Re: Carving Party !!!!
Precious!!!!
George Webster wrote:
> Last night I attended (and participated in)
> Dan Shapiro's 29th Annual Pumpkin Carving
> Party. For several years I have heard rumors
> and stories about this legendary event.
>
> It was already quite dark (at 6 p.m.) when I
> arrived at Dan's home, "Termite Manor"
> (as Dan calls it).
> There were already several carved pumpkins
> glowing under the monstrous oak tree on his
> front lawn. I was greeted at the front gate by
> a "cave-like" canopy that extended to the
> front door.........which looked like the entrance
> to Herman Munster's........with the added
> attraction of Dan's 508 lb. pumpkin (his
> personal best).
> As I entered the front door, bagpipe music
> was playing.....(yes, it was bagpipes......I don't
> know what bagpipe music has to do with
> Halloween, but it seemed appropriate at
> the time).
> When I entered Dan's livingroom I could hardly
> believe my eyes.......in the center of the room
> was a "mountain of pumpkins" that was
> 15 or 20 feet wide and 2 or 3 feet high. There
> were fat pumpkins, flat pumpkins, round pumpkins, ugly pumpkins and tall
> pumpkins.
> There were big pumpkins and small pumpkins.
> There were orange ones, yellow ones and
> white ones. Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere !
> There were about a dozen people (young and old) climbing over the
> pumpkins trying to find
> the perfect one to carve.
> Soon I was also climbing this "tower of cucurbits".......I found a nice
> tall orange one
> .....about 95"ott......(23 lbs. on the chart but
> it felt like it weighed heavy when it landed on
> top of me when I slipped and fell off the
> pumpkin heap).
> As I sat amongst these gourds whittling away
> with my trusty little pocket knife I couldn't help
> but notice that carver on my right was using
> an electric drill, an industrial strength model,
> with attachments that would make my dentist
> envious.
> To my left was a maniac using a jig saw.
> I still haven't figured out why he was wearing
> surgical gloves !
> If you are thinking that this must be messy
> inside the house.......you are correct....it is.
> As protection Dan removes the furniture and
> covers the living room, hall and back room
> (yes, they are carving back there too) with
> plastic......which he also runs 2 feet up the wall.
>
> The highlight of the evening came at 8 p.m.
> when Dan cut open his 508 pounder with
> a "saws-all"..........when he cut the top off
> all the small kids dove inside for the seeds.
> It was quite exciting........boy did those kids
> get messed up with pumpkin goop.
>
> All the carved pumpkins were put out front
> under the big old oak tree and lit up. There
> must have been 60 or 70 of them. There
> were also witches' brew pots among the
> pumpkins that were "steaming" with dry ice
> in water. The visual effect was amazing.
>
> Next year when I go back I'm leaving my
> pocket knife at home......I'm bringing a
> chain saw with me !!!
>
> HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL !!!!!
> George Webster
> Napa, Ca
>
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