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| Some of our best Hallowe'en creations |
Hallow e'en has always been a favourite time for me. As a child, I loved getting into costume, and trick or treating; most of all, though, I've always loved carving pumpkins.
I guess my mom, Olive, got us started, many long years ago, and was the driving force behind the toothy jack-o-lantern gracing our front porch every year. Lately, though, she prefers to watch, and clean the carving utensils at the end.
My sister, Jennifer, planner of some of the best Hallow e'en parties I've ever attended, also loves pumpkin carving. Each year, she and I plan a carving get-together, and include friends and family in the festive tradition of carving freaky or funny jack-o-lanterns.
Carving skills are learned young in our family; although, modifications are made with safety in mind: This year the youngest grand-daughter, Mattie-Belle, painted her little pumpkins instead of carving, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Oldest grand-daughter, Rachel is becoming quite the masterful carver and is very creative.
My oldest daughter, Melody, has always gravitated to small pumpkins and gourds and loves to create freakish scenes of murder and mayhem with them; youngest daughter Chelsea's carvings embody her flair for whimsy and optimism; and, though middle daughter, Laurel, has never liked the feel of pumpkin "goo," she's none-the-less open to hanging out with the rest of us who do.
Some years, our carving group is smaller than others: I once carved a single pumpkin, alone. This year, Jennifer advised and mom looked on as Chelsea, Rachel, Mattie-Belle and I transformed six blank canvases into Hallow e'en-worthy works of art. Chelsea and I gave a repeat performance two nights later when we carved the two remaining pumpkins whose carvers hadn't been able to attend.
Pumpkin carving may seem, to some, to be a juvenile activity; however, I always feel that something's missing if I try to go a year without carving into a large orange gooey vegetable; and, the delicious roasted and salted pumpkin seeds are a wonderful added bonus!
Best of all, the finished collection of jack-o-lanterns, glowing together in the dark at the end of each yearly carve-fest, is beautiful and absolutely mesmerizing.
Happy Hallow e'en!
