Thursday, April 17, 2008


Halloween countdown banner

Pumpkins!

Around the first of June I'd like to plant our pumpkins. Last year we waited later and we had a green pumpkin patch right in the middle of the Boo!Bash! It was ok, but this year I would like for them to be ripe, harvested and the vines out of the way for the party. Mark brought orange and white pumpkins from the farm, so we had plenty of carving pumpkins, but I am trying to plan things a little better this year.

I love to watch pumpkins growing. It seems like they grow by leaps and bounds, then turn orange overnight. I'm going to try to find some of the seeds for giants this year, and let each boy have a giant pumpkin to claim as their own. I think every kid should have a chance to grow their own jack o lanterns!

When my nephew Wade was little, he grew gourds. He tended them and watered them, trained them to grow on the fence, then picked and dried them. His mom, Debora, painted some of them to look like Santas, witches and some other cute things. I would like to have some of those this year, too.

Good thing I got my GPD planning done early...I had to do taxes on the 13th this month...now THAT was scary!!

Here's a picture of the entrance to the Boo!Bash! last year!




Later!
Cathy

Monday, April 7, 2008

BooBash2! plans

Here are some really tentative ideas we have for the party. Feel free to chime in with thoughts and ideas, tips or recipes!

I've spent some time thinking about the menu this year. Last year we did a dessert buffet, potluck style, and it worked ok. There were a ton of desserts, mostly uneaten. This year, we're going to include hot dogs and chili, chips, cheesedip and s'mores. I think we'll still do a little potlucking, just because of the sheer volume of food we'll need. I'm thinking I'll starting buying those 5 pound rolls of ground beef in September and stash them in the big freezer until we need them. Chili freezes well, so I may schedule a day just for chili making in early October then freeze the finished product. Then on party day, I'll just defrost the bags of chili and pop them in crock pots to stay warm. We'll roast the hot dogs over the fire, but I may microwave a few too, just for those who don't care for roasted ones. Weirdos.

So, here's the menu as of now!
*Hot dogs
*chili
*tortilla chips and cheese dip
*Fritos (for chili pie or just snacking)
*Various desserts, including s'mores
*drinks-the usual hot and cold assortment with iced tea, cold lemon cider (a big hit last year), hot apple cider, hot chocolate station (another hit) and various canned or bottled soft drinks in ice water.

I loved the decor last year, and plan to go the same route this year...homegrown pumpkins, gourds and hay is hard to beat for Halloween decorations!

I'm hoping my brother Mark can bring the tractor and trailer again for another hay ride...the kids LOVED it. They were freezing when they got back and all gathered around the fire to warm up and tell everyone about the hayride! Fun stuff!

Well! Look at me! My Great Pumpkin Day planning is done for April! And on the 7th at that!

I think on the 13th I'll work on some favors to give out to guests at the party...or to give out to trick or treaters...I do have a huge garbage bag full of toilet paper rolls....now you're curious, aren't you...you'll just have to wait and see...baawhaaaa....

Here's a reminder of how it looked last year...


Sunday, April 6, 2008

Boo!Bash2!

We are planning to host our second Halloween costume party in October. Last year we called it Boo!Bash, so this year, it's Boo!Bash2! It will be on the Saturday before Halloween. From here on out, consider the Saturday before Halloween Boo!Bash day!

I'll be starting the planning process soon. Check back in often for my rambling and journaling on the plans. I will say that the menu is going to be extended a bit this year to include hot dogs and chili, nachos and s'mores.

We had about 60 at our party last year. I hope to equal or top that this year! Here's a picture from last year, just to set the mood!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Great Pumpkin Day

This blog will be devoted to describing my plans, actions and thoughts on Great Pumpkin Day, as celebrated by the members at Magical Holiday Home. We celebrate on the 13th or the 31st of each month, depending on schedules and real life.

Ginger, our holiday guru leader, has challenged us to each create a blog to celebrate the Days of Holiday Planning.

Look for my Turkey Day blog to document my Thanksgiving plans, and my Rudolph Day blog to chronicle my dreaming and scheming for-you guessed it-Christmas!