DOWN ON THE FARM.

Colored leaves blanket your backyard and there's a crispness to the air. Why not cook up some festive fall food and party down country style? Yee-haw!

CORNY INVITES

Save dough and make your pals personal paper pumpkin and corn invites. You'll need scissors, glue (spray glue is best), a black pen, and orange, yellow and green construction paper.

PAPER PUMPKINS: Fold orange construction paper horizontally, and cut out a wide half circle (like when you made heart valentines in elementary school). Unfold the paper, and voila--a pumpkin--well, sort of. With a little glue, attach a green paper stem and leaves. Then pen your party details, including when (date and time), where (include directions if necessary), what (if you want your guests to dress like farmers, tell them) and RSVP information. With a black pen, draw arcs from the stem of your pumpkin down to the bottom. Be careful not to draw lines over your party info--just stop and restart your arcs.

CORNY CORNS: Cut yellow paper to look like an ear of corn. Lay corn on top of the green paper, and cut out a husk to fit the ear. Glue the ear on top of the husk. Write the party details on the corn, and add some kernels with a black pen. Draw little tic-tac-toe grids to fill in the blank spaces.

For a party with a purpose, you can sponsor a canned harvest of sorts by asking guests to bring canned food items. When guests arrive, they can drop their cans into a barrel, and you can make a donation to your local food bank--just in time for the holiday season.

Once your invites are complete, drop them in envelopes, address and decorate with festive fall stickers or cut-outs. We used the fall and Halloween Punch-outs by Hot off the Press (www.paperpizazz.com). Simply punch out, and glue the decorations to your envelopes--add some detail of your own for a personalized touch. Drop your envelopes in the mail, and wait for the phone to ring. In the meantime, get planning.

PRELIM PREPARATIONS

If you're lucky enough to have a barn you can "borrow," by all means, throw your party there. If you're a total city slicker, try converting your back porch, garage or basement into a "barn." We know--it's a stretch, but a little imagination, a plethora of pumpkins and scattered scarecrows can do wonders.

Wherever you choose to throw your harvest fest, start with a large, clean, open area. If you get your hooves on a barn, clear it out--you don't want any of your best buds two-stepping into a pitchfork or landing in a pile of...well, you get the point.

Once your party place is totally clean, throw down some straw. It sounds really messy--and it kind of is--but what's a barn party without straw?

You'll also need a long table for a buffet, or use a couple card tables. If you have a couple picnic tables, drag 'em into your "barn." Very large pumpkins and bales of hay make great seats--don't be shy about overloading!

Other than that, creating your fall festival is totally up to you and your Farmer Fran imagination. So quit horsin' around, and get to work!

DECK THE RAFTERS

You can find just about everything you need to create a fall utopia (hey, rhymes with cornucopia!) at any major craft store or superstores like K-Mart.

We found everything at Michael's craft store--even a life-size rooster. Look for pumpkins, black birds, wheelbarrows, scarecrows, cornhusks, gourds, baskets, hay bales and garlands of colorful leaves. Brainstorm. Whatever makes you feel like fall should work.

Cover that buffet table with an antique patchwork quilt, checkered tablecloth or even canvas potato sacks.

To make a potato sack table cloth, cut open the sacks and lay them flat. Attach natural colored grass skirts (available at most party and costume stores) with heavy tape or tacks under the rim of the table. Let the grass hang off the edges. Decorate your buffet table with fun fall crafty stuff and goodies.

Does Mom or Grandma save every little thing? If so, head to their basement or attic and do some shopping! We came up with tons of cool country keepers.

We found old baskets, a hand-painted antique serving tray, a child's chicken pull toy, a cornucopia, weathered vases and awesome iron candlesticks. We wrapped the rims and handles of the baskets with garlands of fall leaves and filled them with mini pumpkins, squash and gourds--fill with other autumn fruits like apples, grapes, pomegranates and cranberries.

Put utensils at one end of the buffet table. Wrap the silverware in colorful bandanas, and place them in an earthy looking crock--guests may use the bandanas as napkins. Set out enough plates and cups for your guests. Use one-of-a-kind old plates from a yard sale or junk shop or take the simple route, and use colorful paper--it's up to you.

We even found great pumpkin-decorated napkins and matching plates. When we were finished eating, we just threw all the paper goods away.

GOOFY GAMES

Now that your barn is all decked out, you're probably ready to stir up some farm-style fun.

As soon as all your guests have arrived, pick names from a hat and split into teams. Have each team select a farm-related team name and keep game scores throughout the day.

Head to the great outdoors and organize simple relay races. Try out some of the classic ones like the potato sack race, the three-legged race, the wheelbarrow race and the egg race. They may sound silly, but we guarantee some sidesplitting laughs. You can find complete directions to all these relay games on the Girls' Life Web site. Just go to www.girlslife.com.

You can even have prizes to award to the winning team. We gave out homemade caramel apples, an awesome pink felt cowboy hat and even a cute Breyer plastic horse!

FARMIN' AROUND

If you are lucky enough to be at an actual farm, take advantage! You're never too old for a hayride. If Uncle Billy Bob has a tractor and flatbed, hook 'em up! Cover the flatbed with tons of straw, and tell your friends to hold on tight. Maybe your uncle can tell some creepy country-time legends. Who knows who roamed the property years ago? Nothing beats a spooky hayride--and it is nearing Halloween, after all.

While hangin' in the barn, don't forget to spin some country tunes. Absolutely no party is complete without music! We love Kenny Rogers and the Dixie Chicks. But definitely check out the music section on page 36 because it's all about country!

CREATE-A-CROW

After your guests have raced around and had some belly laughs, turn on the tunes and chill. At our party, we created scarecrows. Ask guests to bring infant one-piece sleepers (the kind with feet attached) so they can make their own baby scarecrow! We suggest you supply the rest of the materials--they're all cheap. These baby scarecrows make adorable fall decorations.

WHAT YOU NEED

1 pair pantyhose

1 infant sleeper plastic grocery bags

straw

safety pins

child-size hat

marker

buttons

felt pieces

yarn

1. Knot each leg part of the pantyhose.

2. Stuff the middle section of the pantyhose with plastic grocery bags. This will be the head/face.

3. Knot the waist of the pantyhose.

4. Stuff the infant sleeper with lots of plastic bags in the legs, arms and body.

5. Pin the pantyhose "head" onto the neck of the sleeper. Hide the pantyhose legs in the sleeper.

6. Decorate the pantyhose "face" with markers, buttons and felt pieces.

7. Stuff straw into arm openings and around the neck.

8. Use yarn for hair.

9. Attach hat or ribbon bows to head.

FESTIVE FOOD

Make sure you have some snacks and fresh apple cider for your guests as soon as they arrive. Keep it simple. Scatter small pumpkin shaped bowls or those plastic trick-or-treating jack-o-lanterns on the buffet table. Fill 'em with your favorite tortilla chips, pretzels or country trail mix. Make a pleasing plate of purple grapes and alternating green and red apple slices. Pair the fresh fruit with a bowl of peanut butter, warm caramel or Fruity Fall Dip (recipe at right) for dunking--don't forget toothpicks and festive napkins.

Halfway through the party--after your guests have worked up an appetite taking a hay ride or playing goofy relay races--bring out the main meal. Keep your menu harvest-related. Pick recipes that use fall ingredients like cranberries, pumpkins, apples, turkey, corn and potatoes. If you have some delicious family recipes, go ahead and use them. If not, we have some simple recipes for your harvest feast.

Make a huge plate of turkey wrap sandwiches--add a few veggie wraps, just in case. In a large crockpot, serve warm mashed taters and veggies. To round things out, add a delicious fall salad and scrumptious pumpkin cheesecake. Guests will go for seconds!

FRUITY FALL DIP

8 ounces softened cream cheese

8 ounces vanilla yogurt

5 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the rest of the ingredients, and mix well. Spoon into a serving howl, cover lightly, and refrigerate for at least three hours. You can even make this the night before--just stir before serving.

SALAD WITH TOMATOES AND CORN

1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon olive oil 

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

2 tomatoes, halved, seeded and diced

2 large garlic cloves, minced

3/4 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, dried

1 can corn, drained

8 cups salad greens (you may use any greens you like)

4 tomatoes, quartered

Whisk 1/2 cup oil, vinegar, basil, diced tomatoes, garlic and rosemary in small howl until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add greens and quartered tomatoes to bowl with corn. Toss salad with enough vinaigrette to coat evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Makes four servings.

TURKEY SANDWICH ROLL-UPS

1/2 ripe California avocado

4 10-inch wholewheat tortillas

1/2 pound roast turkey, thinly sliced

1/2 pound of your favorite cheese

2 tomatoes

shredded lettuce

1 sliced cucumber

Spread avocado evenly on tortillas, and arrange turkey across each tortilla just below middle. Top turkey with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers, and roll up tortillas tightly, leaving ends open. Halve tortillas diagonally with knife. You may want to include little bowls of mayonnaise or honey mustard, too.

VEGGIE MASHED POTATOES 

1 pound potatoes, peeled and chopped into one inch cubes (or you may use instant potatoes)

4-5 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch slices

3 parsnips, peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes

4 stalks chopped celery

1/3 cup heavy cream

6 tablespoons butter

salt and pepper

pinch of nutmeg

Put vegetables in a large pot, and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until vegetables are very tender. Drain. Return to pot or place in a large bowl. Mash vegetable mixture with a mixer until smooth. Mix remaining ingredients, and beat until smooth. Spoon into a serving bowl, and serve hot.

PERFECT PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

This dessert is delicious. Make sure you cut pretty small pieces because it's super rich.

2 cups of graham cracker crumbs 

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

24 oz. softened cream cheese

5 eggs

16 oz. canned pumpkin

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 

1/4 cup heavy cream

TOPPING

6 tbsp butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup of your favorite nuts, chopped

(pecans or walnuts are best)

Blend graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Press mixture firmly over bottom and up sides of a lightly buttered 9-inch springform pan. Chill. Beat cream cheese until very smooth. Add 1 cup sugar and 3/4 cup brown sugar. Beat until well-mixed Mix in the eggs one at a time until light and fluffy. Beat in pumpkin spice and heavy cream at low speed Mix in pumpkin. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 35 minutes. Mix topping ingredients (the butter and brown sugar). After the time is up, remove pie from oven. Spread your mixture on top and crumble the nuts over mixture. Put back into the oven for 10 minutes. Remove, and cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate overnight.

While your food is settling, set up a pumpkin-carving contest.

CARVIN' CONTEST

If you're not scared of making a mega mess, host a pumpkin-carving contest. Tell your guests there will be an anonymous voting for the scariest, funniest, ugliest, most realistic or whatever category pumpkin.

You'll need various-sized pumpkins (at least one for each guest), pencils, newspaper, large spoons, garbage bags, knives and paint. Spread a bunch of old newspapers over the floor or table for easy clean-up.

The easiest way to decorate your pumpkins is to paint them. Leave on the lids then break out the pumpkin painting kits (available at major craft stores).

If you want to do the traditional carved pumpkin thing, start by having a parent cut lids off your pumpkins. Once your lids are removed, your guests can scoop out the goo. You can use large spoons; but sometimes your bare hands work best.

Using pencils, sketch the design you plan to create. Then grab your carving knives and carefully go at it--just make sure parents are supervising because this can be pretty dangerous!

Once the carving is complete, line the pumpkins up and give each one a number. Give your guests a piece of paper and a pencil. Decide which category you're voting for first and have them drop their votes into a straw hat. Have an adult tally up the votes and make sure your winner gets a blue ribbon!

No guest should leave your party empty-handed--everyone should have a baby scarecrow and a jack-o-lantern. Remind your guests to take home their masterpieces. Happy harvest!