel.

 Then buff with a micro towel.

 Notice how these buff out like they were waxed! 
All natural, just a little elbow grease
 for the Blue Moon and Jarradale. 
I usually spend 15 minutes buffing each pumpkin.

 The Fairytale however won't buff out so nicely
and needs a little help to shine.

This is the natural shine.
 
 So, I use a acrylic crystal clear
gloss clear spray to
help it out. 

And we have shine!

Next!

Gather the decorations.

Mumzie

In Search of Pumpkins - The Gathering Process - Step One

I've been asked by a few fellow bloggers to show how

I make my pumpkin centerpieces.

So.....

I've been gathering pumpkins for a week or so to make some centerpieces

I found in these in Turlock and they all fit in the back of my truck.

 I'm not selling any this year, these are for myself and relatives.

This one will make a great Halloween pumpkin - - He was free.

 This one is from Safeway...I bought two like this...one for Colin and one for Aiden.

It weighs around 40 lbs...and cost $4.99.  Aiden's was a little larger than this one, and I delivered it to him last week.  Safeway was having a sale....buy one and get one free....perfect price and a fantastic bargain.

Colin's dad will be carving this big guy on Halloween!

 This Fairytale pumpkin is from Sue's barn on Highway 120. 

She's mine!

 Some of my collection.

 I love these green ones. 

 

 Another Fairytale pumpkin which will make a beautiful centerpiece.

 This one is my favorite...I love the touches of pink and orange.

Next I will scrub them with warm water and a toothbrush! 

Then buff with a soft terry towel.

Next step...design and decorate.

Mumzie

Colin's First Pumpkin Patch

 My grandson....Colin

He wants to touch and feel everything. 

It's amazing to watch him discover everything.

 

He's only been walking for around one month,

and walking on dirt was very different.

The fresh roasted corn was simply wonderful!  

Yum!

Love these colorful beauties.

Check out the corn maze in the background.

It's huge.

Pumpkin rides.

The adventure ends with a taste of

pumpkin pie at the Country Store.

A very tired little boy...but so much fun.

Thanks for sharing our trip to Dell'Osso Family Farms  and Pumpkin Maze.  

It was my first time to visit Dell'Osso's farm, and

found this place to be tons of fun, even though it was raining on and off. 

The Farm has everything from a corn maze to a train rides. 

We plan on going back next year for more fun!

Today I'm joining Susan at

"A Southern Daydreamer" for

Outdoor Wednesday.

Mumize

Pumpkin Tea Pot

My favorite pumpkin teapot teasure.  

I originally gave this tea pot to my mom years ago.  I think it was in the 1980's sometime,

I'm not really sure; but I always loved it.

After my mom passed, dad knowing how much I love pumpkins...

gave it back to me.   It's sort of a returned teasure.

Mumzie

Comparisons

Let me remember that each life must follow its own course,

and that what happens to other people

has absolutely nothing to do with

what happens to me.

--Marjorie Holmes

Have a great Monday!

Mumzie