Yes that is right. For anyone out there who didn't know I work at Wheeler Farm, I do. I have worked there for about 4 weeks and have about a week too go. Every year since I returned home from my mission I have applied to work over at Wheeler, and every year they have called me in early September to see if I could work. I have never been able to up to this point because of previous conflicts. I was just to busy at those times with school, work, friends and the like. This year I was not going to let that happen again. I called them, and I got in.
I talked to Macy and she said I could go work at the farm. She also said that if I was going to work there she would be coming, otherwise she would not be seeing me for the entire month of October. I am sure grateful she came and did it with me. It makes the stories and the fun so much more enjoyable. Also I think she was a little right in saying that she would never have seen me. It wouldn't be never, but we would see each other just for a little bit every day.
So for this month, and this month only Wheeler Farm does Pumpkin days, where families mostly with little kids, come and go through a hay maze, go on a wagon ride, and finally pick a pumpkin out of the patch. So here we are back at Pumpkins.
Yesterday I was on the pumpkin patch with Macy, again, where we continued to make our observations about the best pumpkins. As we are wandering around the patch we will hear Parents talking to their Kids about which pumpkin to pick. That one is to short, that one is too heavy and you can't carry it, that one has green on it, etc. The one thing I have learned is that everyone judges their pumpkins entirely differently. If you are a little boy between the ages of 8-15 all that matters is that you get the biggest one in the family. If you are a little girl between the ages of 3-10, you want the one that is closest to you that is as close to perfectly round as a pumpkin can get. And if you are just a little girl or boy below the age of 3 or 4 you just want the first one you can get your hands on that your parents will let you take. If you are a Mom you are most worried with just getting the pumpkins to the car, and that you don't have to carry them all.
In all of this opinion there are a few over riding principles that I thought I would let everyone in on, so you do not show up to your Halloween party this year with a pumpkin that is not socially desirable saving you and everyone else at the party a lot of embarrassment.
1- If the pumpkin is green it is not healthy
Here is a little trick, pumpkins that are green are in fact healthy. You will probably actually be able to keep it longer as a green pumpkin is still ripening! Pumpkins grow green and turn orange as they ripen. So keep that in mind, if you are buying your pumpkin for a party in two weeks, you can probably be safe to buy a green one, and just set it in the sun. When you show up your pumpkin will be fresh.
2-Size is of utmost importance
For Boys- There is something about a big pumpkin that says you are a real man. Maybe its the fact that you had to carry it to the car proving the size of your muscles, i'm not to sure on this one, but just take my word for it
For Girls- Less pressure here. Small pumpkins are cute and I have not heard one girl being ridiculed for the size of their pumpkin.
3- No stem, No go
If the pumpkin has no stem is is undesirable. If you show up to your party with a pumpkin with no stem, that means you didn't get a very good pumpkin despite the other characteristics of the pumpkin. The only stipulation is for boys and the size of the pumpkin. (Refer to 2) Boys if it's a monster pumpkin with no stem, just make sure the people at your party know that was the biggest one in the patch.
4- Round pumpkins are picked more
If your pumpkin has a flat side make sure you know what to do with that side. Either carve on it, or be planning to face it away. Flat sides at times are undesirable.
And here is a picture just in case you already have small pumpkins with no stems. Do this, and say you planned it all along. People will not know what to do with your creativity.
Happy Pumpkin Days!
