We finished a long week of work, and promptly got into Halloween mode. First stop was Target for pumpkin carving kits and a lovely lemon meringue scented candle. Then we stopped at Smith’s for pumpkins.
Tom cut openings in the tops of the pumpkins with a knife and a power tool. It was a little loud for the kids. When the smoke cleared, the girls dug in to remove the seeds. Pearl found three seeds that had sprouted, and we planted them outside. I rinsed the remaining seeds, then boiled them briefly in salted water prior to baking. They turned out great!
We fed the pumpkin pulp to one of our desert tortoises. He seemed to like it. I love the pic of him, and uploaded it to CNN iReport Weekend Express. We’ll see if it airs.
This is the first year that the girls didn’t require or ask for any help carving their pumpkins! Big achievement; I’m marking my calendar. Their pumpkins turned out darling, if I do say so myself.
We just found out that the casinos are NOT hosting the Trick-or-Treat event this year. Big bummer. Tom has a plan to drive the kids to a nice area of town and ::: gulp! ::: let them go door to door! We were just talking about this over at Ron’s blog (visit him, he’s great).
On another light note, a Fall Festival was held at the kids’ school Saturday night. I was working, but Tom brought the girls. Not only did they have a fantastic time, but Pearl won first place for Most Creative Costume!
• What are your Halloween traditions?
• Did you go to or host any costume parties over the weekend?
Comment By: Jen
October 28th, 2013 at 2:45 am
My Halloween tradition is to stay home and hand out candy. I usually watch a horror movie while waiting between kids. I find it fun.
Comment By: Jean
October 28th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Handing out candy! My gosh, I forgot about that. It is a fun tradition. I hope you find a great, suspenseful movie to watch.
We live in a rural area. I was trying to figure out the last time I handed out candy. I think it was 1995. 🙂
Comment By: Ron
October 28th, 2013 at 8:05 am
Jean, I wish you could have seen me SMILING as I read this post!
And what a GREAT post it is!
LOVE the photo collage!
” I rinsed the remaining seeds, then boiled them briefly in salted water prior to baking. They turned out great!”
YUM-MY! I don’t think I’ve ever eaten freshly made pumpkin seeds but I bet they’re so much better than store-bought.
“I love the pic of him, and uploaded it to CNN iReport Weekend Express. We’ll see if it airs.”
That is a BRILLIANT photo! Please keep us posted if they air it, okay? And I bet they do!
This year we’re dressing up at work on Halloween. I may go as a vampire! I will also be watching the movie “Halloween” in the evening. Love that film!
Have a super Monday, my friend, and thank you for the shout out.
I’m so glad we met in Blogland. You’re a delight!
X
Comment By: Jean
October 28th, 2013 at 9:12 am
Thanks, Ron!
Yes, the fresh pumpkin seeds are better than store bought, but a bit of work getting to the finished product. Tom wants to buy pumpkins after the 31st so we can roast more seeds.
I’ll be sure to let you know if CNN shows the pic. This would be our 3rd airing. It is such a great feeling.
Hey, Ron, with all your great photography, do you enter contests? I can imagine you winning!
That’ll be fun dressing up at work. A dashing vampire, yes, that suits you.
You are welcome for the shout-out. I’m so glad we’ve met and become friends.
Have a great week!
Comment By: Ron
October 28th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Aw…thank you but no, I don’t enter photograph contests. I just do it for the enjoyment. I’ve only been taking photographs for the past few years, but it’s something I’ve always had an interest in. I’ve had a few of my photographs used for brochures, but I did it more for the exposure than getting paid.
Oh and by the way, I wanted to tell you that I tried out Pixlr and LOVED it! In fact, I edited some of my photographs over there this weekend and will be posting them on my blog on Friday. Thanks again for letting us know about Pixlr. It’s AWESOME!
Comment By: Jean
October 29th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Ron, you are a natural at taking photos.
I can’t wait to see your blog on Friday with your pixlr edited pics! You are so welcome.
Comment By: elle sees
October 29th, 2013 at 4:36 am
i almost bought that lemon candle! i got the pumpkin cheesecake instead. next time!
looks like everyone had fun carving pumpkins!
Comment By: Jean
October 29th, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Elle, that lemon candle smells so good… as you know! Yes, it’s worth it.
Thanks for stopping by, beauty!
Comment By: Jayda
October 29th, 2013 at 7:54 am
Looks like so much fun!!! Am I a weirdo for thinking that tortise is the cutest thing ever?! I wish we had those here!
Comment By: Jean
October 29th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Awww, you’re no weirdo! That tortoise is adorable. 🙂
Thanks, Jayda!
Comment By: Krysten
October 29th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
My Halloween traditions involve eating too much candy and watching too many scary movies lol.
Comment By: Jean
October 29th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Ha! Perfect, Krysten!
Comment By: Rach
October 29th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Fun!! We just carved pumpkins last night. You guys all did a great job on your pumpkins! We didn’t roast pumpkin seeds this year because we got lazy, haha! Yours look yummy!
Comment By: Jean
October 29th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
YOU did a great job! Your owl carving was so darling! Be right over!