Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A Halloween Moment


It is the last day of BlogFest 2012, and what a journey it has been!!  Today’s host is Angela Tjong from Journey of Life.  Today she challenged me to describe one moment in my life.

     The kids arrived home from school.  Besides homework, there was only one other thing on the agenda.  With Halloween the next day, the time had finally arrived to carve the pumpkins.  We searched the internet for free carving patterns and the kids decided which design they wanted.   After much deliberation both kids picked free designs from the Pumpkin Masters website, and I printed out the patterns.  I had saved all the pumpkin carving tools from previous years, and my daughter and I were on a mission to find them.  They had been washed and stored in a drawer since last year.  Sure enough, that is where we found them scattered between two different drawers.  The only thing I didn’t find was the tool that is used to poke holes in the pumpkin and transfer the pattern.  Being the resourceful type I grabbed a knitting needle, and we were ready to get the party started.

        I took great pleasure in using my largest butcher knife to attack the pumpkin and make a lid.  Then it was up to the kids to dig out the pumpkin guts and sort out the seeds for later.  I began the tradition of saving the pumpkin seeds and baking them for an after trick or treat snack.   Carefully and painstakingly my daughter and I took turns poking holes to transfer the patterns we had chosen and printed out.  When all the slimy guts had been disposed of and every last seed had been placed in a paper towel strainer to dry, I preceded to tackle the tedious job of carving.  While I had first assumed the designs they had chosen looked fairly easy, I soon discovered they were a lot harder than they first appeared, tedious, and time consuming.  I was tired and hungry and ready to be done with the entire project, but I persevered.  For the first time ever, I dreaded carving the second pumpkin after the first was finished and thanked sunny Je$us I hadn‘t had more than 2 kids.

          My son soon abandoned the project to watch TV.  Only my daughter stayed and started supper per my instructions.  By the time the last pumpkin was ready for the front porch, supper was well on the way to being done.  Thank G0d for that sweet girl of mine!  My son chose a “grim reaper” pattern, and my daughter chose “Icabod’s Fate”.  For the life of me I couldn’t see the grim reaper when I looked at my son’s pumpkin.  It depressed the hell out of me.  After the pumpkins were carved and the battery operated tea lights were placed inside, we donned winter coats and gloves and ventured out into the night to see how I did.  It wasn’t until I was standing in the cold night air in a freezing drizzle that the grim reaper appeared to me.  Then I was amazed and felt redeemed in my skills as a pumpkin carver!  I had done well after all!  The glowing tea lights brought the pumpkins to life.

           I have carved pumpkins for my children since their very first Halloween.  It didn’t matter that the first Halloween’s found them lying in a bouncy seat on the kitchen table, they were still there and accounted for.  Over the years they have participated more and more in this yearly ritual.  Although I was tired and hungry last night, I persevered because this moment would be one we would all store away among the most precious memories of the journey through our lives.  The laughter and chatter would fade, but the memories would remain.  It would be one we would each take out, dust off, and remember each future Halloween as we carved even more pumpkins.  After all, it’s tradition until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.




14 comments:

  1. Corinne said :
    You are making wonderful memories for your children!

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    1. Corinne, I have always tried to make traditions that my kids will carry on when I am gone. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  2. Angela @ Journey of Life said:
    I totally agree with you Cathy. Each moment is a memory that we would treasure for a lifetime. I am so happy to get a peek of your Halloween moment with your kids. As I said before, you are a fine mother and your kids are very lucky to have you. At the same time, I am so happy you have boarded on this 'Journey of Life' and shared that 'one moment of your life' with us. Take care, Journey of Life

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    1. Angela, you are so kind! I think every mommy does the very best they can. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  3. Jenn@ Wine-n-Chat said:
    What a fun moment to share :) I think that is a wonderful tradition!! I hate the chore of cleaning out pumpkins...my oldest son usually helps the younger kids. I just get to bake those seeds :) Cheers, Jenn

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    1. Jenn, I get to do it all! UGH! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!♥

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  4. Loki Lou said:
    Well I love the pumpkins! :) And I think it's a brilliant idea to create pumpkins as a regular Halloween tradition with the kids! I meant to get a pumpkin this year but life has kinda been a bit strange...and I forgot! Oops. Next year maybe.

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    1. Loki Lou, definitely next year!! I have always had a pumpkin. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  5. JoJo said:

    I love the pumpkin masters designs and tools. I have made the really tedious ones and the easy ones too. I haven't carved a pumpkin in years. I meant to get one for the seeds but kept forgetting. Oh well. Have a great Halloween!

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    1. JoJo, I do too. We did have a great Halloween and I hope you did too. I am finally getting around to baking the seeds tonight (the day after!). I was out with the kids in the cold and rain trick or treating last night. UGH!! Oh well, free candy!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  6. Great pumpkins! I bought a pumpkin this year, but never got aroudn to carving it. maybe next year!

    www.livelafelove.com

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    1. AKL, definitely have to make a point of it next year. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  7. Halloween isn't celebrated widely in New Zealand, but I was in NY about 5 years ago at Halloween and remember the pumpkins. Moments shared with children are the best.

    one moment of my life

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    1. Suzy, well said. Children look at the world with such happiness and wonder. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!!

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