1.   One of the things that most experts agree on is that, before you start carving, you should first buy a pumpkin.

2.   One year, we waited too long to buy pumpkins, putting it off until the clocks had changed and the wind blew frigid.

3.   Take care not to buy a pumpkin that is so heavy you cannot lift it out of your trunk.

4.   The best places to buy pumpkins are our local farms, where they always have tons in any size, any shape.

5.   We raked leaves, bought pumpkins and replaced our screens with storm windows.