I have grown up with savory childhood memories of love, laughter and creativity. My family carried on our own traditions, miniscule to others but expansive in my life. Halloween marked for us some fun traditions such as our pumpkin hunt. My brother and I would get very excited for this and we took it quite seriously.
Typically it would be a weekend day and my parents would take my brother and I to a huge field spilling with bright orange pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, shades, inclusive of imperfections and mud. It was always such a treat to pick our pumpkins. We would drive about 30 minutes to get to the best pumpkin patch. Seemed like everything my family did included driving a distance, and only added to the precious time of togetherness. My brother and I would step out of our car and gaze into the field, each of us already having an idea of what we were looking for and off we rushed into this field of orange. It had to be round, it had to lean in the right direction and have a good surface to reflect our pumpkin carving designs. We learned quickly not to pick it up by the stem, only to ruin a perfectly good pumpkin. What’s a festive pumpkin without a stem?
Derek and I would call for our parents to check out our finds; to “ooh” and “ahh” in amazement and encourage our excitement and belief that we did in fact have the two best pumpkins in the patch. After much praise, pride and approval, we would hold our pumpkins close to our chests, wobbling to the farm stand as if we were holding boulders and with grins we were off to carve. We gutted and Dad carved. He made the most intricate designs and we were proud.
Today, where we used to pick pumpkins stands a new church building, but every time I pass it, I will never forget all our pumpkin memories.
My friend and I decided to have our own pumpkin carving party. I went to a small farm and gazed across the field. Sure enough, the perfect pumpkin caught my eye again. This time I carved the pumpkin and enjoyed the creative day with a sweet friend.
What designs did you choose this year?
Happy Carving
Typically it would be a weekend day and my parents would take my brother and I to a huge field spilling with bright orange pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, shades, inclusive of imperfections and mud. It was always such a treat to pick our pumpkins. We would drive about 30 minutes to get to the best pumpkin patch. Seemed like everything my family did included driving a distance, and only added to the precious time of togetherness. My brother and I would step out of our car and gaze into the field, each of us already having an idea of what we were looking for and off we rushed into this field of orange. It had to be round, it had to lean in the right direction and have a good surface to reflect our pumpkin carving designs. We learned quickly not to pick it up by the stem, only to ruin a perfectly good pumpkin. What’s a festive pumpkin without a stem?
Derek and I would call for our parents to check out our finds; to “ooh” and “ahh” in amazement and encourage our excitement and belief that we did in fact have the two best pumpkins in the patch. After much praise, pride and approval, we would hold our pumpkins close to our chests, wobbling to the farm stand as if we were holding boulders and with grins we were off to carve. We gutted and Dad carved. He made the most intricate designs and we were proud.Today, where we used to pick pumpkins stands a new church building, but every time I pass it, I will never forget all our pumpkin memories.
My friend and I decided to have our own pumpkin carving party. I went to a small farm and gazed across the field. Sure enough, the perfect pumpkin caught my eye again. This time I carved the pumpkin and enjoyed the creative day with a sweet friend.
What designs did you choose this year?
Happy Carving
you’re so cute. i love all your descriptive words :) that pumpkin is unbelievable!
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