The Great Pumpkin Carving Contest

It's that time of year once again!  I am
remembering the wonderful times our
family used to have when the kids were
all small and the old ones were still here
with us.
Every October, toward the end of the
month, in the big old kitchen at the old brick house of my grandmother, we'd gather, on a cool, crispy evening with much excitement to carve pumpkins.
 Each participant came bringing their very own pumpkin to carve.  All different shapes and sizes.  We brought along our favorite carving tools if we had them.  Those too young to wield a knife or other sharp object were assisted by an adult who would do the actual carving, carrying out the specific wishes of the youngster. Besides the big old table that was always there was another long table.  All were covered with plastic tablecloths or newspapers and basins to hold the seeds and innards.  Scoops and big spoons at the ready we soon got right down to business. All this took some time as each carver hoped to come up with the most unusual Jack O'Lantern.  And we sure did come up with some great ones over the years!

My children and cousin Mick's children were young when this tradition was first started.  Actually it was my cousins, Shirley and Vera and her son Mick who engineered those first carving parties.  Always Aunt Ethel and Uncle Herbie were there. Presiding over the grand event as was the eldest among us, Grammie Phillips.  Then over the years as these children grew up and married, their children became the youngsters.

After all the creations were finished and lined up for proper lighting and viewing, all the basins were emptied (some seeds went home with me to roast in the oven) and the tables cleared and reset with yummy goodies to enjoy.  Among these goodies in later years was a birthday cake or two as there were three of us with October birthdays to be celebrated.

Sometimes we would send someone to the neighbor's house to get us a judge, one who would be non biased and not know who had carved what to come over and give their opinion on the spookiest, most artistic, funniest etc. of all our handiwork.  No prizes, just a little innocent pride if our Jack O'Lantern was chosen.  At this point a hush would fall over the old kitchen as all lighted and grinning or grimacing, the carved masterpieces glowed proudly as all other lights were shut off.  It was always such a thrilling sight to us as adults and way more thrilling to the young ones I'm sure.

Some of our earlier creations all lined up and lighted

This was one of our carving nights in the late 1980's

This group is made up of my daughter and my grandson and Mick's children and

grandchildren.

Big and small we love them all !

It was a wonderful time in all our lives.  Times change, people pass on and some move away. The old homestead is no longer in our family.  But we will always treasure the memories we have of these old October nights when we all gathered with anticipation and great excitement for the Annual Great Pumpkin Carving Contest.

I still feel the need to carve a pumpkin just before Hallowe'en.  I'll just get me one at the market on Monday and see what I come up with this time!   Traditions die hard !  Happy October and won't you think about carving a pumpkin too?