Mentink's October Lift Me Up Letter!

Seasonal Fun

Can you feel it? The crisp chill in the air? The smell of fog whispering over the hills in the evening? Yup, it's definitely fall. My daughter has grown the most colossal pumpkin in our yard. The vine stretched all over the place but produced only one whopper.  That's okay. There's nothing that screams fall like a pumpkin. So to get you in the mood here is a bit of pumpkin trivia.

Did you know....

Pumpkins are 90 % water?

Pumpkins are related to the cucumber?

In colonial days, pumpkin was used as an ingredient to make the pie crust, rather than the filling?

Are you in the mood for a fall treat? Enter the October contest via my website(www.danamentink.com) for a chance to win a Border's gift card.

 Saving the Planet

I know, I know. It's a big job all right but somebody's got to do it! I switched over to reusable bags and many of you chimed in on which brand you liked best via my website. Another pet project of mine is bee conservation. I wrote an article about colony collapse disorder for our local paper and I've been worried about our buzzing buddies ever since. Our local university, San Francisco State, did an enormous bee survey relying on regular folks like us to help.  Here's a bit about their mission.

 We know very little about bee activity in home and community gardens and their surrounding environments, but we are certain that they are a crucial link in the survival of native habitats and local produce, not to mention our beautiful urban gardens. Our local pollinator populations require our understanding & protection, and to answer that call we need to determine where and when they are at work.

The Great Sunflower Project will mail out seeds next year to continue their study. If you want more info, peruse www.greatsunflower.org.

Feeling inspired? ME TOO! After all honey is the main ingredient in one of my favorite fall treats--Candy corns! Do you use any products from our six legged friends? Candles? Lotions? Lip balms? My personal favorite is Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. Wait!!! I feel a giveaway coming on! Post a comment on my website about YOUR favorite bee product and I'll put your name in a raffle to WIN a gift pouch of Burt's Bees goodies.

 Bits About Books

And now for book news... Ruth Budge continues her sleuthing in the second book in the Finny series. Poor gal. You wouldn't believe the surprise she's got in store at the end of this installment! The book is available through my website or if you've got a yen for an autographed copy, you can get them through www.authorsden.com. Here's a little blurb to wet your whistle.

The worm business is thriving for vermiculturist Ruth Budge until a disembodied toe turns up on the golf course and members of a strange cult begin to infiltrate the quiet seaside town of Finny, California. Ruth, still recovering from solving her last crime, is determined to help her adopted daughter run Pistol Bang’s Mushroom Farm and the last thing they need is another murderer on the loose. With God in her heart and her new husband by her side, Ruth must dig for truth amid the chaos.

Recipe Round-Up

Here's a recipe that will perfume your whole kitchen! It makes one loaf to enjoy and one to share. (My sister makes a loaf so good you could eat half in one sitting.)

Pumpkin Gingerbread

3 c. sugar

1 c. oil

4 eggs

2/3 c. water

1 15 oz. can pumpkin

2 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

3 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. In a bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs, beat until smooth. Add water and beat until well blended. Stir in pumpkin and spices.

In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add to pumpkin mixture and blend just until ingredients are mixed. Divide batter between two pans and bake about 1 hour.