Pumpkin Carving Party

Each year we gather together one afternoon, 

a few days before Halloween 

to scoop pumpkin guts and carve them into spooky Jack-o'-Lanterns.

The designs can be as elaborate or simple as you wish.

This is my Jack o'lantern I carved back in 2010 using a pattern and the nifty tools.

We've been collecting those Pumpkin Master patterns and carving kits for ages.  I'll pick them up on clearance after the holiday.  The tools work really good even if you prefer to do a more retro look with googly eyes and goofy grins.

I just love the way our front porch looks swathed in twinkling lights, faux cobwebs and adorned with all our pumpkins carved into jack o'lanterns with a candle tucked inside lighting them up.

Family and friends are welcome, the more the merrier! 

We extend the dinning room table to accommodate everyone and cover it with newspapers or an old plastic tablecloth, also purchased on clearance.

 That's one of my best friends and her 2 daughters when we were all younger.  Sometimes I make a big batch of chili or soup to slurp for sustenance while we all carve away, having a few laughs and listening to some Halloween themed music.

I'm crazy about heirloom pumpkins with all the vibrant colors and interesting shapes.  And we always take a sample taste of the raw pumpkin.  You should try it!  It tastes good.  Toasted pumpkin seeds are delicious and nutritious so I always bake a few batches while we're carving.

Don't the Jack O'Lanterns look amazing perched on our porches, grinning and ready to greet Trick or Treaters?

I just Love the green pumpkins with the traditional orange.  

That's my daughter, Emily, dressed as Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler.  She did a wonderful job creating this costume using some of my old/ vintage clothes & shoes that she then embellished.

All the photos were either taken by me, my awesome sister, Mary Ann 

or my Lovely daughter, Sarah. 

Visit her blog, Lostvestige for more of her fabulous photos.