Pumpkins Spotted!

Caught sight of the first pumpkins for sale in my area at my local Walmart Neighborhood Marketplace.

Very tempting to buy and carve some now, but jack-o'-lanterns don't usually last too long in Florida. The constant heat, humidity, and rain causes them to kind of... melt.  

It's just as well, I suppose. After all, I ought to be saving up my pumpkin cash for the Great Pumpkin Project!

Friday the 13th Pizza

This is a fun idea from Beau Coffron (@lunchboxdad)

Would have attempted this today had I bought ingredients ahead of time.  I definitely want to give it a shot in the future.

Happy Friday the 13th!

True love

"True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen"

- François de La Rochefoucauld

I'm finding these two chicken wire ghosts inexplicably compelling.  I think it's partially due to the fact that this picture was taken during daylight hours, seemingly near sunset.  I also think it's because there is a clear relationship between these two; they aren't the usual solitary figures.  There's a story in there somewhere, the details of which we can never fully know.

Picture found on Pinterest. I could not track down the original source anywhere.

Nosferatu Candle Holder

This is pretty clever.

Click below to see it on Etsy

by LilacRage

Early September Yard Haunters

We were driving home from a date last night when I caught a glimpse of purple and orange lights down a side street.  I gave the ghoulfriend a bit of a start when I exclaimed "WOAH! Turn the car around!"

Pulling into the side street we were treated with a wonderful sight! A full-fledged yard haunt, and we aren't even a week into September yet!

(notice Sam from Trick R Treat in the window!)

Here's a quick video of the lights in action:

It was such a wonderful treat to stumble upon such a sincere display of Halloween spirit.  It absolutely made our night!  Come October, I think I'll leave a Great Pumpkin Project pumpkin for them. They clearly have the spirit of the season, and those headstones are seriously asking for a jack-o'-lantern

It's time

On the night of September 1st, as I was walking the ghoulfriend home from an event, we both inexplicably stopped in the middle of her quiet neighborhood street.  The wind blew, rustling the fallen sycamore leaves.  It was a cool 75° (cool for central Florida).  The New Moon meant it was dark, save for the streetlights.  We turned and looked at each other, wordlessly communicating that we both knew... it's time

"I'm normally a stickler on dusting this one off before the threat of hot days have
passed, but this year I'm appealing to the feeling over the calendar. It’s time folks"
- Sam Heimer, original artist

More-so than last year, it really feels like Halloween is coming.  Among friends and online circles, there has been a steadfast patience for the arrival of the season; a patience not felt last year (as Sam Heimer pointed out in this post) when many jumped the gun, declaring "spooky season" as early as July.  For whatever reason, I didn't see that as much this year, and I think we are better for it. 

The next day, September 2nd, we invited a close friend over to have a cozy day in.  We watched Fantastic Mr. Fox and baked homemade pizza and pumpkin bread (both of which I make quite well, if I do say so myself).

The ghoulfriend and I are very ready for this season to start.  This will be our first Halloween together, and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather share it with!