Top Ten Jack O' Lantern Tips

I had to add these tips to the Blog for all of you who plan to carve it up this Halloween. The Last is my absolute favorite, but don't jump ahead and read it first. Cherie...David I mean you. These are serious Tips I have collected.

1. Do not eat a pumpkin that has been carved as a jack-o'-lantern.
2. Choose a large pumpkin. The larger the pumpkin, the easier it is to carve. Avoid any pumpkins with bruises or moldy stems as they will spoil much faster. Pumpkins with a lighter color tend to be softer and easier to carve.
3. Photographing Jack O Lanterns is a bit tricky. A flash won't work, but if the candle in the pumpkin is the only light source, the photo will only show the design and not the pumpkin. To show both design and pumpkin, try using a single light source, slightly forward and above of the Jack O Lantern.
4. Washing the inside with a mild bleach solution will slow the process of decay.
5. Coat the cut edges of the pumpkins with petroleum jelly to help them last longer. The longer the candle is left burning, the quicker the pumpkin will decompose.
6. Never leave a candle-lit jack-o'-lantern unattended for any length of time. Electric lights work well instead of candles. Use a 25-watt candelabra bulb for maximum brightness; lower wattage if you plan to leave it on a long time.
7. If you really want to make your creations last, put them in a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator when not on display.
8. You can re-attach and repair broken pieces with toothpicks or straight pins.
9. Sprinkle the bottom side of the pumpkin lid with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cloves to let your jack-o'-lantern do double duty as an air freshener.
10. Discourage squirrels and other critters from making a meal of your pumpkin by sprinkling it with liberally with Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper.