Pumpkin Carving!

Hey guys! Next weekend is Halloween! I'm so excited. This weekend I thought it was high time I carve a pumpkin of my own. It's important to time the carving of your pumpkin just right--you want to have enough time to enjoy it, but you don't want it to get icky before Halloween night.

First things first, I had to slice off the top. 

This is one of my favorite steps in the carving process. It's exciting to see what the inside of the pumpkin looks like!

After the top is all the way off, I slice off the guts that are attached. I don't want them dangling down into the candle when I put the top back on.

This is also one of my favorite parts! I love sticking my hands into a pumpkin full of guts and seeds. 

I clasped my fingers around a big chunk and tried to wrench it out. Pumpkin guts are so slippery, though, it was hard to get a good grip. 

After some futile attempts with my fingers, I decided to resort to using the big spoon to scoop out the insides.

Finally, every seed and piece of squishy mush was out! And boy, was I glad--after a while, pumpkin makes my hands kind of itchy. I couldn't wait to rinse them off!

I rolled the pumpkin onto its side and prepared to sketch my design. I put the top back on so I could gauge the best place to draw the face.

I uncapped the Sharpie and held the pumpkin steady while I drew my design.

This is how it ended up! I messed up a little on the teeth (I didn't mean to color them in!) but I just made extra-sure to be careful and to cut around them instead of through them.

Carefully, I poked my knife through and began cutting the triangle.

One down, one to go!

Here's my completed pumpkin! I was able to rub off most of the Sharpie I accidentally put on the teeth.

I love to carve pumpkins. I always wish I had more than one! Some years I have, but I always forget how much work it is to do just one. I can't wait for Halloween! I'm a little panicked, though--I still can't decide what I want to be! Right now I'm thinking bag of jelly beans, tiger, or Raggedy Ann. I think I'm leaning towards Raggedy Ann, though! What do you think? Do you have any suggestions? What's your favorite part about Halloween? I'd love to know!

This has been Dani, dabbling in gutting pumpkins. Over and out!