Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

I had pumpkins grow in my yard this year. All volunteer from last Halloween. There must have been a couple of hundred of the plants growing. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but not much!  I decided to let three of them grow. Later another sprouted on the other side of the yard and I don't have a clue where that seed came from. It wasn't like any of the pumpkins I had the previous year. A bird, chipmunk or some other way. Who knows.  I had eleven pumpkins that made it to maturity. Two from the odd plant. I baked one of my original pumpkins from my plants, in the oven, took forever and when I finally did take it out, it was so difficult to peel and cut up and puree.  I almost gave up, but I didn't.  Since then, I found a recipe to cook the pumpkin in an Instant Pot. It was a dream. Took me the longest to separate all the seeds from the string. The baked pumpkin seeds are great! So, I have pureed pumpkin for whatever, pie, bread, cookies or something else.   I ha...

Squash Blossom By Mary J Williams There are maybe three leaves On my squash plant out there It doesn’t look great I wonder how it will fare I have watered since planting No rain has been around Yesterday one tenth Fell on the ground This morning I looked out To see what’s not there Critters eating the plants They are almost bare So, I check in the mornings I have been so upset Chopped down plants The critters I threat But today I had to smile Because the squash had a surprise Three little leaves And a flower greeted my eyes I couldn’t believe it The plant is so small And yet there is a blossom Maybe some squash after all!