Pumpkin pieces and parts

Don't throw away those pumpkins just yet!

If you're like me, you may have decorated the front porch with pumpkins for the fall. Instead of letting them rot or throwing them out, use those pieces and parts to create something new (and yummy!).

When we scooped out our Halloween jack-o-lanterns two weeks ago, we saved the pumpkin seeds. There are tons of recipes online to roast them with different seasonings, whether you want hot and spicy (which was the natural choice for our "dried dragon boogers"), Italian garlic and herb, or curried seeds.

Tonight we're planning on baking some pumpkin bread using real pumpkin — none of that canned stuff for us! (NOTE: Don't use those old jack-o-lanterns for baking. Rather, you'll want to use some decorative pumpkin that you haven't cut a face into.)

You could also use real pumpkin in your Thanksgiving pies, muffins and cookies. Most recipes can be modified for using real pumpkin — you just have to boil the chunks first and mash 'em up! Mmm, nothing like the real thing, that's for sure!

I'm not gargling. I'm drinking.

You know what irritates me? I try to be health-concious. I try to save money where possible. And what does that get me? A 4-inch tall cup and about a dozen trips to the soda fountain.

This picture was taken at a little non-chain place in Murfreesboro. The food was excellent. But I ordered water instead of soda or tea, and what happens?

"Oh, no. Not again," I think as the cashier pulls out the equivalent of a Dixie cup from behind the register. Is that a smirk she's hiding? On one occasion, I've actually asked a guy, "...Seriously?"

So, as you can see, Alex has a big nice (even reusable --props!) cup, whereas I have a much smaller excuse for a drink holder.

I'm making a change. No, I'm not settling for diet soda. Rather, I've decided to carry a reusable cup or mug into quick food resaurants like this one too. I already carry them everywhere else. Then, when the smirking cashier pulls out a pint-size version, I'll smile and sweetly say, "No thanks. I brought my own."

Time's running out for fall planting

Fall is the best time to plant many trees, especially shade trees, and shrubs. All their energy will go into the root formation that will help them thrive for years to come, rather than into making new leaves.

In the fall, many trees enter a phase called dormancy. During dormancy, no growth occurs in the upper branches and attention is given to growing a stronger root system. This stronger root system will better support foliage growth in the spring.

During the period from mid-August to mid-October, moderate and relatively stable air temperatures prevail, and soil temperatures and moisture levels are usually in a range that promote rapid root development. Watering new trees properly in the fall is just as important as any season—new trees need to get enough water before the ground freezes.

Notable tree species that can be successfully planted in the fall include:

• maple
• buckeye or horsechestnut
• catalpa
• hackberry
• hawthorn
• ash
• honeylocust
• Kentucky coffeetree
• crabapple
• Amur corktree
• spruce
• pine
• sycamore
• linden

Most deciduous shrubs are also easily planted in fall.

Fall planting takes advantage of favorable soil temperatures and moisture conditions that promote the root growth needed to sustain plants through their critical first year in the landscape. If healthy, vigorous plants are chosen, proper post-planting care is given and slow-to-establish species are avoided, fall planting of trees and shrubs can be as successful as spring planting.

Plant away, friends!

photo by friggy_30 flickr creative commons

Chill out ... Fall is here

As the weather is getting cooler, I wanted to share some of the tips I've learned about saving energy during the colder months.

1. Moving your thermostat down 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer saves 2,000 pounds of CO2, not to mention money on your heating and air conditioning bill. A good rule of thumb: set your thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.
   
   
2. Also, you can manually turn down your thermostat even farther in the winter when you leave the house for work, and turn it back up when you get home. A programmable thermostat might be a good investment if you think you'll forget each day.
   
   
3. Evaluate how tightly your windows and doors shut, and use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks. Here is a video to help you do it yourself. Caulking and weatherstripping any gaps will pay for itself within one year in energy savings.
   
   
4. Wait on hot water. When you turn on the hot water to wash your hands, do you ever finish before the water even gets hot? Your hot water heater is using energy to heat the water, but then it just sits in the pipes and gets cold again. If you're not going to wait, just turn on the cold.

Hope some of these tips help. Alex and I turn the heat way down in the winter and pile on the blankets! Just another reason to snuggle!

picture by Est Bleu2007 on Flikr Creative Commons

We went to Cordell Hull Lake during Labor Day weekend for a family get-together at Granville Marina. Cordell Hull is beautiful, with rolling hills rising on all sides of the water's smooth surface. Unfortunately, the view below distracted from the beauty.








This was taken with my cell phone camera, so it's not the best photo, but you can see how all the trash has washed up from the lake. Doesn't it make you sad? If this is just what's washed up at Granville Marina, think what else is still out there or washed up in other areas of the lake.

We've got to spread the word about caring for the environment. Tell your children. Don't let them grow up in a world that is overflowing with garbage on every street corner or in every lake and river. But landfills aren't the answer either. Within 50 years, the approximately 2,216 landfills that exist today will reach full capacity, according to Science World.

First: Reduce (what you use)!
Second: Reuse (what you can't reduce)!
Third: Recycle (after you've reused all you can)!

Tapped, a documentary

A new documentary called Tapped talks about bottled water and its consumption. I haven't seen it yet, but the following is a 5-minute trailer, and it looks pretty interesting ...

Visit the Tapped site to learn more, reserve your DVD, e-mail your state representatives, and more!

Homemade Salsa

We recently visited my great grandfather (some of you may know him as Dad) and my great Aunt Mary for a weekend in Knoxville, Tenn. He loves a good homegrown tomato, and each year he plants upwards of 40 tomato plants in his garden.

Well, he saved us about 50 tomatoes, and we got home last week and made some tasty, tasty salsa! We had so much, we canned 11 1/2 quarts of salsa!

And while we were at it, we picked some jalapenos from our garden and canned them, too! We canned 8 1/2 pints of jalapenos.

I love canning our own vegetables! It's a wonderful feeling to accomplish something that will last. It's also a way to keep from wasting food that is all ripe at once, while saving it for a time when you can't get fresh items in season. I hope to do more canning in the future.

Grandpa and Aunt Mary gave us their pint canner since they don't use it anymore ... Thank you so much! Also a big shout out to Megan who helped prepare the tomatoes and other vegetables to go in the salsa—You rock!

What do you can? I am also looking to dry some of my herbs for the winter ... Anyone got any experience in that? It'll be my first time, and I could use some pointers.