If you give a homesteader a pumpkin pie, they’ll probably remember how much they used to love it.
And when they think about it, they’ll start craving that sweet, spicy, creamy goodness.
They’ll decide to make one from scratch.
But first, they’ll need pumpkins.
So, they’ll go out to the garden, only to remember that their kids picked the tiny pumpkins before they were ripe. And then the big storm in June came and destroyed all the pumpkin plants.
After a quick trip to the store, they’ll finally buy some pumpkins—only to realize they need to roast them first.
They’ll need a good knife, but where did they put it last? After searching for 15 minutes, they’ll finally cut the pumpkins open, and now it’s time to scoop out the seeds.
They’ll start saving the seeds to plant for next year, but then they’ll remember the chickens are hiding eggs under the fallen trees from the storm. They’ll check the trees, only to find no eggs—and a chicken in the middle of the woods, looking guilty.
They’ll head back inside to get the pie filling started, but first, they’ll notice the chickens are looking a little ragged. They went through a heavy molt in July and didn’t lay eggs for two months. Now it’s November, and they’re on strike again. No eggs.
So, they’ll decide to go buy eggs at the store—but the store is out of local eggs. They’ll check the fridge for their stash of old eggs, but after a sniff test, those are definitely no good.
Back to the garden they go, now looking for sugar—remembering the sugar beets they wanted to grow. But there’s no time to harvest them this year. They’ll search online to buy organic sugar, only to realize it’s out of stock.
Then, they’ll realize they still need evaporated milk, but their cow is dry and they’re out of milk. So, they’ll get the milk bucket and head out to the barn anyway, only to find the cow’s wandered off into the woods.
After a half-hour search, they’ll return with a sore back but no milk.
Finally, they’ll pull out the can of evaporated milk from the pantry. It’s been there for ages.
And just when they think they’re ready to bake, they’ll realize they forgot to preheat the oven.
While waiting for the oven to warm up, they’ll grab a notebook and start making a list for next year’s pie—from scratch, of course. More pumpkins. Better chickens. More sugar beets.
But by the time the pie finally comes out of the oven, they’ll realize they haven’t had a moment to sit down all day. They’ll plop on the couch, exhausted, and take a bite of the pie they’ve been working on all day.
And in that moment, they’ll forget about all the chaos and just savor the homemade goodness.
But next year… next year, they’ll grow everything from scratch.
After all, it’s only November.
And that’s when they’ll start making a list for next year’s Thanksgiving pie. Because it’s always about the next thing, right?
