2006-10-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Traditions are an important part of growing up. The tradition of carving pumpkins is one of the ones that I carried over from my childhood to share with my own children. I can remember how excited I would get when it was time for my dad to carve our annual Jack-O-Lanterns. We would watch him intently as he worked his "masterpieces", offering all kinds of unsolicited and outrageous advice, the kind only children can give. As we got older, we were able to make our own "masterpieces". One thing that concerned me as an adult, however, was the waste. Carved pumpkins don't get eaten, or used, beyond that one day of the year. They shrivel, or rot, and the pumpkin ends up getting wasted. Another concern was the possibility of injury. Pumpkins are hard to cut and require a very sharp tool. So, as a mother, I adapted the tradition and started drawing faces on our pumpkins. This way, the pumpkins lasted until Thanksgiving, when I could cut them up and cook them, providing fresh pumpkin for my homemade pumpkin pies - and let me tell you - those pies taste so good!

Then I thought about another issue. Why should pumpkins only be used for Halloween? Wouldn't they make a really awesome decoration throughout the fall? They would be a real attention getter and conversation starter. Something out of the ordinary that the whole family could participate in.

I have seen some really awesome painted pumpkins over the years. These were pumpkins that made mine look pretty pitiful in comparison. Then I found a way to make professional looking painted pumpkins. There are no sharp knives or wasted pumpkin, and they are the best looking pumpkins around. Why don't you check this out? You might just find yourself in the middle of a brand new family tradition!

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Pumpkin Painting