TORRANCE TRIBUNE October 25, 2012 Page 7 TerriAnn in Torrance Pumpkin Cut-Up By TerriAnn Ferren said in her French accent was here visiting Halloween preparations are in full swing from France. She stayed at my house and in most households especially if you have we went trick-or-treating and she thought children. Pumpkins of every size, shape and that was the most amazing thing. And after color are available this time of year. Monday she went trick-or-treating with Talia her afternoon I was pushing my cart down the daughter we showed her how to give out supermarket aisle and saw a mountain of the candy. She had a great time! She had never seen anything like that,” said Nadia. I asked Nadia if she carved pumpkins with her Aunt Paulette but she said no. Can you imagine what fun that would have been? Nadia said that her aunt still lives in France and has fond memories of her first Halloween in Southern California. Some people go all out when they decorate their pumpkins. Last year, I went to a pumpkin decorating party and for the first time painted a pumpkin and put sparkles, beads, and stickers on it. I kept that pumpkin for months Austin Hand, age 1 year 8 months, and Aidan Hand, who will be 4 in November, feed the goats with Grandpa Fred looking on. afterwards because it was so pretty. But that of November, feed the animals. “I like how think it would be easier to carve something meant I didn’t carve it. Vickie Vega told me, the goats aren’t too aggressive,” commented softer – like a watermelon or something like “I have seen and was thinking about doing Grandma Catherine. I asked Austin and Aidan that. And I know each year around this time Dominique Pheiffer. this – you paint the pumpkin all black, then if they were going to carve pumpkins and pumpkins in the produce section and decided put a piece of lace around it. You can cut they said yes – but their grandmother told to pick up a few small ones – for decoration. out hearts and then spray over the lace with me she would do the carving. After careful perusing I chose three tiny orange white paint and when you take the lace off At the other end of the large red and white pumpkins and two larger multi-colored ones you have this pattern. Or you can glue the tent there is a burro ride and I saw a pretty to offset the arrangement. Most people are lace on! They are beautiful. You can use princess taking advantage of the short lines. buying the larger ones to carve. Standing in the checkout line I spotted Dominique Pheiffer who had chosen two beauties amid her purchases and I asked her what she was going to do with them. She told me she has two daughters Alex, age 11 and Cassie, age 9 and they will be in charge of carving the pumpkins. “They will sketch out a design The llama in the group. on a piece of paper and then they will lay people have not only pumpkin carving contests the paper on top using a pencil. We have all but contests to find the heaviest pumpkin. the pumpkin cutting tools - and then they Just this year I heard about a man from New will cut it themselves. My youngest will Hampshire who raised a pumpkin weighing take hers to school. They have a pumpkin over one ton! I can’t imagine what one would cutting contest,” said Dominique. She went do with all that pumpkin. I mean, just how on to say, “We cut them ‘the day of’ because many pies can one person eat? it is too hot and then we put them out on Whatever design or face you decide to carve the front porch and put a candle in them. or decorate your pumpkin with, have fun. The kids will get dressed and then they will Now I want to search out a larger pumpkin leave to go trick or treating with their dad.” to decorate. As far as my little pumpkins Dominique told me she even roasts the seeds that I picked up at the grocery, they will be after carving the pumpkin so nothing goes Carter Weaver feeding the lambs. decoration for my table and then I am going to waste. Great idea! beads too - like rhinestones. They would be Gabrielle Montes, age three and a half was to ask Chef Shafer for a dynamite pumpkin The ritual Dominique Pheiffer has with her ‘bedazzled’.” Now we’re talking. all smiles as she rode her donkey around and soup recipe! • two daughters is the same one I had when I Young children look forward to dressing around. She especially smiled when she rode was young. And when I grew up, I did the up in costumes and selecting that special past her daddy, Joe and I and said, “Cheese!” I asked Joe which princess Gabrielle was dressed like and he said, “She is going for the ‘Belle look’.” Isn’t it sweet when a daddy knows which princess his ‘little princess’ wants to be? The Montes’ will be carving a pumpkin also. Joe told me, “She Gabrielle will pick one out and we will take it home and carve it up. She picks out her design and helps me cut out the smaller pieces.” A pumpkin is a squash and very hard. I often Gentle little lamb. Ready for treats. same thing with my son, Christopher. We pumpkin. In Torrance we are lucky enough would hunt for that special pumpkin and to have a pumpkin patch that comes to town then ponder as we thought about what sort each year on Madrona Avenue near the of face we would carve. But usually my mall and scores of families flock to see the husband Dave would carve because pumpkins animals and choose that perfect pumpkin. are hard. One year I tried to roast the seeds Carter Weaver, age 19 months was feeding but they didn’t come out like I planned. the lambs with the help of his dad while Christopher’s pumpkin came in third in the his brother Max Weaver looked on when I pumpkin contest one year. Not too shabby! visited the pumpkin patch. Their mom, Leanne The traditions we hold, like carving Weaver told me, “We will carve them the pumpkins or trick-or-treating seem like second pumpkins and they will watch.” nature to us but when I spoke with Nadia Grandparents get into the act too. Catherine Krispel she explained how our customs might and Fred Hand were helping their grandsons; seem different to others. “One time my Aunt Austin, who will be two in February, and Paulette – but we call her Pau-Pau – she Aidan who will be four years old the first Princess Belle - Gabrielle Montes age 3 and a half takes a ride.
Torrance 10.25.12
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