英语博客(A cup of English):001 Celebrate pumpkin time.

　　Beginners.
Pumpkins², pumpkins, big, fat, and round. Children love them, and adults too. They grow all Summer; turn color from green to orange. Some stay small, but others get bigger and bigger. I have some in my garden. One, two, three, four. One for each of my children. They will be Jack-o-lanterns with eyes, noses, and mouths. Do you like our Mr. Pumpkin¹ in the photo? What do you think? Is he friendly or scary?
Grammar notes.
Verbs which are regular in the present: to love, to grow, to get, to like, to think.
I love, you love, he loves, we love, you(pl.) love, they love.
Verbs which are irregular in the present: to have, to be.
I have, you have, he has, we have, you(pl.) have, they have.
I am, you are, he is, we are, you(pl.) are, they are.
Advanced.
Oh, it's pumpkin time in the North West. October gives a touch of magic to our little town of Wenatchee. The colors of Autumn begin to appear here and there, and, though the days are getting shorter, they are sunny and still. It is the perfect time for contemplating³ nature. Perhaps there is enough sun this month to ripen⁴ up my tomatoes that are bulging⁵ and heavy, but, unfortunately, still green. The vegetable gardens in this area are quickly coming to an end, as Mr. Frost makes his quiet visit each morning. "Keep growing Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin!" say my children as they visit our pumpkin patch. These huge, orange beauties, lying around in fading leaves, are almost human. But, why do children love them so much? Jack-o-lanterns, of course! And my favorite, pumpkin pie, yum!
Grammar notes.
Verbs that are irregular in the present: to be.
I am, you are, he is, we are, you(pl.) are, they are.
Color is americanism of colour.
Adverbs and conjunctions for writing: though, perhaps, unfortunately, of course.

1 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

2 pumpkins   

n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊

参考例句：

• I like white gourds, but not pumpkins. 我喜欢吃冬瓜，但不喜欢吃南瓜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they cut faces in the pumpkins and put lights inside. 然后在南瓜上刻出一张脸，并把瓜挖空。 来自英语晨读30分（高三）

3 contemplating   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
• She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

4 ripen   

vt.使成熟；vi.成熟

参考例句：

• I'm waiting for the apples to ripen.我正在等待苹果成熟。
• You can ripen the tomatoes on a sunny windowsill.把西红柿放在有阳光的窗台上可以让它们成熟。

5 bulging   

膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱

参考例句：

• Her pockets were bulging with presents. 她的口袋里装满了礼物。
• Conscious of the bulging red folder, Nim told her,"Ask if it's important." 尼姆想到那个鼓鼓囊囊的红色文件夹便告诉她：“问问是不是重要的事。”