Pumpkin Patch Opens October 10th!

THERE'S A GOURD TIME TO BE HAD BY ALL!

Add these dates to your calendar:

• Pumpkin Patch T-Shirt and Hoodie orders are due October 1st!!! See ordering information below.
• October 3rd, 9:00 a.m. We need a team of 12-15 strong hands to help put up the mural, artwork, and fence rails. (Yes, there will be homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast.)
• October 7th at 4:00 p.m., Delivery #1. First delivery of pumpkins will be a smaller load. We will have a soft opening so we can accommodate folks that would like to support our ministry by buying pumpkins from FUMC for the upcoming Downtown Kaufman Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 10th. We expect unloading will take about 1.5-2 hours, depending on how many people are helping.
• October 10th at 11:00 a.m., Delivery #2. Following the Kaufman parade, we will be unloading over 2000 pumpkins! It would be nice to have at least 30 pumpkin passers, but again, the more the better. We can work this in two shifts, as even the most spry of us squash tossers will need a break. It can take 3-4 hours to get all the pumpkins into the patch depending on how many hands we have helping.

Invite your friends and neighbors! LET THE GOURD TIMES ROLL!

• October 10th – 31st. CALLING ALL PUMPKIN BUMPKINS to be cashiers & customer service from opening until close. Times are Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. until dark, Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and Sunday noon until 6:00 p.m. Shifts are 2 hours, but if you can work for one hour, two hours, or more, please let me know. Schedule is flexible, but we do need to be covered all the times we are open. Watch for sign-up schedules in a few days.
• October 12th – 30th. Sign up to be a class helper and GIVE THEM PUMPKIN TO TALK ABOUT! Class visits include Snacks (pumpkin muffins and juice), Storytime, Songs, Games, Class Photos, Pumpkin Blitz (Science), and Pick Out a pumpkin. We are hoping to have 10 – 12 volunteers per time slot to help carve out some fun for the littles. Wednesdays we will be serving smaller schools and day care classes. Look for the signup sheet in the West Room and watch your email for updated schedules.

Wish List:

• About 80 square bales of straw/hay - delivered to the patch by October 3rd.
• PUMPKIN MUFFINS!!!!! Recipe that we use is below. We need 2000+ muffins!! We can have a baking day at church or you can make them at home. If you are interested, let's talk.
• Monetary donations to purchase apple juice, cups, napkins, sanitizing wipes for the tables, toys for the game prizes, and other supplies for the patch.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or comments, please contact Pam Caffey at 214-538-4727.

Patch you later!
Pumpkin Patch Team (Pam Caffey, Tana Yowell, Shiloh Lear, Charles & Cynthia Wende)

Mini Pumpkin Muffins

Step #1

• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 tsp ginger
• 3/4 tsp salt

Step #2

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup pumpkin - fresh or canned

Step #3

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda

#1 In a mixing bowl: Mix sugar, spices and salt together. Set aside.

#2 In a separate mixing bowl: With wire whip, whip eggs for 10-15 seconds. Add oil, water, and pumpkin; mix until combined. Add sugar mixture and mix for 60 seconds.

#3 In a separate mixing bowl, combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to wet ingredients using a wood spoon or spatula. Do not use a whisk, electric mixer and do not over mix.

Dip out into well greased mini muffin pans. Do not use paper muffin liners for the pumpkin patch. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until light brown and springs to the touch. Watch closely. Do not overbake.