Category: pumpkins

A new direction for 2010.

Well, we were planning for 2010 to be the unveiling of the whole spider woman theme. However, as the year has progressed and things have been delayed, damaged, and destroyed that has become increasingly impossible.

So, we have circled the wagons, taking in what I do have up and ready to go, and are heading in another direction.

Still not wanting to repeat the witch doctor from past years (which would also be easy), and motivated by some folks who claim that fall/harvest decorations are by definition boring…I present the theme for 2010.

And, the first in a series of test subjects has been sacrificed. Those of us who have been around this Halloween stuff for a while will recognize where this is going, as I have seen this done with fake pumpkins before…to my knowledge this is the first trying a real pumpkin. I needed to see if the small EMT would hold it, and see how well the whole idea works with real pumpkins. (I don’t have room to store fakes)

From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup

I was not completely thrilled with the initial carve, and was questioning the whole idea of using real pumpkins, or wondering if a differing shape or bifurcating them horizontally instead of vertically would help…but a pleasant surprise awaited me a few days later as they dried out. They gained considerable character.

From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup

Question becomes, how far in advance do they need to be carved?

Published
Categorized as pumpkins

Looking for a knife.

A part of my crazy plan for the year is featuring a massive departure from the previous years, and shifting to a more traditional (well, as traditional as I get) Halloween display.

And, I want Pumpkins.

Lots of them.

And, given that my wrists tend to cramp up after a few…I need to enlist aid in carving them. And hope to, from all age groups.

That means I need to find a means safe for the little ones to carve. And, I have what I personally consider the best pumpkin knife ever.

From An UnOrthOdOx Halloween

Yes, that’s actually rust on the blade. Bought YEARS ago, I thought it was rather silly at first. But, years of use later, letting my own kids use this thing, I’ve come to regard it as the sing best pumpkin knife ever made. So dull it makes a butter knife look sharp, thus safe for children, yet it hacks apart pumpkins with ease and precision. Sturdy, unlike the present little saw doodads that come in the silly carving kits, so it doesn’t bend at the slightest pressure…

I simply must have more.

Anyone have any ideas where I might obtain them?

Published
Categorized as pumpkins

Product Review – Floralyte Submersible LED

I needed a means to light all our pumpkins on stakes. One without wires, yet one bright enough to be seen over the lighting we were to have in place.

Enter the Floralyte LEDs.

We bought a dozen red, and a dozen white.

First of all, the good:

These things are BRIGHT! Especially the white. Easily like having a little maglight. Quite impressive for such a little package.

They did their job admirably.

From Halloween buildup 09

However, some things I did not like:

The on/off is a matter of screwing and unscrewing the base. And, it’s quite touchy. I had difficulty in getting them OFF, unless completely seperated. Others I had difficulty getting them to light. Of the 24, I had to do some creative repair on one due to bouncing around seperated bending a contact.

I have not tested the water-tightness of the things, but it looks dubious at best. I’m sure MOST of them would light and be submersible fine. I’m doubtfull ALL of them would.

Still, for our use here, I’ld highly reccomend the floralyte. For submersible operations, I’ld be sure to buy a couple extra.

And, you might have noticed, we’ve begun the Christmas conversion for the next months. Fret not, your regularly scheduled Halloween stuff will be back swiftly.

Progress so far.

Ah, nice, quiet Sunday morning…

From Halloween buildup 09
From Halloween buildup 09

By Monday’s end…

From Halloween buildup 09

Kyle’s responsible for the scarecrows this year. The last two years, they have gone rather unnoticed along the side of the house. It makes me happy to see them getting center stage again.

From Halloween buildup 09
From Halloween buildup 09
From Halloween buildup 09

Of course, Fred is always anxious to get into the role.

From Halloween buildup 09

Teusday morning saw snow. There is something eerily macabre about it…

From Halloween buildup 09
From Halloween buildup 09

As it melted, I took advantage of the blessing, and was able to drive in all our stakes in the softened ground without aggravating my wrist injury.

Oh, and that grass?

It’s formed a little blind for Kyle to hide in. The stuff is GREAT, drives in just like bamboo.

From Halloween buildup 09

Kyle’s hut, torches…

From Halloween buildup 09

Hundreds of stakes across the back yard for the tzompantli.

From Halloween buildup 09

The Pumpkin Carve-O-Meter is sitting at 8/18 at the moment…(what was I thinking…18???)

From Halloween buildup 09

Currently up and pacing, as we are getting buffetted by some substantial wind gusts…but, the only thing that seems it might suffer right now is the flag.