Monday, October 28, 2024
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Memories Of Halloweens Past
The next entry in this fun blog series is really something special. It comes from MikeC(jasonv123), and I'm really grateful that he shared this one with us.
"I’ve been meaning to write my submission for Memories of Halloweens Past, and after last night's events I just had to write this up. Years ago, when I was young, we would go out trick or treating, and I was typically a vampire in those days. After my parents took me out trick or treating, we would stop by my grandmother’s house as my last stop. She always had these old vintage pumpkin lanterns along with ceramic jack o lanterns that she would decorate with. She would always give me a zip lock bag with candy and a few dollars in it. What I wouldn't give to go back in time and see her and her decorations one more time! Years ago, you posted the same pumpkin lantern she had and after some research on eBay I found one for 40 bucks. After my grandmother had passed away some years back, we couldn’t find her Halloween decorations. Well, last night, we went to a Halloween party of my mother’s friend Helen. Her parents and my grandparents were best friends. After some time checking out Helen’s Halloween ornaments and decorations, I noticed a small skull lantern like my pumpkin lantern. I picked it up and was checking it out when she walked up and said, 'That was your grandmother Martha’s.' I started to tear up and I was thinking of something to say. She said, 'It’s yours now.' I immediately cried! I thanked her over and over. After we got home, I took the old batteries out that have pretty much destroyed the internals, but that’s OK - I’ve got a small flicker led tea light powering it now."
Thanks, Mike! This was great to read on the week of Halloween! Thanks so much for sharing!
For anyone interested in submitting, you can email me at pumpkinrot @ gmail . com (remove the spaces, of course!)
Friday, October 25, 2024
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
The Annual Pumpkin Carving Party
Our cool neighbors invited us to something they've been attending for over fifteen years - The Annual Pumpkin Carving Party. It was located about an hour from here in a beautiful part of this state, with rolling hills and massive streams. The house was located in a wooded area next to a large pond with a rowboat. There were rows of tables with all the supplies you needed to carve your pumpkins. And there was food and drink... loads of snacks, cider, beer, and soda.
The family takes Halloween very seriously. And they've been hosting this party since 1982. Old School decor hangs everywhere outside and inside their beautiful home. You carve your pumpkins and then place them in a long row at the back of the property. Then they're judged as everyone stands laughing and applauding. Every orange beauty receives an award, in a made-up-on-the-spot category. "Best Fanged Pumpkin!" "Most Lumpy Skinned Pumpkin!" "Best Pumpkin With A Tongue!" And everyone receives a tiny prize wrapped in Halloween tissue paper. We cheered with each announcement. For each winner.
After the prizes were given out, dinner was served. Wonderful piles of the most amazing food. Ichabod Crane would have fainted. Plates of meats and pastas and vegetables and salads of every variety. It was matched only by the dessert spread... which included a number of delicious homemade pumpkin pies.
At the end of the evening, each guest removes their glowing lantern from Winner's Row and takes it home with them. We got home and placed ours on the porch with fresh candles inside, so they'd last through the night.
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| These four were ours |
Monday, October 21, 2024
Monsterville, New Jersey
Merchantville, New Jersey, is known for such things as its Victorian homes and nature trails. However, in recent years, it's also become "Monsterville" every October, a tradition that is continuing this year.
The temporary name change is not a Halloween prank. Monsterville began in 2015 as a campaign from a group of residents led by Councilperson Anthony Perno to further promote its love for the celebration.
And an adopted ordinance made the moniker official.
We drove to Monsterville on Sunday night after dinner at a favorite pizza joint nearby. It's similar to the Halloween heaven that is Lambertville, NJ, but it's much more spread out. So you have to drive to these colorful hotspots that suddenly appear down a shadowy block. Growing up in Merchantville during the Halloween season must be insane.
Here are some photos Jenna snapped...
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