Why do I love Halloween? As an artist, this holiday serves as a canvas for my creative imagination. Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage.” My stage is a little creepier than most.
This year’s setting evokes a dark theme. With bold strokes, my home has transformed into a haunted castle where vampires lurk and bats swoop down in hoards at unsuspecting guests. The bats have multiplied since last year.
Dead guys splattered along my driveway set the tone for the creepy night. They lie dead in my yard as a sign that all may not be well. Only the brave shall tread.
Decorating at dusk is like drawing with light. Halloween begs the lines to be drawn askew. Like a twisted web, it will lure the victims in…
Costumes are critical.
This year, we’ll wear our traditional Addams Family costumes. All family members will join in the fun. Well, Almost everyone.
I’ve concocted my traditional pumpkin cake. Two chocolate bundt cakes, plastered together and frosted in orange, form the hallowed gourd. I used a paper bag for a stem and wound a Philodendron stem around it for the vine. It’s a feast for the eyes and the gnawing in one’s stomach.
On Halloween night, the picture will come to life. Frightening music will stir souls from outdoor speakers. Strings of lights will welcome the little strangers. The doorbell will ring and the dry ice machine will blast to the squeals of miniature monsters, ghosts and fairies. When we open the door, suspended bats will swing back and forth to add to the scary deliciousness. Donned in our finest vampire attire, we’ll pass out our treats.
When all the candy is gone, the lights will go out. The canvas will be wiped clean for the next holiday.
Do you decorate for Halloween?
Love the decorations! Here in Belgium Halloween isn’t popular yet. At work we do organise something special though, but it is not related to Halloween. I hope my students will give me permission to publish the pictures I’ll take.
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I hope so too! Of course here in the States everything is commercialized, but it is fun to don a costume and be someone else for a while.
Thanks so much!
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I’m sure you’ll get loads of ‘trick or treaters’, Susie. They’ll just step over the body. Kids are unfazed by such things when there’s candy in the offing. 🙂 Happy Halloween. 😯
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You are so right! They’re outside in the dank, damp air after a misty day yesterday. I may have to roll them over to dry them out!
Happy Halloween to you!
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First things first….R O X Y! Next, your house is the one this scaredy cat would be walking, correction, running past, but then would go back just like all those characters in every scary movie ever made, because I would be soooooo curious about that body in the driveway! In other words…well done Susie, well done indeed.
Update: I finished dead last in the Barbell for Boobs Fundraiser, but I FINISHED for you Susie…whoot! The numbers aren’t in yet on how many women will benefit from this, but it was a great turnout, so I expect it to be good.
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Thanks Lisa! I had him out there last year and I don’t think we had too many kids run by. This year he’s around the corner a little so you don’t see him as well. Just adding to the fear factor!
WOOHOO!!!!! You are the very best. I am so glad to hear that you finished! I can’t even imagine doing 10 reps of anything right now. That was such a cool way to make money for breast cancer and I LOVED the name! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
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That cake looks amazing. I love bundt cakes. Yum!
Funny that you mention Halloween decorating- my Halloween post is actually about the amount of effort (or lack thereof) I put into celebrating the holiday. Honest to god, if we actually get around to carving a pumpkin, it will be a win. I’m just too lazy. I need to save all my energy for Christmas.
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One year I picked up a Martha Stewart Magazine. They had pictures of a snake make of pumpkins. I bought 20 pumpkins and gutted them. Then I bought a big drill bit and drilled holes in all of them and threaded Christmas lights inside to light them up. I was insane….What I do now is a piece of cake! 🙂 I really go nuts at Christmas..
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I’m coming to Colorado to Trick or Treat at your house. Get the guest room ready!!!
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It’s ready for you! Happy Halloween!
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Love that you are so into Halloween! It’s one of the coolest holidays and your decorations are awesome! I wanna trick or treat at your house!
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Come on over Phil! It is the coolest holiday. I am really looking forward to it!
Thanks so much!
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Oh, Susie! I SO LOVE IT! Beautiful home and decorations! That dead guy in the driveway looks too real. Wish I was trick or treating at your place! 🙂
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Thanks Maria!
He does look real and there’s another on the porch. The creepier the better! Come on by!
Happy Halloween!
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And I thought I was into Halloween-nice work! My annual party is called Hallobash, and I get way into costume parties, but the home decor part is where I slack. I hope you post some pictures of the family dressed up. Have fun!
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I LOVE Hallobash! Are there orange drinks at your bash?
Thank you and have a Happy Halloweeeeeeeen!
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Thanks, you too! One year, I did bright orange and green jello shots and they were a big hit, but I haven’t done a big batch of orange scary punch yet; I should try that some time!
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Or glog….
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🍻Yes!
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This is fantastic! Wish I wasn’t living in a share house…
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Thanks Anna!
Have a Happy Halloween!
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I can only imagine the haunting shenanigans you have planned for the neighbourhood kids!
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I would love to get one of those chair costumes and wait for someone to sit on me…. Buahahahahaha~!
Happy Halloween Nelle!
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You are a total delight, Susie. Your decor and writing are beautiful!
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Thanks so much Nia!
Great to “see” you. Have a Happy Halloween!
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You’ve outdone yourself this year, Susie! That cake looks too good to eat 🙂
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I nab a slice every time I walk into the kitchen. Talk about scary!!!!
Thanks Alarna!
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My Lord, Susie, your house is gorgeous!
Well done, baby!
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Thanks Hook! It is a great canvas especially for Halloween!
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It certainly is!
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That’s awesome! Our neighbors went all out this year, so our house looks pretty weak.
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Thanks for watching! After I made it, I had to share. It is too funny.
This is the year that you get to relax and enjoy your pregnancy. Happy Halloween!!!
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Oh my… I think I’m going to trick or treat at your house myself! 🙂
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You should! 🙂
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I looooove Halloween. I throw a party for the kids and really get into it. This year I decorated for a murder mystery, but I had to be careful because we are on a tight budget. Recycling is my middle name when it comes to decorations. I love your cake idea. And you really ought to do something about the body on the ground…
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We called him Charlie last night and the kids loved him! That is, the kids who made it up to the door!
I am a big recycler too! Halloween really lends itself to old spooky stuff…
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It is a good thing I didn’t see this before the big night or I would have been finding a way to get to your place just to see this. You have brought back a lot of fun memories of past Halloween nights when things were done up right.
You never cease to impress. I hope you had a lot of fun.
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Thank you! It was fun. There were more kids too! I am always afraid we’ve gone too far and the little ones won’t come up to the door.
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Were I work (children’s hospital) departments decorate for Halloween and the kids that are inpatients trick and treat through the building. You would love it.
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LOVE THIS STUFF! We are currently planning to go to a party as a bottle of wine and a cheese platter….we’ll see how THAT turns out!
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