It's the Not-So-Great Charlie Brown Pumpkin

Short-eared Snoopy pumpkin

Store displays of Halloween decor, the return of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, and the subtle chill in the air are enough to make it seem like a good time to carve pumpkins, but North Texas weather isn't always very kind to jack-o-lanterns. Ninety-degree temps and piercing sun rays can turn a beautifully-carved pumpkin into a moldy mess within two or three days. 

Although bigger is better is the rule of thumb when selecting a pumpkin to carve, I decided to buy a small pumpkin so I could store it in the fridge during those mini heat waves. After rummaging through giant boxes of pumpkins in the produce department, I settled on the least blemished one without realizing it was too small to carve.

I managed to scrape and carve a few Peanuts inspired scenes on it, but a stray cut cropped Snoopy's ear a bit too short. And Charlie looks a tad amorphous--even for a ghost.

Glowing Peanuts pumpkin

Pumpkin Preservation Tips
Although a cluster of uncarved pumpkins is the easiest option because it will take you straight through Halloween and into Thanksgiving, there are some simple ways to stretch the life of your jack-o-lantern. 

• Skip the votive and use a battery-operated led light. (You may need more than one for the brightest effect.) It will create a creepy glow without cooking/decaying the pumpkin flesh.

• Don't let the brisk weather fool you into thinking it will stay chilly. Resist the temptation to carve a late September/early October pumpkin. Try to wait for the second week of October.

• Store the carved pumpkin indoors during the day, and display it outside at night. 

• Try an alternate design that doesn't require cutting the pumpkin flesh. Use stickers, costume components, Sharpies, glitter and glue, or paint to decorate instead.

Happy Halloween!



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