I have always been around gardeners. My grandfather always had a garden. He tried to grow most everything he could get his hands on. A couple years ago he passed away. My mother and father have since taken on the garden duties. I had the opportunity this year to have a couple rows for myself in their garden. I planted, of course, tomatoes, as well as, peppers, sunflowers and pumpkins.

I purchased two little 99¢ "kid" seed cups for my children. One cup was sunflowers and the other pumpkins. Little did I know, the sunflowers would be 12 feet high and produce flowers a foot in diameter nor did I anticipate the pumpkins would take over the garden...and all for two bucks!

Of all my plants I enjoyed the pumpkins the most. Sure, I got about thousand sunflower seeds and tons of tomatoes, but there is something so exciting about watching and waiting for the pumpkins.

It has been especially fun having a garden this year because our office has been very deliberate about eating local farm-raised vegetables. We've all passed along ideas for recipes, canning techniques and extra vegetables. It has been a fun summer...but now as the pumpkins are ready to be picked, I think we're all ready for the cool fall days!