Crypt Keeping Again

This will be my 5th year participating in the Countdown to Halloween.  I will try to blog daily in October about all thing spooky.  I hope to find some new blogs to follow, blog friends to meet and guests of the Haunted Parlor as we share our mutual obsession with the best holiday ever created.

I just dig the new badges Daphne Rozum made themed as a tribute to the Haunted Mansion. I chose Ezra Bean, the unluckiest hitchhiker we've ever seen. As children, my sisters and brother both loved and hated the hitchhiking ghost mirrors.

Loved because it was fun to see who everyone was taking home.  We all wanted Ezra and would laugh at whoever got Gus, the prisoner.  However, it also meant the ride was over, which was very sad indeed.

 So see you tomorrow, for the first of 31 days of Halloween.  This ride is not over by any means.

Pickled Head In A Jar

Just a bit of wacky fun

Wacky Pack Puzzle Complete

My sister and I finished the Wacky Packages puzzle the other night.  It was a blast although not particularly politically correct.  We laughed at a lot of these.  The Puzzle was fairly easy, made more challenging by the fact that the picture on the cover lacks 3 inches of the puzzle on all sides.  Still it only took us an evening to complete. 

Our favorite wacky pack was Creep based on crest toothpaste.

Thank you Tom at Garage Sale Finds for such a splendid gift.

Cemetery Dawgs....

Oh boy, Danny is coming for a visit today.  He is a dog who had spent his youth living among the tombstones in a cemetery.  He's a good little dogs except when he is in the company of a smaller, fluffier dog. Then his instincts harken back to the tough days of making a living in the grave yard and he tries to snack.

Dogs have a long history in cemeteries.  Whether they are just hanging around waiting for their loved ones corpse to be reanimated like Gryfriars Bobby, serving as a psychopomps in a burial chamber, or making a living out of one.

If you are not familiar with the story of Greyfriars Bobby,   it tells the tale of a little Skye Terrier who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his beloved master John Gray. We visited this grave last time we were in Edinburgh.  This tale also spawned a Disney movie, a book, and a pub!

A psychopomp guides the newly deceased soul to the afterlife.  In Mayan and Aztec cultures, this was a little dog.  Here be Magic has an excellent blog about this from 2017.

Dogs also guard the underworld as in the case of Cerberus, the three headed hound of hell. In Greek and Roman Mythology, He keeps the dead from leaving and the living from entering.  It is also a kick ass microbrewery in Old Colorado City (Looking forward to seeing them at the Heritage Brew Fest next week).  

If you did not read my blog about Dante's Inferno, the Infidel 753 had this to say:

"There is a claim that the name Cerberus comes from the ancient Indo-European word kérberos meaning "spotted". If so, the King of the Underworld literally named his three-headed dog "Spot"." 

So welcome to Danny and his human companion who happens to be my sister. Perhaps we will hang out in a cemetery for old times sake.

DIY Skull Fire Stones

 I have always wanted some fire stone skulls for our fireplaces but many on line like these beauties, are pretty pricey.  This however is a super video for making concrete skull from a dollar store skull.  

Inkling

This is the Inkling.  Created by Gillian Saunders from Eva Foam and paint. She writes:

 "One tattoo too many & the blood -to-ink ratio shifts - her body begins to morph."

Dante's Inferno

A friend gave me this beautiful edition of Dante's Inferno.  The book contains no publishing dates but uses engravings by Gustave Dore' circa 1866.

 It tells the tale of Dante, who, guided by Virgil the Roman Poet, journeys through the nine circles of Hell.  I was interested to peruse it to find out which circle I will call home.  I have suitable talents to make it to many.  It's gonna be a quandry for Satan to figure out the best fit.

First our explorers pass the entrance to hell which bears the sign "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" or translated "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here". Isn't that great? One of these years I must make a sign for my haunt bearing those sentiments.
The first folks they see are the uncommitted who run in circles from wasps. That's not me - I am definately committed.
Then they get into the first circle, limbo, contains the unbaptized ( not me) and the virtuous pagans (not me either). These folks do not seem to be tortured in any way.

The second circle is for the lusty folks. They are blown about by strong storms for eternity. I have had some lusty moments in my life so this is a possibility.
The third circle of hell is reserved for the gluttons. They wallow in putrid icy rain, guarded by the three headed dog Cerberus. Funny how Dante borrows from the Greeks and Romans to depict hell.

Now I could definitely be accused of gluttony on many levels - especially where food, drink are concerned.
The fourth circle of hell contains the greedy both those who hoard and those who are miserly. I can certainly pinch a penny and I love my Halloween junk so perhaps I can stay here - my punishment involves pushing large boulders around.

It is certainly one way to stay fit in hell. Look at these fellows - not an ounce of fat on them!
The fifth circle contains the wrathful, who fight each other in the River Styx, while the sullen hang around beneath the surface withdrawn. Now I have had moments of both so maybe this is right for me.

The sixth circle contains the heretics - nah not me. I don't preach much heresy. They are trapped in flaming tombs.
Hell then descends into the seventh circle past the Minotaur (again with references to pagan Greek mythology) where the violent are housed. Now violence is not my thing so I don't think I belong here but I better read on just to make sure.

The first ring is for murderers, the second suicides and the third for blasphemers, and the sodomites. I do qualify for a spot because well, I am a blasphemer through and through. In fact, some of my favorite cuss words are blasphemes. And I thought I wouldn't belong here. My punishment will be that I am on the plain of burning sand scorched by great flames falling from the sky. At least I won't be alone because I know a lot of blasphemers. In fact, this describes some of my favorite people!

A waterfall now descends into the eighth circle where the Fraudster live. Now I don't know about you but murder seems like a worse crime than fraud. First are the panderers and seducers who are whipped by demons. Then the flatterers who are covered in excrement. I mean, I supposed you'd get used to that. Then there are the Simoniacs, people who sell religion to line their own pockets. Heck - I knew I would find a place for Joel Osteen here. Joel is going to be placed head down in a tube like hole while flames burn the soles of his feet. Unfortunately since this is not my gig I won't be there to see it.

Next the Sorcerers - fortune tellers, astrologers, and false prophets whose heads will be twisted  backwards and will be forced to walk that way for eternity. It might add an interesting perspective.

Finally we have a place for Donald Trump with the Barroters, corrupt politicians who make money from public office. He will be immersed in a lake of boiling pitch which represents his sticky fingers and corrupt deals. Demons troll the lake to capture anyone who comes above the pitch and rip them apart.

Wow - it seems like we have covered most of the bases but we still have the ninth circle to go. Perhaps I can make it to the top. It's a post for another day so stay tuned.  Where do you fit??

Merch for the Haunted Mansion 50th.

I just love the new Haunted Mansion merchandise for the 50th Anniversary. Among the most exciting are the ghosts in a jar. These follow you home.

Doll Makeover

Poor little Megan.  She was born in 1984  as a  pioneer moppet.

Morphed in 2019 to become part of my haunt.  She lost that rosy complexion and those baby blue eyes. She acquired some fishnets, black lace, spider bling and black feathers.  

 She now patiently waits for her first victim, having developed a taste for blood.  Welcome to undead Megan.

Lunanoia

Designed by Jane Evans,  Lunanoia is made from Stainless Steel Mesh.

"She hunts on the full Moon.
Preying on fear. Is she real,
or the paranoia of moon
madness?"

Disneyland Unveils Gingerdead House

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/09/first-look-2019-haunted-mansion-holiday-50th-anniversary-gingerbread-house-at-disneyland-park/di

Malice in Wonderland at Rogers Gardens

https://youtu.be/uDQkf3OsalQ

Want

https://shop.rogersgardens.com/collections/halloween-decor-1/products/11111404487

Really love this

Armour at the Wow

Here are fabulous creations from the World of Wearable Art.  I grouped these together as they are all suits of Armour.

This is Revive by Mengyue Wu and Yuru Ma.  They describe it as:

" A soldier, fighting for the victory of going green by using recycled tyres"

Armour made from recycled tires - how cool is that?

 Then there is Horridus by Lynn Christiansen. This masterpiece is made from copper, silver and gold plaiting.
  "Inspired by the delightful Thorny Devil lizard from Australia & its spiky, multicolored armour-like skin"
The artist said after making this costume, she lost all feeling in her thumb and index finger for about a month.

This is Persephone's Descent by Stuart Johnson. It is made from stainless steel, brass, chain, and pewter. 
"Perserphone, bedecked in the armour of Hades, descending into the Underworld."
This artist worked for the Weta workshop in New Zealand making weapons for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  I can see that influence in this work.