Growing Pumpkins

Our tradition each year is to grow a "plethora of pumpkins" for the fall seasons. This year our large garden was a small one. In May, right before planting season, I found out that I had mono. I really couldn't figure out why I was so tired and felt pure exhaustion all of the time. For a fleeting moment, I thought I could be pregnant! It's the only time that I have felt so worn out, but 2 tests confirmed that I was not. Then after several weeks, I got really sick. High fever of 104 for 3 days and the worst sore throat I have ever had. (I have had Strep so many times and know what a bad sore throat feels like. In fact when I was younger, I had Strep 11 times in one year, which led them to take out my tonsils.) Anyway, after much consulting from Mike I went to the doctor. The Strep test was negative and with a simple blood test, they told me in 1 hour that it was mono. It slowed me down and I had to cross off many of my "to do" and "want to do" things. Growing fruits and veggies in my garden was one of them, but we managed to plant 4 starts of pumpkins. They basically grow themselves and even keep the weeds down, so this was our crop. About half the size normally, but enough to line our porch, carve for Halloween and make the kids smile.