Hi Guys...thanks for ALL your great and helpful suggestions. We had our party yesterday. The weather was Sunny and 'nippy'...but just right!! The kids enjoyed the 'haunted' shed and the outdoor graveyard in the field. We even gave them 'hay rides' in my husband's tractor cart that was filled w/hay. We set up benches and a iron chiminea and they toasted marshmallows. I had a pumpkin hunt, hid 48 of them while my friend read Halloween Stories to them. The candy corn jar was a hit. The adults were really competitive with the guessing, as well as the voting for the Best Carved Pumpkin. The first prize in the kids group,was a 3 1/2 yr old. SHE actually painted a cute face on her pumpkin, and was so proud. We didn't get to play any other games, because they were having too much fun doing different things. So, all in all, it went really well. I had made goodie bages for all the kids, and also for the adults. I had collected some vines from my yard, and made small wreaths (15) and hot glued some small autumn fruits and berries and orange organze ribbon (from Michaels),and placed them over - glass votive holders that were 3 for $1, w/pumpkin spice votives..and that was their gift. The adult prizes went pretty well. (3)...the fall centerpiece in small clay flowerpot. two mugs - a dollar each with,two - a dollar each fall plaid napkins and some cocoa packets, and then a small ceramic pumpkin w/4 Halloween Napkins...I let the first place winner choose first, then the second and third. It went over really well, and everyone kept saying how much fun they all had and that the kids had the best time. Even got some calls back this morning to express what a great time they had!! So, thanks again. Oh! also we did a Pot Luck, and EVERYONE outdid themselves...all wanting each others receipes!! Whew...I'm just so relieved it went well, and now I can RELAX...til Christmas!!! LOL

Cindy, Love your decorations you and the boys put up. That purple ghost is great. I love the corn stalks when decorating outside. Last year I planted corn in the center in my oak barrels instead of spikes. I had the stalks ready for halloween decorations in the fall. Your DH's aunt done a nice job on the pumpkin and your DM picked out a cute ghost to go with it. Your wreath looks good on your front door in the background. Punk It was only 8 above here today and I just couldn't get in the mood to go spend time outside so it's great to come here and enjoy yours. Tell those boys they rock at HELPING with the decorations.

I have a carport (who in the South doesn't?) attached to my house. I refuse to let my hubby put a car in there though because I use it like an outdoor room. I put a pretty light fixture in the ceiling and I got an old, not-good-enough-for-indoor oriental rug to cover part of the poured cement floor. Where we live it's between two mountains so the ground is really hilly. The front part of the carport is at ground level and it's about 2 1/2' off the ground at the back side, which contains the door to my mud room. It's really cute and cozy out there. I have a rustic loveseat and an early American end table out there. I use four strings of Hallmark Boo Blinker pumpkin lights to string around the outside edges of the room and the two support pillars I cover with cornstalks. Then I put pumpkins and three big (10") pots of mums at the bottom of each cornstalk pillar. I buy all different color mums. I think it looks nice with the variety of colors instead of sticking to certain ones. Then I get two bales of hay and use one to make a scarecrow (and my hubby's old jeans and flannel shirt) and the other for the scarecrow to sit on. His head is a pumpkin. I also have other cute little Halloweenie decorations sitting around and then after Halloween is over I bring in the ones that are very obviously Halloween and leave the rest out there till Thanksgiving. (Don't get me started on the rest of the house we'll be here forever!) Then like a couple of big overgrown kids on Thanksgiving weekend my mother-in-law and I spend the weekend taking down the fall stuff and putting up the beginning of the Christmas decorations. :)

I have a recipe for yeast rolls that use pumpkin or squash puree, along with whole wheat flour, the kids love them. I've had pumpkin ravioli in a sage and browned butter sauce, it was really good. If you don't want to make your own pasta you can use wonton wrappers. I've added pumpkin to hummus and it was pretty good too. I've stirred pureed pumpkin or squash into chili and lentil soup, but if your chili packs a punch at all, you won't taste it in there. Good luck, I'm trying to find some way to use up 72 butternut squash, LOL. Good think I like squash and I can use it to make a fake "pumpkin" pie, Mother loves that. Annie