Thankful

I am thankful for all the beautiful, healthy food that makes its way to our table. I am thankful for the friends, near and far, who think of us when they think "What the heck am I going to do with this enormous squash?" I am thankful for our little pumpkins, who obliged me by posing with the big pumpkin. I am thankful for all of you!

There's a story behind this squash. We got to see stages of its growth over the summer. Friends enriched a flower bed with a little organic matter from their compost pile. A small squash plant, quite recognizable, sprouted among the alyssum. They let it grow, curious as to what would develop.

A behemoth developed. We watched in amazement as it grew several inches per day. Vines stretched for yards, taking over the lawn. Several of the blossoms set fruit. The small squash grew big, bigger, biggest. They turned from yellow to deep orange.

From that accidentally planted seed grew thirteen lovely pumpkins, any of them large enough for Cinderella's carriage. And they're tasty, too.

Our friend sent me a message a few days ago: "Roasting another squash today. It's just too much. Will you take one?" Of course! David ended up bearing this beast home, along with a casserole dish and a half gallon mason jar, walking a few blocks in the dark and across lots. I'm thankful all the items made it home intact!

Zoe and Vincent are intrigued by the idea of growing their own pumpkins. We'll be saving some seeds from this big beauty, just to see what will happen...

Happy Thanksgiving, all.