Last night, Katie set up the dining room table for pumpkin painting and carving. She had grown a couple of pumpkins in her garden. Massive pumpkin vines yielded lots of blossoms but just two pumpkins. Henry had the happy task of painting those two pumpkins, the larger one for him and the smaller one for baby Peter. We poured little puddles of paint on a paper plate. Henry was in an artist's smock, and went to town like a little Jackson Pollock! He kept asking for "more" paint, and was an intent little artist, quite pleased with his results. Katie and Bill carved their purchased pumpkins. Bill's is very creative, a 3-D pumpkin sculpture with eyebrows and a funny nose. Katie carved a large monogram "H" for "Hofmann" on hers, to sit at the end of their split-rail fence on a bale of hay, greeting anyone who comes up the long driveway. Along the top of the fence, she's strung little orange lights. If you are wondering about my role during all this creative expression, it was to hold little Peter, who slept quietly in my arms while the artists were at work.
When the painting and carving were done, the pumpkins were lit with tea lights and placed on the front steps. We turned the porch light off and went outside (it was a beautifully warm night) and spent a few minutes admiring the illuminated creations. Henry was up on Bill's shoulders, in awe of the jack-o-lanterns and also of the beautiful night. Trees were swaying in the night breeze, and fallen leaves were swirling about. It was a peaceful, lovely moment with a growing, young family, and I thought, "I want to remember this."
Halloween postcard image: http://www.autumnswitchery.byethost6.com/images/jackolantern.jpg
