Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece

Here's an idea for your Thanksgiving Table... or a Food Table or just a decoration during the holidays.

First take a fresh pumpkin. One from the garden. One from the store. Any size pumpkin will do. You know those pumpkins that are lazy and grow laying down and end up having a flat side? Those sweet little pumpkins are perfect for this.

It can be a big pumpkin or a smaller pumpkin. You'll want to start by laying the pumpkin on its flat side. I think it is cuter to have the stem of the pumpkin still attached and showing, but if you want, you can use a pumpkin standing up straight and cut the top off like you would when starting a Jack-O-Lantern.

 

Then using a knife (or carving tool from Halloween) you'll cut a hole in the side of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and set aside. (Maybe use this recipe to make some roasted pumpkin seeds??? They are yummy!)

I like to use a handful of fake Fall flower stems and grass stems, such as mums, sunflowers, etc. Then fill up the hole with the flowers. Voila! You're centerpiece is ready to go! It takes maybe 5-10 minutes from beginning to end.

If you want to use a fresh bouquet of fall flowers, you can! Simply put a bowl of water into the bottom of the pumpkin and then arrange the flowers in the water to help keep them fresh and strong all through the celebrations. This will make the pumpkin heavier and so you'll probably want to assemble it close to where it will be used. Cause when you move it around with the water inside, it gets all sloshy and spilly. And that's no fun.

Another idea.... buy one of those pretend pumpkins... you know the artificial carvable pumpkins that last forever.  Use that, put a hole in it and add the flowers. This could be reused year after year.

Happy Thanksgiving!