Mama Diaries

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Nick-O-Lantern

My kids insisted on getting pumpkins to carve for Halloween. Three of them. Guess what? All three are still sitting in front of my house perfectly whole. Not a mark on them.  This doesn't surprise me. Yours truly has always been the official pumpkin carver.  And yours truly was too busy to do any carving this year.

"What are we going to do with these pumpkins?" I asked.

My son, Bubba scratched his head. "I can take them in the back by the creek. There's a patch of land and maybe if we dump them there, they'll turn into a pumpkin patch."

Not a bad idea.

"When are you going to do this?"

He shrugged.

Translation:  Whenever he gets around to it. Probably by next Halloween.

So, I came up with another idea. "How about we carve them for Christmas? We can make snowflakes or Christmas tree cut outs."

Bubba grinned. "Or we can carve faces on them and call them  'Nick-O-Lanterns!'"

(For St. Nicholas, in case you didn't get that.)

Before I go, I'd like to thank all who were part of my month-long blog tour for Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China: Those who hosted me, those who visited, those who shared. I really appreciate all the help in getting the word out!

Congratulations to Yolanda Renee, Danielle Hammelef, Christine Rains, Meredith Miller, and Michelle Wallace who were the winners of my giveaway.

My book is part of the SCBWI book promotion. To visit its page go here. Any comments or likes (or shares) would be appreciated!


 Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. This month's IWSG question is, "How has your creative process changed through the years?"

Uh. I dunno. I think I'm still creative as I have always been. But I think it's tempered by technique considerations. I'm more careful about word choices and making sure that my characters are reacting in an emotional way that is consistent with whatever circumstance they are in. I'd say I'm a little more right-brained these days. Not just spewing out words on paper.

34 comments:

  1. Whole pumpkins are the perfect decor for November. And then there's always those pumpkin hurling contests ;)

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  2. There you go. Maybe you'll start a new trend.

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  3. My parents paint a pumpkin for Halloween that eventually gets a Pilgrim hat and then finally a Santa hat. So why not?

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    1. That's cool! Probably easier to do that than carve the pumpkin.

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  4. Wonderful story Sherry, always enjoyable to read about your family.

    Yvonne.

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  5. and paint them white or silver like snow!

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  6. I always feel a wee bit funny about front-door pumpkins that don't end up as food... I must have a true pilgrim hidden inside me.
    As to my creative process, the changes are similar to yours. I no longer run without a leash, which means I'm mindful of publishing industry standards and conventions. I almost wish I could shed those sometimes, but years of working have formed these grooves.

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    1. I'm glad I'm more careful. It makes my work better.

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  7. Bubba's Nick-O-Lantern idea is great! I'm not surprised you didn't have time to carve pumpkins this year, you've been a productive authoring gal. Proud of you, Sherry. Keep up the great work!

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    1. Thanks, Tracy! Yes, I kind of feel like a hamster running on a wheel. So busy from the time I get up until the time I go to bed!

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  8. Nick O Lantern! LOL! Very cute! I like! Congrats with the success of your book Sherry! You deserve it! Big Hugs!

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    1. Those pumpkins are still sitting there. If they haven't rotted by Christmas, I think we'll make them Nick-O-Lanterns.

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  10. Bet you had lots of fun on Halloween, Sherry! xoxo

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    1. Actually, I worked. And we didn't have too many kids in the neighbor. My daughter didn't go out, but my son did. He had fun.

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  11. Loving the idea of Nick-O-Lanterns, its certainly different.

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  12. The Nick-O-Lantern idea is a good one. :) If anyone at your house likes pumpkin soup you can make that (and freeze some). I have also seen cute pumpkin centerpieces with flowers in them used for Thanksgiving. Good luck!
    ~Jess

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    1. Pumpkin soup sounds good, but I'm wondering if it's even more work than carving the pumpkins!

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  13. Congrats on your book! I love nick-o-lanterns. I didn't carve any pumpkins for Halloween, so why not Christmas?

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  14. Bet those pumpkins were overjoyed to avoid being carved this past October, LOL. Nick-O-Lanterns for the holidays sounds like a fun idea! (Sorry, pumpkins!)

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    1. Now I have to decide if they'll be scary like Nightmare Before Christmas, or sweet. :)

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  15. Sounds like a fun idea to use it for Christmas now!

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  16. That's a great pumpkin conversation! Too funny. Our pumpkins didn't get carved this year, either. My kids are older and no one is interested.

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    1. Even though my kids are older, they still wanted to carve them. I thought they'd do it themselves. Apparently it's too much of an effort!

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  17. You'll have to post nick-o-lantern photos!

    www.thepulpitandthepen.com

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    1. If the pumpkins last that long, I'll carve them and show pics.

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