“Equal day to equal night heralds Autumn’s waning light
and winks of fireflies go bright to guide our paths into the night
But should you find yourself alone, amongst the glooms of darkened home.
Be crafty, clever, sure and quick, and light yourself a ready wick.” -A.E.
Harried preparation
Porchlights all a-glare
Breath held in expectation
Of whom we hope to scare
Necksore from constant craning
We side eye here and there
Glad that it’s not raining
On the Haunt we want to share
Footfalls drawing nearer
Ears prickle at the sound
Rustles of hustled furor
Echoed through the ground
What gathering of stitches
represent the costume trends?
Is it a group of witches,
or super hero friends?
Alas it’s just a lone dog
Not werewolves on parade
Just leaves scraping sidewalks
And not a zombie raid
Cones tumbling at random
Aren’t spiders on attack
Not thrills but chills in tandem
Cause those shivers down my back
Pleased anticipation
Is the order of the night.
Waiting on congregation
As capriciousness takes flight
Patience sorely tested
Spirits wait for their reprieve
Sure to end up fete and fested
On this eve of Hallows Eve
– by A.E.
These resplendent works of artist Debbie Criswell are not only charming and whimsical depictions of what we are all looking forward to at the end of this month, but also delightful reminders of the nostalgia we seek to hold onto and create ourselves. I bid you all a long, slow month of days and eves towards our collective fete.
Just a quick note today, Labor Day activities are tugging away, its 55 days to Halloween and if you haven’t yet, it’s probably a good time to start looking through the garage, sheds, closets, under the bed, all those places we store our goodies for the big night. Also, for the long season – can’t wait to get everything up and going, lights, action, and smoke and mirrors! My best to you all and Happy Haunting!!
My dearly Beloved was doing some shopping for me today and came home with this from our local Crate and Barrel. It’s a drink dispenser holder and carafe and I’ve decided to use it as a candle luminary for the shadows! Apparently, though these are available online, the stores aren’t to put them out yet and so the kind folks at C&B dug these out of boxes just cause he asked, he came home with a set of glasses that match too. Couldn’t wait to post the pic. Enjoy.
(Click pic to link to site.)
Rogers Gardens has announced their annual Halloween Boutique Opening “Grimm Tales” will debut on Friday, September 2nd @ 9:00am! Visiting this amazing boutique yearly has become a favorite for me and I hope you find time to stop by, it will not disappoint.
“…and the Storyteller paused…
and it was as if the wonders he retold had cast a spell upon him…”-A.E.
“The forest is dark and enchanted…branches creak and leaves rustle as trees close in, obscuring the path home. Wander deep into the shadows and you’ll find frightful folklores, fantastical stories and chilling tales. These bedtime stories will give you nightmares, and you’ll discover that not all fairy tales end happily-ever-after.” –Rogers Gardens
I have attended the first day opening of the Rogers Gardens Halloween Event for the past few years and I will be there early to enjoy it this year as it looks to be especially creepy. The four rooms they usually design/decorate traverse beautiful to bizarre, worth the stop if you are near Corona del Mar, Ca. See you there? Click pic to link to site.
The day after Thanksgiving you may feel yourself in need of savory sustenance of a different variety, I can recommend Arsenic & Old Lace as a lovely alternative to raiding the fridge. The classic Frank Capra film starring Cary Grant, Peter Lorre, Raymond Massey and Priscilla Lane is a favorite to watch while waiting for the waistline to return to its usual proportion. Instead of posting the usual shots of the movie, I present you with some fun visuals in the form of playbills. Enjoy and don’t forget overindulgence can be deadly – or at least really uncomfortable.
Click each image for its source.
The weather here on the west coast is definitely Fall-like at last, chill temperatures and brisk gusts of wind remind me of why I prefer this time of year. Time to break out the scarves and mittens, flannels and fuzzy slippers. Just to make cozying up that much more enjoyable. The approaching Thanksgiving holiday makes me pause and reflect, as I still see pumpkins decorating porches and sills and tabletops. We always save one or two from October to enjoy through November – a bright orange reminder – it’s interesting how the pumpkin, the idea of it, transitions from the herald of giving treats to the herald of giving thanks. Many of us will close the holiday with that slice of spicy sweetness. It’s a fitting way to bookend Autumn. Enjoy this New Yorker cover from 1973, a house simply celebrating the season.
New Yorker Magazine, Stevenson, 1973
As the nights grow longer, deeper and darker, this may help while away those hours between sunset and sunrise.
Darkness on the Edge of Town – Paranormal Radio Show
