It Is All About the Great Pumpkin Search

I enjoy seeing the children of all ages dressed up in their favorite costumes. This is the only time we can all be a little crazy and not get into too much trouble. I think the best part of Halloween is being able to go to the pumpkin patch to get the pumpkin, fresh apple cider and the only time of the year you can get a nutty caramel apple..There are even places that have specialty wines available only at this time of year.

Once Labor Day is officially gone, the fall equinox gets closer, and the day seems even shorter. Getting up in the early morning, the air is chilly, damp and fog has engulfed the many corn fields. The harvest moon has an aurora for all to see, the maple trees have began to change to bright yellow, chrisom red, and orange colors. Since my children are young adults now they don’t go with me but that’s ok. I still find time to make a trip to the pumpkin patch by myself to search for that one special pumpkin that will sit out on my front porch.

I usually try to go sometime in mid October during the late morning hour’s right before the elementary children get out of school. I want to be able to browse through the new fall and Halloween decorations.I might try a taste of a new candy or go to the snack bar to order a hot apple cider.Then I will return to the outside to begin looking at all shapes, sizes, and sometimes even the ghostly white pumpkin.I will aimlessly walk down rows, rows, and rows of pumpkins. There are funny and scary signs posted along the pathways. I am searching fora semi-round orange pumpkin that is less than ten pounds in weight.

I pick up one to see if it will be my great pumpkin this year. I am still searching to find that great pumpkin.I will take my pumpkin home.I wash it with soap and water then let it dry for at least 24 hours.I will take a black permanent marker to draw a funny or scary face. I will then take an old knife and cut the face out one piece at a time.If you have a old patio table place some old newspapers on it, this will allow clean up to be easier later.

I usually cut out the pumpkin outside.Scooping out the seeds and pumpkin guts at least that is what my children used to call them. Once the face is cut out and all the insides are gone, a small tea light candle is placed inside for the eerie face to come alive on my jack-o-lantern. The old favorite comes on the television it's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I still watch it because it brings back the happy memories of my children but also of my childhood.

The magic and suspense of goblins, witches, princesses, vampires and zombies soon will be knocking at your door just wait.