Pumpkins, Magazines and Donkeys

Since the hens are beginning to argue over the one covered nest box, it was time to give them more choices. Small dog/cat crates! These have been stored in the barn and haven't been used in some time. What better use than having hens lay their eggs in them! Since I had to drive to town today and it is pumpkin season, well, it is time for pumpkins and all the wonderful treats they offer. Homemade pumpkin seeds for us, the shell for the donkeys and the insides for the chickens. Here is Cookie devouring a pumpkin shell. This is her all time favorite treat. When she sees you with a pumpkin, she runs and brays towards you. You can see the joy and delight in her eyes!
Cookie is not the only donkey who loves pumpkins. Arnold also loves them. Now he doesn't run and bray towards you, but he grins almost ear to ear when he sees a pumpkin.
It is time to start cooking homemade pumpkin seeds. Homemade ones are the absolute best! Those store bought ones are awful, have no taste and expensive!

Turn your oven on to 350 degrees and let it warm up while you are preparing the seeds.

Hint: let the pumpkin come to room temperature before cutting in half and scooping the seeds out. It is so much easier than when the pumpkin is cold.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds. A little pulp is okay to leave with the seeds. It adds more flavor.
These seeds are ready to go into the over. Add butter and salt ( use your own judgment on how much to use).

While the seeds are cooking, check on them a lot and move them around the pan to prevent burning. If needed, add more butter.

Depending on your oven and how it cooks, when the seeds start looking golden brown, try one and see if they are done to your liking. These seeds are done to perfection. Yum!!!!!

Another hint: Try to get medium sized pumpkins. They seem to have the best seeds. The big ones have of course bigger seeds, but not very meaty. The little pumpkins sometimes have undeveloped seeds with hardly any meat.

Are you over run with magazines and not sure what to do with them? Donate them to your local library, schools for art projects, hospitals, vet's office, etc.... Call before you take them to make sure they want them. Our local library has no objection in leaving the magazines in a box under their bulletin board. They are out of the way of patrons, but still accessible to those who want them.
Oh, make sure to cut off the name and address labels before donating them. These magazines are ready to go to the library the next time I go. I have several boxes of old magazines that I didn't have the heart to just throw away. Now slowly but surely I can get rid of them to someone else who will enjoy them.

Until next time.........................