Page 6 - Decorating Takes Time

What do witches put on their hair? Scare spray!

Prepare Your Knives!

The history of pumpkin carving can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. During Samhain, people believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was thin, and that spirits could roam the earth. To ward off evil spirits, people carved faces into turnips and other root vegetables, and placed candles inside to create lanterns. These early lanterns were called "jack-o'-lanterns". 

The name "jack-o'-lantern" comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. In the story, Jack tricked the Devil into changing his form, and then trapped him in that form. Jack offered to let the Devil go if he didn't take Jack's soul for a long time.

However, Jack died before that could happen, and God wouldn't let him into Heaven. The Devil wouldn't let Jack into Hell either, so he was sent to roam the Earth for eternity with only a coal to light his way.

People began to carve turnips, beets, potatoes, and eventually pumpkins to represent Jack, and to ward away evil spirits. Irish immigrants brought the tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns to America in the 1800s.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
From field to our table!

They quickly realized that pumpkins were easier to carve than turnips, and the custom became an integral part of Halloween festivities.

Join The Fun!!

Robin saved the day because we ran out of time and needed small bottles of water; she stopped on her way over!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Ah Robin, you gots a spider in your eye!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Bob and Theo catch up on things.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Michele brought a beautiful vegetable plate

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
"Where are the knives, I am ready to go!!"

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The teens carry on! Charlie brought his lady along!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Do they know the spider is about to pounce on them?
Connor will protect us!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Everyone got their favorite pizza (We had veggie to the kitchen sink!)

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The pizzas were flying out of their containers.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The teens faces lit up like lights. when pizza was spotted.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Bob explains LED lighting challenges! from his recent photoshoot.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
It's optics, Mary understands!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Paul gets the eggs beater blades going on the electric drill.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Paul takes all the tops off using a serious butcher knife!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Joe takes over when Paul poops out!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Pete now has the drill, stand back!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The teens are going to town!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Cleaning pumpkins seems to be fun!!

NOTE: Click the arrow to see history in the making... Teens working!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
"We never heard that one before!"

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Someone cheated!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Froggy goes on really easy!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
He is an oldie and a goodie!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Lisa and Paisley; Lisa blinked!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Joe supervises!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
We check in on the teens; they are going great!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
OK Franklyn, where is your pumpkin??

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
"I hope Remmy picks me!!"

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Zack and Becca show up after three softball games! Wow!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Three games, oh my!"

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Lisa shows Paisley how to carve using the saw and other tools!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
More carving gets underway!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Decisions decisions!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Pete always gets into this carving thing!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
What is Robin doing?

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
It looks like a 1920s sweatshop!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The kids are smart, come inside and out of the sun!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Mary visits the carvers making sure everyone is powered by cookies!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Now Robin is getting serious!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
It's quiet, everybody is at work!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Saying goodbye!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
See you around Thanksgiving!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Well deserved my dear!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Now we get to see the artwork on display!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Oh my! Look at those chompers!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The girls are taking their time!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Thinking about each cut!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
That there is a collection!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Mary adds Froggy to the collection!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Where are the artists!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Bob and Joe busy discussing musical bands!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Come on you all, we need help!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Becca gets Remy into place!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
The Louvre in Paris has nothing to worry about.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
This is a result of lots of effort!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Amy, Paul and Mary inspect the results.

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
You can do it!!!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Oops! He blew his top!

2024-10-27 Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Time to relax