happy halloween!
Today, you are just in time to join us in making our first ever Jack-O-Lantern! … First, you will need a very long ladder…
…so you can explore the pumpkin from each & every angle…it is so beautifully orange, chubby, & lovely in every way!
Then, cut off the top of the pumpkin. A small serrated knife works well, then we finished off the cuts a bit with a sharp, non-serrated knife.
You can cut the top off in a zig-zag pattern…or just straight around…
Then scoop out the seeds…& save them for making a roasted pumpkin seed snack later on!
Clean out the pumpkin very well with a large spoon with a sharpish edge, so the little bits of pulp won’t burn when the candle is inside…then go inside & just enjoy your handiwork!
Luckily enough, our friends Tabasco & Little T came by at this point, just in the nick of time,with this handy little pumpkin-carving knife…Tabasco told me she got it many years ago at the drugstore, in one of those pumkin carving kits they sell, in amongst the Halloween candy & costumes…
First, we drew a simple design on the pumpkin with a marker, & then just carved it out using the little knife…then…we put one of those little tea light candles in the bottom of the pumpkin …
…and…so…here it is…our first ever rockin’ Jack-O-Lantern…
Happy Halloween!
love,
Clay Ball
For pumpkin seeds, just separate the seeds from the pulp using your hands–they should separate quite easily. Remove as much of the pulp as you can…
Spread the seeds out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Some like to sprinkle them with a few tablespoons of melted butter or oil, but it is not necessary. Sprinkle with salt (you can add other seasonings as well, to your liking)…
Roast at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes or until done…they should be dry & even start to have the slightest, pale yellow toasted color. Just try them to see if they taste ready to you!
No need to remove the husk–the whole pumpkin seed can be eaten!
Enjoy!
My dear Clay Ball!
The puzzle is solved!
I have seen these round strange orange balls everywhere lately on this planet and was wondering why ON EARTH they made so many of them and what they would build with them.
They use them to make stoves!
You sure made a beautiful one and I need to ask you where you got that handy staircase.
Be very careful, my dear Clay Ball, it does look a bit dangerous, especially for young Seala, who could easily fall in and hurt herself.
Also I was worried that LB might try to climb up those large stairs, but it seems like you have removed them after you light your brandnew stove.
I can hardly wait for my space kayak to be fixed so I will be able to come and visit you again and see you all and to admire your beautiful new stove.
Gw*u*ess, *ds’La*ebe* *is*cht* *in*teres* *sant” *mi*s* *La*ett* *Bae*l*leli*!
A twirly Hug and endless Hugs
from your
Mom
P.S.
Who is Halloween?
Why is he/she happy and have I met her/him when I visited you on my last trip to the big planet?
I keep reading this interesting report over and over again and will ask one more question:
Why is this absolutely beautiful stove called JACK-O-LANTERN?
Hmmm… it does look like a lantern, doesn’t it?
Many twirly Hugs again,
Mom
Hello my dear Mom Ball :)
Thank you for reading & commenting here! :)
Please don’t worry about LB & Seala…they’ve inherited your agility & balance, thank goodness…they say it skips a generation!
Halloween is a kind of ancient holiday here it seems…
…but from what I gather, nowadays it involves mostly children dressing up in costumes & going from house to house to receive candies from their neighbors!
This jack-o-lantern is a kind of lanterny decoration to put outside the home on Halloween night…most of the other days, the pumpkin is a delicious vegetable to eat or to put into pies, but on Halloween, pumkins are made into a decorative lantern as you see above!
What is wrong with your space kayak? I’ve been finding this atmosphere wears our kayaks down a bit faster than usual–does yours need some refurbishing, too?
((((hugs))))
love,
Clay Ball
Hello there, Did you have a happy haloween?
Yes, thanks Denzel! I hope you did, too! :)
love,
Clay Ball