Axes and I carved our first pumpkin of the season last night.

It’s for the big pumpkin festival that will be taking place in State College this weekend. Anyone who wanted could get a free pumpkin to enter into the competition as long as you promised to bring it back carved. Thank you to the Vargo family for sponsoring this fantastic event. We had so much fun creating our special carving together and sharing an evening creating even more special memories. And this morning when I dropped it off, I got a participant ribbon. I am so excited to show it to Axes. They almost forgot to give it to me, but this Minnesota girl spoke up to remind them (I know, scandal!), because Axes will love it so much.

Now I come from the era where participant ribbons were invented (I think). And many people bemoan their creation, but I am not one of them. Because as the saying goes, a big part of life is just showing up. And in my opinion that is to be celebrated. We didn’t have to enter the event. And we probably didn’t have to return our pumpkin. What were they going to do? Come to my house? But we did. We showed up. And I’m glad that they gave us a little memento to remember it. And they didn’t give us all 1st place ribbons. Those are reserved for the winners.

And now I’m going to get on my soap box. I don’t even know why. This just reminded me of when people say that the younger generation was brought up to feel they were special. Well, I hope so. We all are! Every one of us. And if no one ever told you that you were special, I am so sorry. Please hear me when I say you are. Because believing you are special isn’t a problem. It is essential. The problem is when you start to believe you are somehow more special than anyone else. Because each and everyone of is as beautiful, special, and unique as the Jack-O-Lanterns I saw this morning. And one will win Best in Show tonight, but that just means it was the best for the criteria of that award. Given different criteria, it might have been another just as special pumpkin.

ETA:

I initially forgot to include my sweet & spicy recipe for this sweet & spicy post!

Sweet & Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

• Seeds from your carved pumpkin
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• salt
• 1 Tablespoon unsulphured molasses (I like Grandma’s)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic chili paste

Thoroughly clean your seeds. It worked well to get as much gunk off, and then soak them in water to help remove the rest.

Toss seeds in olive oil and salt. Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

Roast at 300F for about 35 minutes until golden brown.

Mix molasses and chili paste together. Toss roasted seeds in mixture to coat. Spray your sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Roast for another 5-10 minutes at 300F until a glaze forms on the seeds.

Enjoy!