My Gem Year: pumpkins

Boarding academies aren't big into celebrating Halloween, but even still, I found it a tragic thought that we might not even carve pumpkins this season!! Already, it was the end of October, and no pumpkins to be found on our premises. I even had about 15 sets of those plastic carvers, ready to go! [Hosted many a pumpkin party at college over the years!] Well. Something had to be done.

Thursday night, Halloween itself: Dean Berger's night on duty. I sat in the office, about 6pm, scheming possibilities... after some eager encouragement from a few students (who listened to my laments), I batted my eyes at Dean Morauske and convinced him to take over the office while we dashed to Winco! He was quite willing and good-natured about it all:)

The four of us had a great time filling two entire carts with medium-sized orange pumpkins! Nearly $50 out of my pocket, but at 18 cents a pound, they were cheap, and WORTH IT anyhow. Thank you, to my aunt who sent me some money for fall treats. Well spent.

Winco for the win! This time.

Happy and proud, we got the pumpkins back to campus where an army of dorm students came outside to choose their own from my open trunk, in the dark. Not the same as my daydreams of a festive outing to a real pumpkin patch, but we're improvising at this point.

We had a blast! The kids LOVED carving the pumpkins!! I was surprised how many were experiencing it for the first time... they did well! We had creative and unique results: a snazzy line of artworked pumpkins still garnish the front of the dorm. The recent rain hasn't worked many wonders on their soft shells... but it was a perfect and FESTIVE activity, appropriate and necessary to our Idaho fall experience!