An Ode to October: Pumpkins, Pillowcases, and the Spirit of the Season

There’s something about October that wraps itself around you—the scent of woodsmoke in the air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the steady appearance of pumpkins on porches everywhere you turn. It’s a season that feels stitched together with small, simple joys—boots muddy from pumpkin patches, chilly nights that smell like cider and laughter, and the slow, sweet buildup to Halloween and beyond.

Where the Pumpkins Came From

Long before pumpkins were lighting up front porches and starring in seasonal lattes, they were just humble fruits growing wild across North America. Some of the oldest pumpkin seeds ever discovered date back over 7,500 years, found in what is now Mexico. Indigenous peoples grew pumpkins along with squash and beans, and early American settlers quickly adopted them as a hardy, versatile crop. Over time, pumpkins became a symbol of harvest, abundance, and the changing seasons.

Today, it's hard to imagine autumn without them. Whether they're stacked in supermarket bins, perched on hay bales, or proudly carried home from the patch, pumpkins feel like the first real sign that October has arrived.

Just for fun—here are a few quick pumpkin facts that might surprise you.

Pumpkin Picking: From Muddy Fields to Full-Blown Festivals

These days, heading to the pumpkin patch has become one of fall’s biggest traditions. They have become full-day adventures, complete with corn mazes, hayrides, cider stands, petting zoos, and more photo ops than you can count. It's not just about picking the perfect pumpkin anymore (though that’s still part of the fun)—it’s about soaking in everything the season has to offer.

Some of my favorite memories are from taking my kids pumpkin picking—bundled up against the chill, boots sinking into muddy fields, pulling those little red Radio Flyer wagons behind them. They’d always pick the biggest pumpkins they could find, ones so heavy they could barely haul them back to the counter. We’d spend hours out there—getting lost in corn mazes, sipping cider, and trying to squeeze just a little more time out of the day before the sun dipped below the trees. It's the kind of simple, happy chaos that somehow ends up feeling like everything you ever wanted fall to be.

Our Little Pumpkin Patch Parade Through the Years...

The first trip to the patch—my oldest, back when he was the littlest

My next three little pumpkins at Wayside Farm

Giving it his all—and loving every second of it

And once those pumpkins made it home, the real fun began. They weren’t just porch decorations—they were waiting to be carved, lit, and given a night to shine on Halloween.

Halloween: When Costumes and Candy Take Over

By Halloween night, the pumpkins were glowing on the porch, carved into flickering faces, setting the scene. But that was just the opening act. Costumes and candy took center stage, and the whole neighborhood transformed into something magical.

Somewhere between the porch lights and the flickering pumpkins, I always find myself drifting back to the Halloweens of my own childhood.

Back when I was growing up, Halloween costumes were a little more... let’s just say, low-tech. Most of us picked from a lineup of those plastic, one-piece costumes you bought at the drugstore—Velcro straps, plastic masks with tiny eye holes you could barely see out of, and a rubber band in the back that always managed to snap by the end of the night. You could be Batman, Casper the Ghost, or a handful of other classic characters, all wrapped in about a half-millimeter of crinkly plastic. But we didn’t care. We were just excited to be out there, pillowcases in hand, running from house to house.

My brothers and me, rocking those classic 1970s drugstore costumes. That's my brother as Casper the Ghost, me as some kind of clown (still not sure what kind), and Chris... well, your guess is as good as mine.

By the time I hit my early teens, creativity really started to take off. One of my proudest costume moments? The year I went as the Pope. I made a homemade mitre (that's the tall hat!) out of poster board, borrowed my mom’s old red embroidered robe, and proudly set off into the night. My friends tapped out early, but I kept going house to house, filling up my pillowcase. Pretty sure there was a little Divine Intervention that night—first blessing me with a candy haul, and then helping me get it home.

Of course, costumes today have reached a whole new level—way beyond poster board hats and borrowed bathrobes. Kids come up with ideas that would make Hollywood costume designers jealous. My son once went as a full-on train—box, wheels, paint job and all—strapped around his waist, chugging down the sidewalks like Thomas the Tank Engine himself. The creativity (and the amount of hot glue and duct tape involved) was downright impressive (and expensive).

But not all costumes break the bank. Some are just hand-me-downs that make the rounds, year after year. One of our most beloved was a pumpkin suit we’ve had for ages—worn by each of my four kids in their turn. A family tradition stitched in orange felt, held together by memories, a zipper, and a few safety pins.

That zipper’s seen some things—four kids, countless candy hauls, and more front porch photo ops than it ever signed up for.

When the Whole Neighborhood Joins In

Like a lot of neighborhoods across America, ours really comes alive on Halloween. It’s the best kind of craziness—the kind you look forward to all year. Grills are fired up with hot dogs, kegs of beer are set out for the adults, and houses are decked out like miniature haunted streets. We get between three to four hundred kids a year, and honestly, it feels like the whole town—and then some—show up. Some families even joke that they budget for Halloween like it’s Christmas.

Here’s a peek at our Halloween setup—creepy, kooky, and just the right amount of over-the-top.

Click on the image below to watch the video.

Once the animatronics power down, the porch lights start to flicker off, and the last wave of hopeful trick-or-treaters shows up—you know, the ones banking on you dumping the rest of your candy bowl into their bags—the real fun begins at home. That’s when the great candy trade kicks off. My kids spread out their loot like seasoned merchants—negotiating trades, swapping favorites, and guarding their haul like treasure. Then comes the candy hiding—because somewhere along the way, they figured out that a certain mom has a habit of sneaking into their stashes for late-night treats. (Just for the record: no matter where they hide it, I always find it. Say goodbye to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, kids.)

From Jack-o’-Lanterns to Pie… to Flight

As Halloween fades and the candy disappears (some faster than others), pumpkins find new life. Some remain as rustic porch decor—often becoming snacks for local squirrels who eagerly nibble away at the carvings—surrounded by gourds and autumn leaves. Others make their way to the kitchen, transformed into the season’s most iconic dessert: pumpkin pie.

Nothing says late fall quite like the scent of a pumpkin pie baking in the oven. Rose had a recipe that turned simple pumpkin purée into pure gold—rich, spiced, and topped with a dollop of whipped cream that melted into every bite.

If you’re interested in Rose’s pumpkin pie recipe, the button link is provided at the end of the blog.

And for the pumpkins that don’t end up in pie tins or squirrel paws? There’s always pumpkin chunkin’. These messy, high-flying events have been popping up since the 1980s, inviting folks to launch their leftover pumpkins with trebuchets, catapults, and air cannons. Some teams take it seriously—like, build-a-machine-that-can-launch-a-pumpkin-over-4,000-feet seriously. The world record? Over 5,500 feet, set at the World Championship Punkin Chunkin in Delaware.

They may look like medieval siege weapons, but nope—these bad boys are just here to launch pumpkins across fields in the name of fall fun.

It’s messy, it’s hilarious, and it’s the perfect sendoff for all those pumpkins—whether they waited patiently in the fields, stood proudly on front porches, spooked and delighted trick-or-treaters, or even ended up baked into a few pies along the way. If ever a pumpkin earned a grand—and maybe even delicious—exit, it’s them.

Homespun Harvest: A Season to Hold Onto

October is the kind of season that stays with you. A patchwork of pumpkins, spice, smoky afternoons, and chilly mornings—the bright blaze of the trees, the soft glow of jack-o'-lanterns on the steps. And somehow, our seasonal fragrance Homespun Harvest captures it all, keeping a small piece tucked close.

A little ode to October.

Have a favorite October memory? A Halloween adventure? A pumpkin patch story—or just a soft spot for the season itself? We’d love to hear it. Share your little ode to October—or just drop a hello—in the comments!