Porch Pumpkins & Retirement

Today was the last day of work for Eli's Mom, Pam. She started working at a local factory when she was 18 years old, right out of high school. Pam stayed with the same company for the next 43 and a half years, working her way up to head shipping and receiving. It was the first and only job she ever had. Pretty amazing...it doesn't often work like that! We joined her this afternoon to celebrate her retirement.

Pam gave the caption for this photo: "I love you all!"

We needed a nice, appropriate retirement gift for Pam...one that wouldn't cost a lot since funds are tight. I started brainstorming.

The company Eli used to work for had piles of 2x4 and 4x4 scrap wood, free for the taking. Eli had salvaged quite a bit of the lumber and planned to burn it in the fire pit--until I spied the pile, that is. I always seem to sabotage his pyro plans.

A couple months ago I thought it'd be so nice to not have to deal with real pumpkins decaying on my porch, and then freezing and making a terrible mess. (Because no matter how good my intentions are, I never get to them in time to prevent that!) I started Googling 4x4 pumpkins to see if anyone had had the epiphany I did. Of course, my epiphanies are never original! There was a host of different 4x4 porch pumpkin ideas. I probably saw them somewhere in passing and my subconscious recycled the memory as an original inspiration. :)

As it is with most things I start, several projects overlap, and the ones that need to be done first get priority. I started the porch pumpkins at least a month ago, not originally planning on giving them away. The beginning of this week it was really obvious where the pumpkins were supposed to go, and that I needed to switch gears with that project ASAP. When did I get to them? This morning. (Hanging my head.)

I managed to snap photos sporadically throughout the process of making them.

4x4's: free.
Stick stems: free, from our yard.
Wire vines: pennies? Spent $1.00 on a whole roll from a craft warehouse.
Raffia ribbon: pennies? Its been in my craft tote for 15 years.
Board for sign: free, salvaged from a clementine crate and stained with stain we had on hand.
Acrylic craft paint: pennies.