Pumpkin Carving 2009

After eleventh hour gourd procurement last year, this year my local grocer friend, Andrés, who regularly visits farmers markets to buy fruit and vegetables, had his eye out for the perfect pumpkin for me to carve. And sure enough, he came through with the perfectly shaped pumpkin. Last night I carved it into a jack-o-lantern. I'm glad to be giving a little momentum to this tradition because it's going to be a lot more fun in the coming years when Nora can understand and participate. Following the should've-been-award-winning success of our clay keepsake craft videos, it seemed like a good idea to film the pumpkin carving.

As always, I recommend that you click through to see it in HD.

I was surprised this year at just how much of a lantern my jack-o-lantern turned out to be. With the lights out, and a single candle lit inside, the entire pumpkin glows ominously. Very cool.

The obligatory with-flash shot. The design was inspired by Nora's current dental layout.

I'd say that's scary enough.

See how the whole thing glows?

This is my favorite shot, I think. The only light in the photograph is coming from the candle inside the pumpkin.

[puts flashlight under chin]

Nora begged us to cut a hole in the bottom and let her wear it as her Halloween costume this year. But when we put it over her head, her head seemed to vanish completely leaving only an empty gourd upon her shoulders! Bwahahahaha!!!

Happy Halloween!

Just like last year, as thanks to Andrés and for my work to be seen, I've left the jack-o-lantern with the local grocery store all day today. Gracias, Andrés!