Listening to: Above The Collider

Just created another track in VCV Rack.

Went for something a little grungier this time around. It starts out with a softer, Interstellar-esque melody but eventually distorts and degrades into harsh electrical warbles.  Going for that gritty synth-y sci-fi sound.  

Click below to listen

Merry Christmas from The Crop

I've traveled to my hometown for Christmas to visit family.  Back in 2021, I gave them some of my Halloween props from that year's yard haunt. 

I had forgotten, until I walked into the basement den...

My corpsecrows have been Christmas-ified by my mother! Such a fun surprise! Look how excited they are for the holidays. 

I always figured that I'd be the only one in my family with a basement full of dead bodies... Turns out my mother beat me to it. 

At least I know where I get it from. 

Happy Winter Solstice

Art by Štěpán Balo - @midgarddweller

Some Wintery Creeps by Joe Keinberger

@joekeinberger_art

Click here for his Etsy page

The Cemetery

Carl Fredrik Hill, oil on canvas (1877)

Listening to: Alley Cat

Just created my first modular synthesis patch using VCV Rack, a virtual Eurorack software.  Been experimenting around with it for the past few months, but I finally decided to record a track and upload it!   I can't wait to create more music with this (free!) software.

Click below to listen to Alley Cat

Happy 100th Birthday Charles Schultz!

To whom I owe a great deal of my childhood love of Halloween.

I'm Back

I'm back from my Annual Unannounced Unplanned Post-Halloween Hiatus!*  I'd prefer such absences didn't happen, but it seems to be a trend (tradition?) on the blog now.  

I hope everyone's November is going well.  I hope that despite the inevitable business brought on by the approaching holiday season, you are all finding a balance of tranquility and productivity as the transition into Winter continues.

For the --much appreciated-- few who check October Branches semi-regularly, forgive me for the silence.  Between travelling for family and catching up on work, posting has had to take a backseat (or rather, the ejector seat).  I'll be slowly returning to a more consistent schedule in the upcoming weeks.

Thanks for continuing to stop by the blog!

Close up of the scarecrow pile currently filling my back porch

P.S. - I'm still very excited to make a 2022 haunt video, but it'll have to wait for now

*(AUUPHH ["awf"] for short)

Halloween 2022: The Carver

Beware of The Carver
On Hallowe'en Night.
A sharp knife he carries...
He's really a fright!

Don't let him catch you
With a shadow'd embrace...
He'll scoop out your seeds,
and carve you a face!

Turns out I was so excited to shoot video for this year's display that I photos kind of fell to the wayside... But I do have plenty of footage with even better angles.

Until I get that edited, here are the best of the photos I did take.  

I'm quite satisfied with this year's theme, and I think it really came together. As with every year, I learned a lot (#1: When taking photos, make a shot list!). There's things I'll do again and things I'll do differently, but at the end of the day, I'm happy with this one.

My neighbor has already greenlit me for next Halloween!  I better get started...

Thanks to everyone who's been following the blog and my Instagram, your continued interest and support mean everything to me!  

Click here for the 2022 Yard Haunt video!

Happy Halloween!

Photos will be dropped tomorrow (fingers crossed).  I'm very excited to share this year's display!  I'll do my best to squeeze in photo editing time tomorrow.  

Halloween on a Monday... what a way to start a busy week!

Listening to: Dead Air's Annual Halloween Fundraiser!

Happy Halloween!  Dead Air Radio is currently broadcasting their annual live crowdfunding event, hosted by Professor Screamcheese. 

Dead Air is a fantastic online Halloween radio that plays 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Much of their yearly expenses are covered by listener donations. 

If you've never tuned in to Dead Air, I highly recommend it!  Click below to listen on their website, and scroll down once there to see how you can support their broadcast.

Click below

ONE day until Halloween!

Carving pumpkins for the Haunt tonight! I can't believe it's already here

10 days!

It's down to the wire...

Now Watching: The Pumpkin Man

It's been a long time since I've attended a local film festival screening. The Pumpkin Man was a fun movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed the big screen experience! Not to mention the Q&A panel after with Ryan Sheets and some of the cast and crew.

Click below for the trailer

14 days until Halloween...

Incense for Halloween 2022

Decided to implement incense into this year's display -- a first time thing for me. I was inspired by Pumpkinrot's use of incense in 2020, so I decided to go with the same vendor he used: Plant Guru.

They smell very strong, which is a good thing.  I went with Clove and Pumpkin Spice scents.  Rot used big piles of cones in cauldrons to make this awesome smoke (and smell!) effect.  I've opted for sticks, which I'm going to try sticking in pumpkins, just to give a little spicy scent to the haunt.  We'll see how it goes!

Click here to buy incense from Plant Guru.  Free and fast shipping and relatively inexpensive for the quality! I'll definitely be using them again.

16 days until Halloween...