This site talks a lot about wood carving. But this Halloween, there was another kind going on: pumpkin carving with grandchildren.
How the two are alike
Both kinds of carving have their pleasures. Some pleasures they have in common. One is the delight in seeing a design come out as one would want. Another is sharing the results with others. We posted our Halloween carvings on Instagram.
And how they differ
But carving with grandchildren has pleasures for me that carving alone in wood does not. First, we have to go choose pumpkins, a creative act in itself. “This is a good one! Has a flat side for a face!” “Here’s one that is just my size.” “I like this one. It’s got colors.” This year we saw knobbly pumpkins for the first time and we all liked those.
Then there is hearing the kids imagine what their pumpkins should become. A short drive home offered time for maybe a couple dozen ideas. But by the time we got back, the decisions were made.
Now for the carving. The pleasure here was watching the older granddaughter carve with skill and care for her two younger siblings. A horsehead and a Superman logo. For herself, a Star Wars theme (cover photo above). The joy I had in watching her work is hard to express.
And then there is the pleasure of being among happy children having a good time and working together toward a goal. The smaller children carried paper towels to the carver and to my wife who was laboriously separating out the seeds for roasting. They helped a bit with getting the seeds. They carried pumpkins to and fro. And they expertly oversaw and critiqued my work on the Face Jug pumpkin.
Carving in my studio is a great pleasure to me, don’t get me wrong. But this pumpkin carving might have been an even greater.
