Pumpkin Carving

On Monday, while I was at the grocery store (getting a few emergency items in case we lost power because of hurricane Sandy, which thankfully did not happen) I noticed that the pumpkins had been marked down super cheap. I only bought one pumpkin thinking we could carve it together. Besides, I didn't think Paul was real big on carving pumpkins (note from Paul: I'm not) and I was in a hurry to get home. The temperature outside had dropped below freezing and the howling wind was sending the snow flurries sideways. When I got home Paul saw the pumpkin and excitedly told me about a fly fishing pumpkin carving contest he wanted to enter. Perfect, just what I wanted to carve into our pumpkin, a fish.

Before we started carving the next night, I asked Paul if he was serious about this contest. If so I'd probably prefer to have my own pumpkin. He was serious. If he won he would get a free Redington rod and reel of his choice valued at $200! Nothing like free fly fishing gear to get him motivated. So we headed back to the grocery store to get another pumpkin. They were completely sold out! I could not believe my eyes. The cute stacks of hay that had barely been noticeable under all the pumpkins yesterday now lay bare. I guess I'm not the only one who acts when they see a good deal. We went to two other places close by. The first one was closed and the other didn't have any pumpkins. Paul said I could help him out with his, so generous.

Paul makes the first cut.
He just killed the pumpkin. 

The fish picture on the table is what we were going for.

I must admit I was very impressed with the end result.
I had no idea he was so artistic. 

I put on the finishing touches by poking a hole for the eye.

Here are pictures of few other things we did during this Halloween/Fall season. I absolutely love making these cupcakes for Halloween. I got the recipe in a magazine from my Grandma Anderson a few years ago and I have made them every year since. We took them to our ward Trunk-Or-Treat.

  

Spider Web Cupcakes

Topped with spider rings.

I made this at our ward Super Saturday a few weeks ago.

It is nice to have at least one decoration in our home :)

P.S. Paul did not win his fly fishing pumpkin carving contest. Although we thought he should have.

    * Paul would also like me to note that there are no pumpkin carving fish patterns on the internet. 

       He put a lot of hard work into his pumpkin & is very proud of how it turned out.