Not Pumpkin Spice…Real Pumpkin

Just like last year at this time, social media is buzzing about...Pumpkin Spice!

Just ONE of many pumpkin spice "foods" out there (again) this year... (Craig Allen photo).

Although this year...and my viewing is hardly scientific...there seems to be a more pronounced backlash.

As I was saying last year at this time (read my Sept. 13, 2015 thoughts here!), Pumpkin Spice has "jumped the shark." And, my opinion hasn't changed.

I am skipping the pumpkin bin this year...read on! (Craig Allen photo).

What I am excited about is...real PUMPKIN!

What does one do with any (uncarved) pumpkins after Halloween?

Eat them!

Yes...for the past few years, I have been turning my leftover almost-a-Jack-O-Lantern(s) into pumpkin pie!

After all the seeds have been removed...part of the process (Craig Allen photo).

And, after all the pumpkin-glop-preparation, I am left with a pile of pumpkin seeds!

So, earlier this spring, some of those (dried) seeds made their way into my garden.

Yes, some pumpkin plants were...planted.

Some pumpkin plants (vines) came up on their own, as I had thrown an over-ripe pumpkin into a mulch pile!

Pumpkin vines have taken over! (Craig Allen photo).

As you can see above, pumpkin vines have over run my backyard garden!

Pumpkin #1 (Craig Allen photo).

One pumpkin has been harvested so far...before the deer can chomp it!

And, with that many vines...as you can imagine...

Wait...there's MORE! (Craig Allen photo).

...my first pumpkin is about to have...siblings!

They will provide me with...a bumper crop of...pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Spice?

Pick your pumpkin spice...food (Craig Allen photo).

Ehhh...

Real PUMPKIN?

Homemade pumpkin pie! (Craig Allen photo).

Real YUM!

Opposing viewpoints are accepted...