Jack Is Back!

Frodov · Oct 31, 2008

At the insistence of my better half, we got a real pumpkin this year. For the past few years, whether to avoid the mess or simply for lack of time, planning, or desire, we forego'd the real pumpkin ordeal in favor of a lighted "Plastic" pumpkin for our Halloween decorations. This year, however, while at the local orchard getting fresh apples and pears, we got a fair sized REAL pumpkin. "We" picked it out. I packed it to the car and then into the house, where it sat for a couple of weeks. Last night "We" (meaning *I*) carved it. My wife had bought one of those little pumpkin carving kits complete with the rinky dink saw/knifes a scraper, a drill and a set of generic patterns. Some of the patterns would be difficult for even an experienced and steady hand to carve. Very Very intricate and fine cutting involved. Nuh UH! I went with my own design.. someone generic, but original all the same. I first drew the design lightly on the pumpkin surface free hand until my wife liked the design. I then outlined the design with a carving tool (Not the cheapy little kit that my wife purchased (bless her heart) but rather an X-acto carving kit tool that I have left over from many years of model building in my ancient past. Then, as the artists and sculptors say, I uncovered the work.. removed the stuff that was covering up what was supposed to be. <grin> (Oh.. I left out the bit where I crowned our pumpkin and let my wife gut it before we began the carving process.. she was thrilled.) "How come I get the icky part?" <grin>
I would just as soon have let her carve her own pumpkin, but she wanted me to do it. So, I did. Here's the results. I took the pictures in the dark with the "pumpkin" light on inside of our Jack-o-lantern. The light is pretty cool, LED the size of a "stick up" light but it changes colors. That purchase was also made by my wife.. Cool!. <grin>

.... Ok.. so it's not the scariest pumpkin that you've ever seen, wasn't supposed to be scary actually, and it's not the most intricate or unique pumpkin you can find.. but it is original and it's "REAL" as my wife proclaims.
Happy Halloween Everyone!

Frodov

PBK · Oct 31, 2008

Cynangyl · Oct 31, 2008

I love it!! Real pumpkins are always far better in my opinion even with all the yucky that comes with it! lol You did a mighty fine job...he looks great!

wesfrye53 · Oct 31, 2008

Nice Punkin Fro!

gilmerman · Oct 31, 2008

What a change from the old days. Two eyes and a snaggled tooth mouth, with a candel in it.

cival war hunter 2 ! · Oct 31, 2008

heres a vid. 8)

Blacksheep · Nov 1, 2008

Great pic, just walked outside and wonder of wonders, our pumpkins are not smashed all over the street!

Frodov · Nov 9, 2008

Alas.. poor Jack is failing fast. Just a little over a week since his reemergence into this world and already he looks as if the grave (compost heap) is whispering his name. That's kind of scary since there are many a morning of late that I feel EXACTLY the way he's looking now... <shudder> Here's a few pics of him.. both before and after.. or before and NOW I should say.