Friday, October 30, 2015

The Haunt is Lit....

The table is set and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Halloween guests.  Tonights menu will include homemade salsa and chips, fresh caught Colorado trout - courtesy of his Lordship, caprese salad, black bean chili and cupcakes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Casper's Costume

Ok - politically not correct.  I know.  Really insensitive and cruel.  And oh so pathetic. But he is too dirty and hairy to be much else.  And with my shoulder screwed up, I can't drive much less give a horse a bath.  So homeless it is.  Luckily, I took these on Tuesday before my shoulder went all cattywhompus. 




Wednesday, October 28, 2015

All Fu*#ed Up

Just in time for Halloween, I have screwed up my rotator cuff.  No idea how and when.  There is still so much to do and I have no idea if it will get done - cooking, cleaning, pumpkins.  Here I sit typing with one hand wearing a sling I improvised from some creepy cloth (at least that is festive) while His Lordship heads to the pharmacy to pick up the pain killers I was prescribed today.  The kind where you have to show your ID so they can scan it to make sure you don't run some black market prescription pill business.  Anyhow, I was guaranteed a nights sleep if  I took these so we'll see how it goes.





 

Frog Shadow box

This year I wanted to do a few crafts but am so late getting them started I don't know if I will finish by Halloween.  I did manage to complete this frog shadow box.
 
This began with a cheesy frog skeleton purchased 90% off at some post Halloween sale.  It was stored in my Halloween craft tote and must have lived hard in the past year as its left front foot broke off.  Of course, it required repainting. I spray primed it, then coated it in black.  On top, I dry brushed beige and white.  I then applied an antiquing glaze, wiped it off, and dry brushed more white. If you are not familiar with a dry brush technique, it is when you wipe most of the top coat paint off of the brush so the dark base color stays in the cracks.
 
 
I then constructed a box (not very brilliantly) out of leftover trim from my kitchen remodel. 
 

I cut these pieces with a miter saw and then glued them together.  I covered backing with gauze bandages dug from the depths of the craft tote and glued it to the back of the shadow box.  I hot glued my frog inside and painted the outer edges black.

 I constructed a frame from more old kitchen remodel trim and painted it black.  His Lordship drilled some small holes that he put brads into to hold the frame together.  Next, I nailed the frame to the shadow box, put a hanger on the back and voila - frog shadow box.
 

I have to laugh because his Lordship thought I was crazy for keeping all that old trim.  But now he can look at this beautiful keepsake every Halloween.  I am sure he is counting his blessings right about now.  I think I just heard him muttering them as he walked away.
 
 
 
 


 
 

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Evergreen Cemetary Tour

Last Saturday was a big day in Manitou.  So big, in fact, that I have only now recovered my wits to blog about it.  Firstly, his Lordship and I were off to the races.  Don't we look posh?
Pre race picture on his Lordship's cellular device
 
The Emma Crawford Coffin Races actually. For more information, you can see this link https://www.facebook.com/ManitouSpringsEmmaCrawfordCoffinRaces?fref=nf
 
After the festivity of the races, my friend Dead Juliette came to pick me up and we headed to the Evergreen Cemetery Tour here in the springs.


Dead Juliette and I stirring the cauldron before we leave.

What an amazing night for a cemetery walk - bright moonlight, no wind and cool temperatures made for a surreal experience.  Acting students from UCCS played ghosts from local legend with zeal as each story was described in chilling detail.  We walked around in the oldest part of the graveyard taking in beautiful architecture and details of 100 year old mausoleums. My pictures are poor and don't even come close to capturing the atmosphere of the place. 
 


 
 
 
 I look forward to returning to the graveyard on a moody morning to capture it with more clarity.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Costumes for Casper...

I have decided to dress Casper up for Halloween and am trying to decide from the following amazing choices what he will be.


My Little Pony

This could be an interesting costume - dye his mane and tail purple and put some stars, hearts whatever on his ass.   I actually do not know what any of those ponies are called.  Perhaps he could be a Halloween style little pony with a candy corn cutie marks ( I was informed by a 9 year old that those ass stamps are cutie marks).  However, I have waited too long.  The weather has cooled and Casper is in a full winter coat that is now covered in green poop stains.  Unless I can devise some kind a dirty pony equivalent to the Peanuts Pig Pen, I don't think this will really work.


The Pale Horseman of the Apocalypse

Now I think Mr. Bones would be up for playing this part but how to attached him to the saddle so he would stay put and not fall off is another matter.  Casper would just have to be himself for this role.
 

A Ghost

Such a no brainer - cut a couple of holes for his eyes in a white sheet and drape it over him.  I am sure he would wear it for a few pictures anyhow.  After all, he is a ghost paint. Plus, now that the weather is cooling and he has a full winter coat, there is no chance for a bath, making this option awfully appealing.

Homeless

I think a small cardboard sign around his neck with "will work for food" would just about sum up how Casper feels about life. Plus, his green poop stains, and the smell of stale urine he will carry with him during the winter would fit this costume nicely.



Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Haunted Parlor is up and running

 
My house decorations are almost finished.  Here are some pictures.  I apologize because they look a lot like last years. Featured are the witch cabinets, hall tree, additions to the little Halloween tree and various other bits and bobs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, October 12, 2015

What props do between Nov. 1 and Oct. 1

When I pulled this flocked cat from the storage bin, he had a blackbird in his claws.  It cracked me up like he was amusing himself while tucked away for 11 months. 

 
On a different note, last year when I was taking down my decorations, I broke one of my favorite lamps.  I blogged about in on Nov. 3, 2014.  I finally, after almost a year of it sitting in the storeroom, got around to painting it. In addition, I glued some plastic skulls on the base and recovered the shade.  Here are my results.
 
You can see that crack through the skinny parts



 

Saturday, October 10, 2015

I've been told

that I have good bones.  I think I finally know what that means.



Here is the never ending parade of skulls to emerge from storage -many still with tags.  I can't seem to resist 90% of off a skull.  The little fellow with the glowing red eyes in the bottom right corner was a gift from my sister.  When she showed it to my daughter, the latter said "Mom has enough skulls".  While she makes a valid point, can you ever have enough skulls?

Friday, October 9, 2015

Getting into the spirit

Halloween was looking kinda grim for awhile there - no party, no visitors, the prospect of handing candy out to 5 children.  I was thinking minimal decorating and had the blahs about my favorite holiday.

But alas, Halloween is saved.  For me anyhow!! I have a visitor coming! Someone to decorate for and make this effort worthwhile.  So excited I started pulling some more stuff out tonight. 

Here is what I have been working on - the cheesiest Halloween tree in the history of trees.  When I pulled it from it's box tonight, I had to perform the usual gorilla tape surgery just to hold it together.  Then I surrounded it with a lot of glittery crap I bought for $1.99 at post Halloween sales at Michaels and Walgreens.  Alas, it is a sh*$$y Clusterf@#k of Halloween fun.  Mark over at Shingle Creek, no need to comment on my used of gaudy glitter decorations.  Ms. Misanthropia, I know how you feel about crappy box-store, pre-fab trees.  And you're right - this one is pretty awful.  But I don't have the heart to pitch it because we've been through a lot together, so gorilla tape and all, it is gonna see another Halloween.  Surely, one of my readers will like it? Insomniac? Tom? Stacey? Debra?