It probably was a borer. That's what it usually is when a plant suddenly "drops dead." I'd recommend that you try mounding a bit of soil over some of the vines, so that they root. This is just a precaution, in case you have another attack. George Tahlequah, OK

It could be there isn't enough time left to mature winter squash if you plant at the end of summer. You have to really think about how planting is different in the fall compared to spring. In the fall the light is decreasing and time to maturity could be as much as one third longer. Also the nights are getting colder instead of warmer. Night temps are probably more important than daytime since most plants want about 20 degree change to really produce fruit yet they are damaged when too cold. Warm days and cool nights can produce heavy dew which are great conditions for disease. That doesn't mean you "can't" grow certain vegetables but most suggestions for fall planting are geared to "need for food" or commercial farming. If you're planting to feed a family with no outside sources, you don't take chances. Since you already have them flowering I'd at least see if they set. Maybe if you have limited space and more things to plant, you could remove them but I always try to push the envelope with something each year and consider it a learning experience.

The term "winter squash" refers to the ability to store/keep the particular squash over the winter due to a hard shell/skin. The squash is slow growing, so you plant earlier in the year so that the maturity date is right before your area's average first frost/freeze date. You want to be picking your last one up until then. Then, since the skins/shell is harder than most, they will store for a very long time over where you can eat them over the winter.

Thank you, dig dirt. I am starting to learn a lot from you. I already know why the squash should not be pureed. It would be too dense, right? I know what you mean about peeling them and then cubing them. Whew! It's funny-I was in walmart today and looked at the Ball book and they didn't even have winter squash listed-only a pickled butternut squash recipe. Weird. Floral, you are right about teaching children things like you mentioned. The only time I paid $10 for a butternut squash was when I had my daughter in laws parents over in August one time. I wanted to make butternut squash risotto, and it was sooo expensive. What I have been doing this summer is making essentially the same soup for the grand kids with yellow summer squash. Not the same taste, but they really like it.