The recent tradition of carving pumpkins in the Ayres household (as opposed to the previous tradition of carving turnips, which destroys the muscles and tendons in the hands and wrists) has now moved to a new level.
This year my 15 year old son, Rogan, decided he’d like to give it a go.
So this morning, the two of us coated the kitchen in seeds, skin and mulch as we attacked the huge orange vegetables (2 for £3 special offer at the local supermarket) with knives and spoons.
Rogan came up with his own design, and I gave him enough guidance for him to avoid severing his fingers.
I think it came close to being one of those father-son bonding moments.
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The pumpkins look fantastic, glad to see neither of you lost any fingers in the process, have a fun halloween.
ReplyDeleteThey're amazing lit up!
ReplyDeleteAnd to be honest, the one sinking his teeth into the other...reminds me of political season. At least it'll all be over but the crying on Nov. 2nd. :)
I remember many a kitchen spoon being bent while trying to carve the middle out of a turnip. I have to give it to the american s this time, the pumpkin is a distinct improvement all round.
ReplyDeleteTurnips? Really? I had no idea you carved them... They are so.... hard.
ReplyDeletePumpkin carving is such fun! And roasting the seeds afterwards for a tasty snack is one of the perks.
Your and Rogan's pumpkins are quite fabulous!
They are both great! I carved just boring faces, but I did carve a swede (aka rutabaga not Swedish person) along with my pumpkin (50 cent a kg).
ReplyDeleteWe just finished watching Sweeney Todd and the parking lot across the street is full of horizontal missiles, I mean fireworks. What a wonderful Halloween! :D
those are marvelous! well done, gentlemen! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! They look absolutely brilliant, especially love the one with the apple! Oh to be so creative...
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteYou and Rogan were very creative with the pumpkins!
Do children Trick or Treat in Scotland or is that strictly an American tradition?
Fabulous !
ReplyDeleteEspecially when they are lit-up.
Do you carve all vegetables or only turnips ?
One of my dogs was named Turnip so I had a giggle over your post.
cheers, parsnip
That was his first attempt?! Are you kidding? Some Halloween tricksters smashed our pumpkin. I'd like to smash them.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Is that word allowed?
ReplyDeleteAlan
The best I've seen yet. And the pumpkins were good too:)
ReplyDeleteTurnips? You must have been bonkers!
I love that your teenage son was involved.
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely brilliant. How original.
ReplyDeletePoppy - thank you :) Mind you, we didn't actually do anything else for Halloween beyond carve the pumpkins...
ReplyDeleteHope - amazingly, I'd forgotten all about the political stuff going on in the States - mainly because I rarely watch the news these days
Sandy - who needs Uri Geller when you have a turnip?
Ponita - I think the turnip carving comes from some kind of Presbytarian heritage - we're on this earth to suffer etc...
Aoife - at 50c a kg, your pumpkins are much cheaper than ours, but then the culture of pumpkin carving is still in its infancy here, so there aren't the same number of farms dedicated to growing them. It's clear my wife feels it's cheating using something softer than a turnip...
Savannah - thank you :)
Ruth - everyone's creative - you just have to allow yourself to be :)
Litzi - Trick or treat has become more poular in the UK with the massive imports of US culture, but traditionally in Scotland, "Guising" was the thing. But to get your treats you had to perform a poem or song or tell a joke. You couldn't just expect to turn up and get your candy
Parsnip - to be honest, I've not tried carving other vegetables. I daresay parsnips might be possible...
UB - mindless vandalism is always heart-breaking. I'd like to claim credit for Rogan's pumpkin via my superb teaching methods, but the truth is I did very little.
Alan - I don't see why not - I've always said I'm a complete sucker for flattery
Pat - thank you :) Do you have any tradition of vegetable carving (beyond roast dinners)?
Thrifty - underneath the testosterone surges accompanied by his growing up, he's great lad. I think they must have eased off these past few days as he's been his old, caring, thoughtful self lately.
Jacqui - thank you :)
I like the sense of fun in this year's pumpkin. If my memory serves me correctly last year's pumpkin was scarier.
ReplyDeleteAllen -I thought I'd try something more complex this year - the apple face inside the mouth - but although it was more challenging to create, truth be told, I think last year's did have more character :)
ReplyDeleteTalent and originality, obviously the pumpkin, er apple doesn't fall too far from the tree in your family. Nice job Rogan!
ReplyDeletevery good pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteThey looked great with the light through them.
Was this one of the preparatory attempts?
http://bit.ly/bGIfJP
Ron - :)
ReplyDeleteMichael - Rogan originally wanted to do one like that, but I said it would make too much mess on the mantelpiece
Whoa...now I'm glad I didn't take pictures. Yours are better than ours, and we sweated blood carving our pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteCoolest. Pumpkins. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI really miss the "normality" of being able to openly celebrate Halloween.
One more year to go... and then I move to the UK for good and get to carve my own pumpkin.
Where in the UK are you moving to?
ReplyDeleteHaven't sorted out that bit yet. :) But I'm at a point in my life where I want a permanent home base, and the UK is the only place in the world where I can see myself settling down. I would love Scotland, but I would also consider England or Wales if that's where the jobs are.
ReplyDeleteWell if you find yourself looking around SW Scotland, do pop in for a cuppa and I'll take your photo :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like that. :)
ReplyDelete