Punk, I was just joking about Christmas. I'm one up on everyone, anyway. We had bought a new prelit 7' Christmas tree after Christmas the year before we bought this house. The first Christmas here we put it up in the living room and it is now 4 years later and it is still up!! So I don't have to put up the tree!! It's so fun because if I find an ornament I like - I just buy it and bring it on home and put it on the tree, even in July!! DD has forbidden me to put any more on it. Says there is TOO MUCH STUFF and the tree is going to fall over from the weight!! The living room is usually off limits to the GKids unless I am in there with them because of the ball and toy throwing (I get crazy and throw ball inside with them when it is too cold outside sometimes, Shhh, don't tell Alfred.) and the fact that I store LOTS of dishes and accessories behind the sofa. (Everyone else likes the den better and goes there to hang out anyway, so the living room is my sanctuary.) I also have 2 china cabinets in there and one is a beautiful antique that DH's Aunt B had given me when we moved here with the curved glass. (They used to sneak in there and hide when playing hide-n-seek until I found out and made it off limits !! Just think of the damage possibilities. Shivers!) Before we moved here we had lived in a single-wide trailer for about 3 years. Just imagine trying to raise 4 young children, 3 boys and a girl in a single-wide. (Long Story) His older 3 had grown up and left home by then. My DD was grown and married before we married. God knows what he is doing when he doesn't let us see into the future. We would never do what he wanted if we could! No storage, no privacy, no sanity. Needless to say I had great gardens because I couldn't stand the chaos inside!! If I wasn't at work, I was outside daylight 'till dark. Sometimes after dark. Poor Alfred would open the back door and holler out, "Honey, don't you think you ought to quit for the day?" I would holler back, "In a minute." and keep on planting peas by flashlight!! LOL So when we moved here the living room became my refuge. It is where I start my day with my cup of cappaccino,(sp? I just drink it-I don't spell it!!), my Bible study, and LOTS of prayer. I would go in and turn on the tree and sit in silence. Ahhh.. Every woman should have a refuge. I followed Judith's example and my tree is definitely a ' more is more' tree. I started with a bird theme and it grew from there. The color scheme is mostly blue/white except for the birds and a few sentimental items. I still want to order some crystals to give it some more shine. If I ever solve my storage issues and have a nice place to store it, I will put some strings of white lights on it when I put it back up. Now it just has colored and is darker than I would like. I will try to do a post with some pictures as soon as I go buy a new memory stick for my camera. I'll do a separate post for the Thanksgiving 'tables and tales'! I'm feeling some better, now. I will need to get a few more shots to kill all of the infection. Then I'll be as good as new. Thank you for your concern. I love my family here at C&H forum so much. The sewer? What's up with that? Sounds like your life is even more 'interesting' than mine used to be! Details, Girl! Give me details!! I don't know what you are using for energy, but please share your secret! Betty

It sounds good to me. Here is one to offer you as a comparison that I make that is similar and my family really enjoys it. Curried Pumpkin Soup Southern Living 20th Anniversary Edition Nancy Wilson, Houston, TX 2 TBS. butter 1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 TBS. all-purpose flour 1 TBS. curry powder 3 cups chicken broth 2 cups canned pumpkin 1 TBS. honey 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk Garnishes: sour cream, chopped fresh chives Melt butter in a large saucepan; add mushrooms and onion, and cook until tender, stirring often. Stir in flour and curry powder; gradually add chicken broth, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened. Stir in pumpkin and next 4 ingredients; reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk, and cook, stirring constantly, until thoroughly heated. Garnish, if desired. Yield: 6 1/2 cups

I realized it's in the soup recipes that Joe generously shared with all who asked. Just in case, I'm copying and pasting it here too! Joe's SAUSAGE AND PUMPKIN WINTER SOUP 2 C pumpkin (this is about one 15 oz canÂNOT pie filling!) 4 C chicken broth 1/2 C minced onion 1 C finely chopped mushrooms 1 C whole milk or cream (or 1/2 c half & half mixed w/1/2 C water) 1 clove garlic, minced 2 T each of finely chopped fresh parsley, oregano and basil 8 links of hot Italian sausage (or sweet if you prefer) 1/2 C shredded parmesan for topping salt/pepper if you think it needs it OPTION: skip the milk & substitute a can of diced tomatoes for one of the cans of broth, or used one can of broth and one can of water to moderate the saltiness of the soup. Brown sausage, drain the grease (if any) and then add the onion, garlic and herbs. Stir in the pumpkin and mix... Stir in the broth and mix well. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Stir in the milk and simmer on low another 10-15 min. Serve topped with shreds of parmesan.

These are the instructions from the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Freezing Pumpkin Preparation -- Select full-colored mature pumpkin with fine texture. Wash, cut into cooking-size sections and remove seeds. Cook until soft in boiling water, in steam, in a pressure cooker or in an oven. Remove pulp from rind and mash. To cool, place pan containing pumpkin in cold water and stir occasionally. Package, leaving ý-inch headspace. Seal and freeze. -Grainlady