Ghost Upon the Floor

 In less than two short hours, another All Hallow's Eve will have come and gone. Personal highlights for this night include parents taking pictures of their children on my setup and bales of hay, being told more than once I had the best candy and watching kids take my setup up in so they seemed more interested in the fog and pumpkins and flashing lights than the candy I was giving them.

 As always, there are regrets. Life took over more time than I needed to get everything out and go through all the things I have for the day. The Grim Reaper, Scarecrow and other props I had planned on making remain works in progress, and I'll have many ideas I'm sure I won't even have done by this time next year. Or the year after.

 Watched several of the staples-- "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," "Halloween" and the remake of "Dawn of the Dead."

And I carved a pumpkin, which never fails to put me in the mood no matter what else is going on or trying to distract me. Giving credit where it is due, I found this design after a Google Pictures search of "Ichabod Crane pumpkin," which took me to this photograph.

 Wishing you and yours the Happiest of Halloweens.

 Halloween. The season when we celebrate the end of the harvest, the end of summer, the end of life as the cold sets in-- and the fear which accompanies.

Last night, a friend and I went haunted housing, at Frightworld Screampark in Buffalo, New York. I always forget how much I love to be scared. On the perfect, breezy leaf falling October night, there is nothing like going to your local obstacle course of fear. I love to be jolted by a costumed performer jumping out from a corner, unexpected, screaming and making my heart jump.

 I'm always surprised when there is something in one of these houses that genuinely scares me. As we came to the end of one of the first houses at Frightworld, we walked from darkness right into what can only be described as blown up plastic, on both sides, that we had to walk through. Think of two big, black bounce house walls pressing at you from both sides, taller than you are, making you push through in the dark.

 And it kept going. There was nothing but darkness, and just when you thought it would let up, and you would walk out into light-- it kept going. To the point where the claustrophobia makes irrational thoughts leap around your head, and you begin a light panic, thinking that if this keeps going on any longer, you won't be able to breathe. You won't be able to breathe, and you will be stuck in this painfully cramped space...

 When I came out, I knew I'd gotten my money's worth. And that's what Halloween is all about, Charlie Brown. Fear.



YouTube User: holysoldier456

 

 Last week, I took a walk through my favorite cemetery near dusk. As it was beginning to become dark, I noticed these black birds or ravens flocking from tree to tree and monument to monument.

 For a small, bite-size candy corn morsel this evening, I give you childhood trauma (be this staged or not). Whoever these America's Funniest Home Videos contestants are, they have the true spirit of All Hallow's Eve!

 Although I would not recommend doing this as part of your home haunt, as I would believe there'd be some legal issues with doing this to random children who come to your door.



YouTube User: Kayrocker

 As a longtime friend of Edgar Allan Poe, I've come in contact with a few adaptations of his work. There's quite a bit out there. One of the most popular writers (period), there is never a shortage of inspired books, graphic novels, music and film that seeks to adapt the master of mystery and macabre into a new form. When these adaptations turn to the dramatic, I'm personally always eager to view the attempt-- and almost always disappointed with the result. And even when I do get something out of an adaption on film, I never fail to be left with the impression that something's missing. Something only Edgar's brilliantly crafted work can provide. 

 I do believe I'm somewhat late to board this bandwagon. Stumbling across a discussion on the Halloween Forum where posters were reporting on prices, I discovered the bubble fog machine.

 And it does as the name says, ladies and gentleman. The machine shoots out bubbles which, when popped, become fog. What a great enchanted little machine.

 Spirit Halloween is selling the machine for $69.99, with a quart of bubble fog juice for $7.99. And not to be outdone, the forces of supply and demand are offering an alternative. Target is selling the machine for $49.99, and a bottle of the juice for only $5. 



YouTube User: GrandinRoad

 Last year, one of my favorite new props was the devilishly clever Jack-in-the-Box from Walgreens, which I wrote about here.

 I think he will like my most recent purchase of this year. Walgreens clearly saw how popular he had been, and decided to give us, the adoring public, his bride. Who also appears to be selling out in stores rather quickly.

 After last Halloween, Jack, at different points during the year, was going for some rather high prices on eBay. Right now, however, he and Jill appear to be going for as high as $80. The average appears to be $39... rather steep, when they are $14.99 in store.    



YouTube User: TheToyChannel

 I just love saying that. Today is October... And yet it brings me much panic, as I feel I am so behind on the dressing of my house for the season... There is still so much to be done.

 So here's to a long Saturday of dragging boxes and bags down from the attic, in from the garage... and out onto the front lawn.