I had to harvest the rest of my garden yesterday before the snow. Will the unripe pumpkins and squash finish ripening? I've never had to harvest so early bedfor I guess those pesky flies knew what they were about. They have been really bad this year. We couldn't go outside the door withou 30 flies coming in.

The snowstorm has been beautiful. Although I wasn't so sure last night. I left my daughter's at midnight with howling wind and rain on the mountain. About a mile from the summit, the rain became snow and fog with howling wind. I crept over the mountain, grateful that I know the road so well. It has kept snowing most of the day. Hopefully it will all melt as I still have a few chores to finish before winter really sets in. Hope some of this moisture reaches those who need it.

-- Cheryl Cox (bramblecottage@hotmail.com), September 23, 2000

Answers

Yes Cheryl, they will ripen. I had to harvest some of mine early when the squash bugs were devouring ours a few years ago. I stored some in the (heated) basement, some in our crawl space & set some outside for decoration, all of them ripened, at different times of course. When I picked them they had a little color but were mostly green. After I picked them the squash bugs even left the ones I put outside alone. I think they mostly live off the vines (not sure). I froze the pulp. We love the seeds, so I dry them, saute them in a skillet with a little olive oil & garlic salt for a few minutes then bake them at low heat until they are a little browned & crunchy. Son in law loved them so much he took the whole batch back to NC with him! I plan on making a lot more this year......Jane

-- Jane Gauch (sewbears4u@hotmail.com), September 24, 2000.

If they don't ripen, do what Ma Ingles in the Little House books did, when the first blizzard hit in The Long Winter. She had lots of green pumpkins, and turned one of them into pie. She sliced and peeled it, like apples for an apple pie, and seasoned the pie with cinnamon, cloves and such, like you would an apple pie. I've done it, and it is GOOD! A bit on the squashy tasting side, but still quite good. Good enough to fool Pa into thinking he was eating apple pie!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), September 27, 2000.