And more mantle photos...

Working on the mantle...

I love putting the mantle together.....aaahhhhhhh.....bliss......

Working on an idea...

I have a small ambition.  I have a beginning of an idea.  I'd like to try my hand at incorporating still photos with very tiny video clips.  So begins practice, practice, practice...

New Beginning...

It's been such a year.....let's begin again.....with something that makes sense to me...

Candlelight...

A costume this year...

Normally, I don't wear a costume.  My thought process was:  if some terrified little TOT'r finally makes it to the door I don't want to send them over the edge by a costume.  My youngest son as a 4 year old came running, screaming "scary monkey" down a driveway with a neighbor in a gorilla suit running after him yelling I'm so sorry!  It was funny.  It was traumatic.  It was memorable.  It was classic Halloween!

BUT, I found the most amazing vintage tutu, petticoat, crinoline girl-thing!!  The latex wings I found a few years ago and I do wear them each year.  I love my wings but haven't exploited their scary factor. (You know, that quiet neighbor, kind to children, with a dark side and a body-sized freezer in the garage.)  There is a first time for everything and this is the year for a costume!   I'm thinking striped stockings, some bling, a top, some spats, etc.  You do understand that me in a tutu isn't quite a 3 on the scare-o-meter??

Latex wings & girl thing

Love the wings

Ooooooo baby...

Full dark...

Witchy...

Squirrel...

This cracks me up.  This would've put some life into our neighborhood.  Gotta love an English newspaper that would print this...





Squirrel on a rampage...

Steal of a deal...

Lucky me!!  Hobby Lobby had their Funkins on sale....90% off sale...that's like almost free!

 

 

Project for the winter...or spring...or summer...or fall...



Halloween Photos...

Finally posting a few photos of Halloween night! Warm night, perfect weather, last minute breakdowns either solved or not missed, fewer (391 last year lost count at 290 this year) but excited TOTs, lots of adults, just a kick as always...

View from the street...

Touchy...

Full moon...

Working on a brew...

I love the girls...

Breathing grave...video to come a little later...

 

 

View to the front door...

Side yard...

Happy Halloween!

 

 

Have a wonderful Halloween, my Friends.....

Random Acts of Cupcakes...

Guess who was lucky enough to get a "Random Act of Cupcakes" today?? That would be me! Thank you to The Twisted Sifter (Kari Christiansen)! These are her "Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes w/Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting". Can't wait to have one...thanks again, Kari! Very much appreciated...

Boy Humor...

 

In Phoenix this year and found the gas mask at a flea market.  Grandsons cracked up.  Where I put it also cracks them up...

It is on a skull...

Reflections...

 

Photos with mirrors are difficult for me.  Too much light, not enough light, too much reflecting light, not enough reflecting light, and sometimes a reflection of me...rats!



I love the reflection in the mirror...

Soft glow...

Did I mention I like the reflection?

Sorry ~ could not from any angle get a photo of the vanity with eyes at both sides ~ that mirror reflection and me in the photo thing...

Witch shoe w/dying Hydrangeas

 



 

I do like spooking up the bathroom our guests use.  I did remove the motion-activated "scream machine" a couple of years ago.  A few authentic screams and very authentic curses.....so, there you go.  Last year after the season I bought on sale the skeleton hands from Grandin Road.  Such a deal but where do I put them?  They actually make  great night lights with the eyeball candles and LED tea lights.

Cue the spooky music...

Living room mantle

Gargoyle ~skulls ~ bits and pieces

The prairie dog skull from my granddaughter

Full frontal ~ bottom half

When I look at my living room mantle at Halloween I think this would look so great with spooky music.  Music just sets the tone...the mood.  Made the theme music to "The Elephant Man".  It's just creepy music box music....love it....and my mantle at Halloween...

Sentinels...

Whew!  The Sentinels are finished!  I love them and from knee-high (yes, I did) they are scary enough for TOT's.

As previously mentioned I love Pumpkinrot's creatures.  I have five!  I wanted them 7' tall to frame the front door and to be menacing.  So, with buckets of cement, PVC pipe, duct tape, sheets, fabric from a friend's drapery business, chicken wire, Funkins, and sagebrush....they were work.  A lot of firsts for me.  First time to mix cement from a bag...first time to dye fabric (king size sheets)...first time carving Funkins... first time using sagebrush (it's brittle). 

The flicker lights for the heads are a little more showy than my vision.  I like the broken bits from the sagebrush twisted into the fabric.  Seems to give them a "rising from the ground" look.  Also, like the way the fabric flows in the wind.  I still need to add the bats around their heads, a little webbing, etc. and we're good to go.

Sentinels

From knee-high ~ he looks right at you

 

All in all...I'm happy.  Halloween is so close...

PS ~ You do know, Mr. Rot, that this is a huge compliment to you?  You make us try so much harder...

For inspiration...   Pumpkinrot.com