Paulette

Cross-country skiing is something that in the past I’ve done once a year if at all. Now I’m out there 2 or 3 times a week. What happened? It’s all Carla’s fault!

During the spring, summer and early fall I spend my lunch time running the paths in the woods near where I work. I’m not a particularly good or fast runner but I enjoy getting out. Carla decided to join me one day and we became good friends and running buddies.

Although she professes to hate running she asks me “What would it take for you to run through the winter?”. “Um, warm clothes?” I answer reluctantly. So I bought long pants and a couple of long-sleeved shirts.

Then came snow and more snow and running outdoors was less fun than it once had been. “Why don’t we cross-country ski instead?” she asks. So I go shopping again to purchase a package including waxless skis and fancy new boots.

Off we went along the paths into the woods. New equipment (it is all about the shopping after all) and a couple of outings later I was enjoying it. Soon we had Dave I. convinced he would like it too. He needed to buy skis as well. Carla was doing her bit for the economy without spending a penny!

So here we are today out in the woods. A runner happened along and became our photographer (that’s his finger in the top left corner). I (in the middle) even have a big smile on my face. I’m wondering what Carla will do to me next!

I bought a digital camera a few months ago. It’s my first one. I decided it was time to take my own pictures instead of repeatedly saying “Take a picture of that!” everywhere we went.

Now I have pictures but I don’t really want to print them all out. Some are just fun for the moment.

Here’s a pic to start things off. I went walking through the woods with my friend Helene. She pointed out how these ferns peeking through the snow were kind of cool. “Take a picture of that!” she said.

Ha ha ha things eventually come around.

I bought 2 pumpkins this year again.  Hurray, Kat decided she would carve one with her friends.  Kat loving cats did what else but a cat pumpkin.  It turned out well.

I thought I’d pick a spider web because it looked simple.  Was I ever wrong!  Even though it seems straightforward it was not.

This year’s pumpkins turned out amazing.  I still can’t believe how a person with very limited artistic abilities can create something so cool from a bit of paper and carving tools.

The Pirates of the Caribbean were really hot this year.  I saw a Johnny Depp pattern and even though it looked complicated I went for it.  I also carved a skeleton pirate.  Why do I keep buying 2 pumpkins?  I guess I’m hoping someone will do one with me but so far I’m on my own.

The results stunned me.

Last year’s pumpkin was such a success. The kids that came by loved it.

I decided since I’m a master carver now (NOT) that I would not only carve a pumpkin but I would create my own pattern. I did 2 pumpkins this year. Not sure why but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

I wanted to do a Senators pumpkin. I took the logo and stretched it until I had the correct size. I printed off several copies and made my pattern. This picture was taken before I had completely finished. I forgot to take one of the final version. It turned out OK.

I did a simple one layer carved pumpkin with the second one. I had spent hours on the first and ran out of energy for it.

I got a lot of compliments on the pumpkins and some kids had come with their friends this year to see what I had done.

What had I done? Now they will expect them every year!

Dave I., a friend & co-worker of mine, got me interested in carving pumpkins. These aren’t the usual triangle eyes & nose and crooked mouth kind of pumpkins. These ones involve a pattern and hours of work. You carve completely through in some areas, peel off the skin in others. It looks like a mess until you add a candle and turn out the lights.

I picked Nemo for my first try. It wasn’t as complicated as the other patterns.

I followed the instructions given at:

http://www.carvingpumpkins.com/