Saturday, August 23, 2008

Stormy Saturday (With Pumpkins)


I planted pumpkins this morning. It was time. There's only three months until Thanksgiving, and the pumpkins I adore take 60-90 days to mature. Millie dug while I pulled weeds and together we managed to clear out enough of the decaying summer garden to make room for a fall harvest.

The recipe for a cozy Saturday? Come in after planting seeds the shape of rain drops, take a hot shower, towel off and sit in the library until it's time to make a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup and tea. Then pick out a new book, settle in, and watch as it begins to drip outside the library window.

When it begins to storm - violently - leave the library for the warm glow of a mantle-side chair in the dining room. Get as comfortable as you can, what with a brown puppy in your lap, and read until it stops thundering.

So cozy. I'm so pleased with the dining room at Freeman House. It's painted a Martha Stewart color called Malted, and it glows and radiates this other-worldly warmth in natural, candle, or lamp light. Even during a very dark Saturday afternoon when the wind and rain blows just beyond that wall.

(The pumpkins, by the way, are from my [spring] test run patch, grown from my own saved organic seed. They're of the Long Island Cheese variety, and they're the ones you want when making pumpkin pies, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin butter, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin soup... you get the idea. If you're local, be sure to buy a few from the Freeman House patch this year. If you're not from around these parts, shop around until you find some of these beauties. You'll be glad.)

More on pumpkins and gardening this week. Stay tuned...

13 comments:

Rosa said...

How wonderful that you are still able to plant pumpkins . I planted a small variety this spring and they are still no more than grape sized!
My gardening season is generally over by the end of September. On a relly good year I may go into October. :)

Rosa said...

Sure wish they had spell check in the comment section! LOL!
I meant really not relly. . .

cathleen said...

Cozy, cozy, cozy. You just sound totally content and happy. Took your advice earlier this year and bought those seeds. I have little baby Long Island Cheese Pumpkins growing, or should I say, taking over my veggie garden. (and my roses, and my hydrangeas).

Kimberly said...

It's so good to have you back Brin! I've missed your updates on the goings on at Freeman House. You live the life that us suburban girls just can't!
Kimberly

PS Thanks for your many wonderful reading suggestions. I read The Velvet Room this summer and was completely taken with it! Beautiful.

Kristie @ Comfy Cozy said...

It's so nice that you are back at Freeman house and sharing all of your doings!!! I am looking forward to reading how you spend your Autumn! I need to start growing pumpkins.

By the way, Millie is just as cute as ever!!

Amy said...

The pumpkins are sweet. I wish we were having some storms here in Michigan...were bone dry. Maybe tonight, according to the weatherman. Have a blessed Sunday.

Betty said...

Pumpkins..I love them in all shapes and sizes, I love almost everything made from pumpkins and of course that they are orange..what a great Autumn color!

Unknown said...

I'm so excited to share autumn with you, now will you share your recipe for that dark chocolate bread pudding? LOL I love those pumpkins, wish I lived closer but will look around the net for them, I plan to plant pumpkins next year!

Brin said...

Awh, sorry! The bread pudding recipe isn't mine and I haven't been given permission to share. But this one is close, so long as you throw in some dark chocolate: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_33093_,00.html

Happy eating!

Just A Girl said...

HI Bren,
It sounds like you had a productive peaceful day. I hope today was the same.
Cori G.

Harbor Hon said...

Love how you put the pumpkins together like that with the light just touching them. So pretty.

Just nudging you again as you asked me to, remember the recipe you said you would share with me a while back? Still waiting. Maybe you forgot as you've been such a busy girl. Should I email you again? xxoo

Amy said...

You've inspired Jim to plant pumpkins. We want the kiddo to see how things grow. Any tips for keeping critters away?

Anonymous said...

Brin, you're back!! After you mentioned the pumpkins this last spring I went in search and could not locate any. Would you ever be willing to sell some seeds?