A S p e c i a l S u p p l e me n t T o T h e P a u l d i n g C o u n t y P r o g r e s s S e p t e mb e r 1 8 .

2 0 1 3
2 - Paulding County Progress Autumn Spectacular Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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Put pumpkins to use in many different ways
Autumn is the season when pumpkins are ripe
for the picking, and thousands of people flock to
local farms and roadside vendors to select per-
fect pumpkins. Many pumpkins are turned into
decorative jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, only
to be tossed in the trash come November 1. That
could be because many people are unaware of
the various ways they can put pumpkins to good
use.
Pumpkins are gourds and members of the
squash family and have been grown and used for
thousands of years. Evidence suggests that pump-
kins date back to 7000 B.C., possibly originating
in Mexico. Today they are widely used for deco-
rating around Halloween, but there are many
other things that can be done with pumpkins.
Create a food vessel. Pumpkins can be
transformed into bowls to hold soup, punch,
fruit, or even dips. Make sure the pumpkin has
been cleaned well of its pulp and seeds, as well
as the stringy flesh that is inside. Rub the inside
walls of the pumpkin with oil to keep them from
drying out and caving in, then fill with your food
of choice.
Make pumpkin puree. Puree from a pump-
kin can be used in all types of recipes, from
soups to baked goods. The puree also can re-
place the oil in cake recipes. Cut the pumpkin
and scoop out the seeds and stringy membranes.
Then place it cut-side-down in a pan with a little
water in the bottom. Bake at 350 for around 90
minutes. The flesh will become tender and easily
removable. Blend the resulting puree in a food
processor and reserve flesh for recipes. Some
pumpkins are sweeter or better to use as part of
recipes. Check the variety youre purchasing.
Whip up a facial. Use some pumpkin puree
with a little brown sugar and a dash of milk to
create a vitamin-rich facial mask.
Get illuminated. Turn hollowed-out mini
pumpkins into candles. Melt soy wax, beeswax
or the gel type of candle wax that can be found
at most craft stores. Add your favorite scent and
place a wick into the bottom of the pumpkin.
Then pour the wax into hallowed-out space and
allow it to harden. Try the same thing with
bumpy and multi-colored gourds for added dec-
orating appeal.
Turn the pumpkin into a flower pot. Fill a
hollow pumpkin with soil.
You may not have to worry
about scraping the pumpkin
completely clean because the
pulp can be used to help fer-
tilize the potting soil. Plant
your favorite fall flowers into
the festive and earth-friendly
flower pot. When the pump-
kin shows signs of rotting,
simply put the whole thing
into a traditional flower pot or
bury it directly in the ground.
Make pumpkin stock.
While vegetable or meat-
based stocks may be the stan-
dards, pumpkin can be used
to make stock as well. Clean
out the seeds from the stringy
guts of the pumpkin and put
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the guts into a pot filled with water. Add celery,
carrots or any other aromatic vegetables for extra
flavor. Allow to boil for at least 30 minutes. The
stock is ready when it begins to change color.
Strain and reserve the stock for use in a variety
of recipes.
Add to compost bins. Pumpkins are rich in
zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C, among other nu-
trients. You can add the discarded pumpkins to
your backyard compost bins to further replenish
the soil.
Turn into a billowing cauldron. Instead of
a standard jack-o-lantern, put a glass jar into the
carved pumpkin, add dish soap and hot water to
the jar and then put in a piece of dry ice. Bubbles
and smoke will pour out of the pumpkin to cre-
ate a spooktacular effect.
Answer key on page 6
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Paulding County Progress Autumn Spectacular - 3
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A panoply of pumpkin picking particulars
Without a doubt the most recognizable symbol of Hal-
loween is a pumpkin carved into a jack-o-lantern. To under-
stand the origins of how pumpkin carving began and what it
really means we must first take a look at the holiday itself.
How long has Halloween been around? Have there always
been pumpkins carved?
PUMPKIN HISTORY
For most of the general population it is known as Halloween
and is a night for dressing up, telling ghost stories, having
spooky parties, Trick-or-Treating and pumpkin carving. What
most people dont know is that Halloween is actually based
on an ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain (pro-
nounced sow wan), which means summers end.
It was the end of the Celtic year, starting at sun-
down on October 31st and going
through to sundown November
1st. It was a night to honor
loved ones that had passed
on since the veil between
their realm and ours is
at its thinnest on that
night.
Celebrated for cen-
turies by the Celts of
old, witches and
many other nature-
based religions, it is
the most magical
night of the year. Al-
though the religious
significance of it has
passed for the general
public, Halloween is a
magical night for all.
ALL AGLOW
On this magical night, glowing
jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on
porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones,
but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits.
Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light,
later to be replaced by candles.
When European settlers, particularly the Irish, arrived in
America, they found the native pumpkin to be larger, easier
to carve and seemed the perfect choice for jack-o-lanterns.
Halloween didnt really catch on big in this country until
the late 1800s and has been celebrated in so many ways ever
since.
Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere and
were completely unknown in Europe before the time of
Columbus. In 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier re-
ported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found gros
melons, which was translated into English as ponpions,
or pumpkins. In fact, pumpkins have been grown in Amer-
ica for over 5,000 years. Native Americans called pumpkins
isquotersquash.
SELECTING YOUR SPECIAL PUMPKIN
Selecting the pumpkins youll carve for your Halloween
Jack-O-Lanterns is very important. Youll need to pick
pumpkins according to what you want to
carve on them.
Whether its simply carving a
pumpkin to sit on the door
step or holding pumpkin
carving parties and con-
tests, this age old tradi-
tion is a main event for
young and old alike.
Depending on the va-
riety, pumpkins can
range in size anywhere
from tiny to humon-
gous. Medium sized
ones work best for most
stencils that youll make
or buy. Very large pump-
kins can be carved with
elaborate designs and used as
center pieces on your porch
or tables. Small pumpkins work
fine for carving traditional faces, they
can be done fast and you can have many of them scattered
about for parties, haunts or up your sidewalk as a lighted
pathway.
ADVANCE PLANNING IS THE KEY
First, decide before buying your pumpkins what designs
you will be carving into them. This will allow you to create
a shopping list or at least a mental idea of the shapes and
sizes of pumpkins youll need.
For standard carving without a stencil, decide if it should
be tall and narrow, or more rounded, based on your ideas.
Select pumpkins that are uniformly orange meaning that are
ripe, have no bruises, cuts or nicks.
If you will be using a stencil to carve your pumpkin, se-
lect a pumpkin that is large enough and as close to the same
shape as the pattern youre going to carve. It should be as
smooth as possible, and free of scratches, dents or gouges.
See PUMPKIN, page 5
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4 - Paulding County Progress Autumn Spectacular Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Fun family activities tailor-made for autumn
Fall is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors.
Beautiful fall foliage coupled with great weather
compel many people to spend ample time out-
doors before the arrival of harsh winter weather
drives them back indoors. The following are a
handful of activities that are tailor-made for fall.
Raking leaves: While raking leaves might
not jump out at you as a great way to spend a nice
fall afternoon, families often find raking leaves
together soon turns into a fun day in the yard.
Build leaf piles and let the kids jump in, and then
do it again.
When raking, encourage kids to collect some
colorful leaves and set them aside. Once the rak-
ing is done, you can then enjoy making some
homemade crafts with the leaves you and your
youngsters just collected.
Apple picking: Perhaps no activity is more
synonymous with fall than apple picking. Many
apple orchards encourage customers to come by
and pick their own apples in the fall. Once your
family and you have scoured the orchard for the
perfect apples, relax with a cup of warm apple
cider before returning home to make some home-
made apple sauce and, of course, a delicious
apple pie.
Hayride: Hayrides are another fall tradition,
and many farms offer relaxing hayrides through-
out fall. Younger children who may tire if asked
to patrol an apple orchard for apples might find a
hayride is more their speed. Some farms may
even allow customers to walk the grounds and
visit the animals on the premises.
Hiking: Hiking is a fun activity that can be en-
joyed nearly year-round, but its especially enjoy-
able in the fall. Thats because few things in nature
are as captivating as a park or forest when the fall
foliage is in full bloom. Early fall also boasts ideal
temperatures for hiking, as the mercury likely
wont rise enough or sink low enough to produce
the kind of extreme temperatures that can compro-
mise a hikers afternoon. Instead, fall temperatures
tend to be mild and comfortable, allowing hikers
to fully enjoy their often beautiful surroundings.
Corn maze: Visiting a corn maze is another
activity that many people instantly associate with
fall. Some farmers transform their cornfields into
corn mazes once the temperatures dip, and such
mazes can be fun for adults and children alike.
Though adolescents can often be trusted to find
their way through corn mazes, younger kids
should be accompanied by an adult.
Pumpkin picking: Much like apple picking
is best in fall, so is pumpkin picking. Rather than
buying your Halloween pumpkin from the gro-
cery store, where your options may be limited,
go straight to the source and pick your future
jack-o-lantern from a nearby pumpkin patch,
which will provide a much wider selection. Let
your youngsters pick their own pumpkins and
then spend the rest of the day carving them at
home. And dont forget to save those seeds,
which can be roasted over an open flame to make
a delicious snack.
Pumpkin picking is a great activity come the fall, perfect for all ages.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Paulding County Progress Autumn Spectacular - 5
COLUMBUS Barn owls are making a comeback in
Ohio, and more people every year have the pleasure of wit-
nessing these beautiful birds, according to the Ohio Depart-
ment of Natural Resources (ODNR). The ODNR Division
of Wildlife is seeking reports from people who have seen
barn owls.
Reporting sightings of barn owls helps ODNR Division
of Wildlife biologists estimate how many live in Ohio. This
information benefits conservation efforts by tracking where
and how the owls live. If people believe a barn owl is living
near them, they are encouraged to call the ODNR Division
of Wildlife at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or email wild-
info@dnr.state.oh.us.
This species is easily identified by its white, heart-shaped
face, large black eyes and golden-brown and gray back.
Adult barn owls communicate with shrieks and hissing-like
calls, and the calls of young barn owls begging their parents
for food are often heard on late summer nights.
Finding pellets is another indication that barn owls may
be living nearby. Pellets are regurgitated bones and fur of
their food.
Small rodents living in hayfields and pastures are a barn
owls main food source. A pair of barn owls and their young
can eat more than 1,000 rodents in a year.
As their name suggests, these birds find shelter in barns
or other dark buildings, like silos. These buildings provide
a safe place for them to rest during the day and to raise their
young.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife has provided shelter for
barn owls since 1988 by placing nest boxes on more than
400 barns. Nest boxes provide an opportunity for them to
nest in barns they could not otherwise enter. This program
has successfully increased barn owl populations in Ohio.
The number of nests has increased from 19 in 1988 to more
than 100 in 2012. Biologists believe many nest in areas
other than these boxes.
Go to wildohio.com for more information about barn
owls.
130 Years In Business
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is seeking re-
ports from people who have seen barn owls to help conser-
vation efforts.
Barn owls making a comeback in Ohio
Never carry a pumpkin by its stem; it may break. If it
does break-off you can use toothpicks as a basic patch.
Care should be taken not to bruise during transport or
storage, as this will shorten their life-span.
If you find a perfect pumpkin but its missing its stem,
have no fear! You can still use it. Just carve the bottom
out for the opening the same way you would do the top.
Then, you just sit your light source on the cleaned bottom
piece and sit the pumpkin over it. Works great and you
dont need the stem for a lid handle.
Did you know that pumpkins are not a vegetable they
are a fruit! Pumpkins, like gourds, and other varieties of
squash are all members of the Cucurbitacae family, which
also includes cucumbers, gherkins and melons.
nPUMPKIN
Continued from Page 3
6 - Paulding County Progress Autumn Spectacular Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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fun and functional, says visual merchandiser
John Griffith. Colors that evoke a sense of
nostalgia and family are a really big part of
the visual design message for autumn 2013.
Reds, golds and oranges are trending this fall.
These hues are not only warm and comfort-
ing; theyre reflective of the season.
Griffith and teammate Julie Robbins add
their own unique spin on the latest trends to
create seasonal design vignettes for Replace-
ments Ltd., the worlds largest retailer of old
and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles.
Whether you are planning a casual family
gathering or an elegant dinner party, Robbins
suggests easy ways to mix in great fall colors.
This can be as simple as adding a charger
plate or colorful serving pieces.
Using colored glass is a fantastic way of
infusing autumn colors to create a seasonal
feel, says Robbins. Amber colored glass is
really popular this fall because the rich, warm
color goes with so many patterns and designs.
Im big on the pressed vintage patterns; de-
pression glass, coin glass and sandwich glass
are all very lovely and nostalgic.
Were actually mixing and matching pat-
terns from historic American glassmakers in-
cluding Federal, Indiana Glass and Fostoria
on our tables. It looks great to mix designs
which share the same colors or combine an
array of colors within a place setting.
Metal serveware is another popular trend
Fall into great tabletop decorating ideas
(BPT) Saying goodbye to summer
doesnt have to be a sentimental ending when
you consider its also a beginning the kick
off to autumn and the holiday season. The
promise of fall is in the air. Its a great time
to dress up your home for fall entertaining;
whether that means friends gathered around
the television rooting for your favorite team
or the ultimate traditional Thanksgiving feast.
Decorating trends for this fall are really
Create autumn accents with seasonal fruits and vegetables
this fall.
Were incorporating metal serveware into
many of our displays because you can do so
much with it from a design standpoint, says
Griffith. These are great accent pieces you
can dress up or down, plus it is family- and
football-season friendly.
Metal serveware is also very functional,
he continues. Once heated, the alloy retains
warmth to keep food warmer longer or cooler
if you chill these pieces. Plus it is easy to
clean and doesnt have to be polished. Were
using a lot of fun shapes, like leaf-shaped
pieces and turkey platters.
Falls bountiful harvest translates into the
home this season. Robbins is using natural el-
ements in her table designs that evoke a sense
of the first Thanksgiving.
I suggest filling vases, glasses or serving
bowls with dried beans, acorns or even ker-
nels of dried deer corn. Not only does this
look pretty, you can also mix in candles or
flowers and use these natural elements to hold
those items in place.
Robbins adds apples, gourds, pumpkins
and green pears are among fruits and vegeta-
bles you can use on your table or anywhere
in your home to create a brilliant splash of
color. She says you can find more decorating
ideas at Replacements YouTube channel and
Facebook page.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Paulding County Progress Autumn Spectacular - 7
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Farmers Almanac uses four-letter word to describe winter
By Farmers Almanac Staff
LEWISTON, Maine Touting to be a fam-
ily-publication with good reading for every
member of the family done on a high moral
plane, the Farmers Almanac is in fact, using
a four-letter word to describe this winters up-
coming weather COLD.
According to the 2014 edition of the Farm-
ers Almanac, which hit store shelves Aug.
26, about two-thirds of the nation will expe-
rience below-average temperatures during the
coming winter. The Almanac, which has been
predicting the weather for 197 years, uses ad-
jectives such as biting, bitterly and piercing
to describe how cold it believes this winter
will be.
The only areas predicted to see close to nor-
mal winter temperatures are the Far West
and the Southeast (good news if you live in
those areas or plan on visiting). The coldest
temperatures will be over the Northern Plains
on east into the Great Lakes, but the bitter
cold will also invade New England and the
Mid-Atlantic regions. Yes, the Farmers Al-
manac believes that the days of shivery are
back.
What about snow?
Precipitation wise, the Southern Plains,
Midwest, and Southeast will see above-nor-
mal conditions, while the rest of the country
will average near normal. However, with the
below-normal temperatures expected, the
Farmers Almanac believes the stage will be
set for the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Central
and Northern New England to receive lots of
snow.
One prediction to watch carefully is in the
Northeast in February. The first 10 days of
February are predicted to experience heavy
winter weather, which may not be too surpris-
ing for a winter month; however, it is during
that time that Super Bowl XLVIII will be
played at MetLife Stadium in New Jerseys
Meadowlands. If the Farmers Almanac fore-
cast is accurate, fans, players, and travelers
alike may want to leave a few days early and
pack extra warm, waterproof weather gear.
(More weather outlooks at www.farmer-
salmanac.com)
The 2014 Farmers Almanac, which con-
tains 16 months of weather forecasts (Sep-
tember 2013 through December 2014) offers
a broad outlook for the winter, spring and
summer forecast ahead, as well as month-by-
month zones forecasts for the contiguous US.
Many readers consult the Farmers Almanac
to prepare for the upcoming seasons, as well
as pick dates for vacations and weddings.
In addition to weather, the Farmers Al-
manac also contains articles, tips, and advice
on ways to live a more natural and simple
life. This years new edition offers sage ad-
vice on ways to use bananas, olive oil and po-
tatoes to help cure dry, winter skin, provides
advice on ways to help curb your dogs bad
breath and gas issues, calls for a pooling and
then pitching of the penny (as well as an op-
portunity for three nonprofit groups to win
50,000 pennies), shares tasty recipes for
homemade bread, offers top picks for hardy
fast growing trees, share some unusual festi-
vals around the US, and contains exclusive
best days charts on things from gardening to
fishing to quitting smoking.
Its not just for farmers and its not just for
grandparents states the Almanacs editors,
suggesting that as life gets more compli-
cated, the Farmers Almanac becomes even
more important, as it offers unique and re-
freshing advice that helps you live a more in-
dependent, and sustainable lifestyle.
The 2014 Farmers Almanac is available at
bookstores, grocery stores and online at
www.farmersalmanac.com
FALL IS HERE
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