Pumpkins...In JULY!!!!

Our volunteer pumpkin vines have produced 10 pumpkins this year!!! Now, unfortunately due to lack of rain, 100 degree weather and some nasty little vine borers we had to cut them out before they destroyed the pumpkins themselves. So they are out on the front porch until their stems harden and then they will live out til mid-September in our dry, dark, cold basement.

I do have plans to plant one more vine of bigger pumpkins, but the rest of the garden will be for broccoli, herbs, carrots and radishes for some tasty fall stews!  We did get a small (five) zuccini crop, and they were given to friends and family with our last being served for dinner this week!

I have managed to avoid going to Michael's to look at their Halloween decor so far this year, but today during a nasty thunderstorm at the grocery, I slowly walked down the magazine aisles looking for my orange...I imagine next week or two the Halloween magazines will be coming out. Grandin Road has only eight more days until their 2012 merchandise is out on their website.  Alas, I can wait. Maybe.

And we say goodbye.

My father didn't really lose his battle on Monday, July 2nd, 2012, he ended a really good run.  He died in his home, very peacefully, and sneakily during the hours when his daughters weren't around.

The past two weeks having been surprising to me. I've spent hours talking, bathing, laughing, crying some, with my Dad and his family. I spent time with his sisters and got to know them both a little better. I've spent time with my step-sister talking about when we were kids and how much trouble we used to get into with and without Dad around. All in all it has been very, very strange. I never thought I would dive in to be around in his final days, but he was my Dad. Despite years of self-preservation to keep from getting hurt or letting out the anger I've had all these years, I was there in the end letting things roll off my shoulders. I can't say I've forgotten, but I have at least forgiven him.