Countdown to Halloween

The one and only countdown to Halloween starts tomorrow.  Last year Jon Rozum retired and Michelle and Michael picked up the torch.  I thank them for their hard labor and are thrilled that this event can continue.

I adore the countdown as it gives me a chance to immerse myself in all things Halloween.

Want to know more?  Click here to go to the countdown page and discover all the great blogs participating this year.

New Scripts

After reading the comments on the "Debra She Who Seeks Blog" regarding the new blogger, someone mention that the choices for fonts were greatly improved.  I thought I would try a few out. This one is medieval sharp. 

I rather like this one called fondamento.

Spooky fonts seem to be in short supply but I have tried to pick those with a bit of interest. This one is Aclonica.

spoke to soon - this is Creepster

Here we have vast shadow.  Perhaps a bit western and really spaced out.

This one is called eater - not elegant enough for me though.

This is vampira 1.  I think I could do without this tilt.  I find I am tilting my head as I try to read it.

Nope as some of these letters are a little fucks up like the lower case k.

this is called Nosifer.  The blood drips are interesting but there seems to be no lower case.  My readers would think I was screaming all the time!

What about this Uncial Antiqua?

This is Jim Nightshade.

So do you have an opinion?

Autumn in the Mountains

More Colorado Autumn Leaves

Taken at the Willow Creek Reservoir near Granby.

Aspens are Pure Gold

In the mountains enjoying glorious fall color

Damn It

I cannot get that badge for the countdown to Halloween to display on my blog.  Now I have gone ahead and deleted all my past badges that I loved.  Does any know how to retrieve those again once deleted?  That is, how to return to an earlier layout if possible?  Also, have you had luck getting the new badge to display?  I use to just copy the code and paste it into the area of my layout. But this year the badge doesn't display, just the code.

Alright I got the new badge to display by changing the gadget I was using.  But still lost all my old badges.  Boo Hoo.

Ok crisis averted.  So I changed the gadget type in the layout to an image and not a URL.  So I have gone back and saved all the old badges from the countdown to Halloween website to my computer and now will display each in its own little gadget.  A lot more steps and gadgets but at least they are back on my blog. I love my badges.

Disneyland Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House

This album, for all of you old enough to know what that is, was a favorite of ours as children.  We used to listen to it repeatedly especially around the Halloween season.  I think it set the gold standard for haunted sound effects for years.   The first side, as I recall had some narration and the second was just sounds.We had the 1973 version with the orange cover pictured above.  The Chinese water torture or the martians were not particularly  scary.   Our pet cat, Boots, never sounded like that.   Anyway, I came across this on the web the other day and it sure brought back some memories.

The track list was as followed:

Side One

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Haunted House"	3:00
2.	"The Very Long Fuse"	1:28
3.	"The Dogs"	1:13
4.	"Timber"	1:45
5.	"Your Pet Cat"	0:49
6.	"Shipwreck"	1:39
7.	"The Unsafe Bridge"	1:21
8.	"Chinese Water Torture"	2:02
9.	"The Birds"	0:46
10.	"The Martian Monsters"	1:41

Side Two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Screams and Groans"	0:57
2.	"Thunder, Lightning and Rain"	2:01
3.	"Cat Fight"	0:37
4.	"Dogs"	0:48
5.	"A Collection Of Creaks"	1:54
6.	"Fuses and Explosions"	1:11
7.	"A Collection Of Crashes"	0:45
8.	"Birds"	0:33
9.	"Drips and Splashes"	1:18
10.	"Things In Space"

Man Best Friends

No it wasn't always this drooling, slobbering kiss ass.  

Back in the day, man's best friend was a creature that truly earned that title through millennia of hard work and sacrifice.

"Look back at our struggle for freedom,
Trace our present day's strength to its source;
And you'll find that man's pathway to glory
Is strewn with the bones of the horse."
- Author Unknown

So today I celebrate the horse!  Not just any horse - the best horse in the world.  Here he is: Liathach the wonder horse.  That name is pronounced Lee ock.  If you've ever been to the west coast of Scotland, then you know from whence it comes.

He's a fine beast who loves his groceries and treats

He's a patient jovial fellow who works hard for food.

He's a huge beast who is absolutely terrified of  pigs.  Since the pigs moved in, he hasn't quite been himself.

Sometimes he dresses up for Halloween.  We are busy working on his costume for this year.

Holiday Shop

Despite reservations about leisure shopping in the time of the covid pandemic, I could not resist checking out the Halloween offerings at my favorite antique mall, the American Classics Marketplace.  They had many bespoke pieces that have been upcycled.  It was neat to see the creativity at work.

This adorable skeleton dog is in a house make from reclaimed wood

This Jack O' Lantern created from all old dutch oven lid. 

I have definitely made something like this before - I used vintage newspaper, looks like they've used a dictionary.

Bits of old fencing have been used to make these cute mummies

This is a unique covid mask

The witches are welcome here.

This pillow caught my eye as well as these brooms and branches.

This cabinet featured a few unusual, creepy dolls

We also have a witch booth with taxidermy butterflies and spell/ritual kit.

This is a fabulous sign - I wish I had a place to set up the Cadaver Tavern.

Very creepy deer taxidermy

Super cute mask with Jack Skellington but it was in the same display as the ones below so I said "no thanks - I am not supporting your Trump loving ass"

So are you curious what I might have purchased?  Well first I got a lantern for Baby M's nuptials.  We are looking for some that are unique and for $15, I though this one fit the profile.

Then I found this amazing damask crock pot.  This is going to look great at the next Halloween party after I add a few spooky touches.

But the pieces de resistance is this baby carriage for my spooky dolls.  I have been looking for something like this for a long time.  Usually they are marked close to $100.  This one, however, was was a steal at $30.   It has authentic, dark blue paint with lots of lovely rust and patina.

Don't Megan and Brittney just look fabulous in here?  They are almost smiling.

Well I hope I did not catch covid venturing into the unknown. I guess only time will tell whether it was worth it.

Suprise

Just rreturned from yoga to a beer and a fire. Isn't his Lordship grand?

Clown Inspiration

 Old Fashioned Halloween suggested I decorate one of my dolls like a clown.  I went to pinterest for some inspiration.  How do you like these clown babies? Would they be permitted to sleep in your bed?

Colorful aren't they?

Gardening in a Pandemic

I can't say enough about the garden.  It has really contributed to my mental health in an otherwise insane year.  I think depression would be very deep had it not been for all things green.  Since our outside social lives have been curtailed, caring for my leafy companions has consumed much a my time.  I have been rewarded with tons of luscious produce.  The kale has been unstoppable. The tomatoes are delicious and even the corn was a mild success.  Here is a picture of some of our amazing root veggies - turnips, beets and carrots.

While others have been watching Tiger King and Ozark, I have turn my attention to the gentle cultivation of Monty Don on "Gardner's World".  Yes I enjoy watching a 65 year old putter in his garden almost as much as I enjoy puttering in mine.  Monty is Britain's favorite gardener hence we stream the show via Brit Box.  I have learned so much about cultivation.

Alas much of it is coming to an end.  On Tues. we might see snow.  The cold will certainly stop much of the produce.  The flowers I have nurtured all summer will shrivel.  It makes me sad. So long dear friend until next spring.