Bad Manners and Brimstone

We don't decorate the house anymore but we do a big haunted house at our local Legion.  It has become THE event of the season, in just a couple of years.  So we have animatronics set up in the house to make sure they work.  And half of the 12 ft skeleton from Home Depot.  Our ceiling is 12 ft high, at least, and the skeleton doesn't fit.  The pumpkin inferno one is in the garage; it doesn't fit there, either.  We're going to have to assemble them outside to make sure they work then at least partially unassemble them to bring them back in.  Fortunately, the ceiling on one side of the Legion is well over 12 ft.

I have tiny skeletons on a shelving unit in my living room, a dining room table covered with unique bottles that we are going to use in the apothocary shop section.

My husband is a bit obsessed...

We live in an apartment so we can’t put up outside decorations. 

We do have a small bench in the hallway that I’ll use to display a full-sized sorting hat. (Yeah, I know the sorting hat is not used on Halloween but can you think of a better time to display the thing?)

there will also be a grapevine wreath my MIL made a good 30 years ago on our door.  It will be decorated with artificial autumn leaves and small ghosts made from cotton balls and facial tissues. 

On the weekend before Halloween our building has a party in our courtyard for resident children and their friends.  I’ll be out there in my wonderful purple cloak and as much jewelry as I can carry distributing treats from a cauldron. 

I do need to do a bit of shopping for a good witch hat and wig but there’s time for that. 

Ain’t Halloween grand?

I agree seeing people's Talent with carving jack-o'-lanterns is just fabulous

When the leaves fall, I put out big, full plastic leaf bags that look like giant carved pumpkins. This year I bought a metal yard pumpkin who's wearing a purple witches hat. It's not very big (a bout a foot wide), but I'm looking forward to having him. Plus foam headstones.

The day of, I put out small paper Halloween bags (the kind you fill with candy for the kids), with glass encased candles on the inside. When lit, the images on the paper glow and flicker. flickering ghosts, skeletons, etc.

I've always enjoyed watching a lot of horror movies in October. Kinda sadly, with streaming movies so easy to watch recently, I watch too many horror the rest of the year leaving me with few new-to-me ones for October. I'll think on some to post here.

I've got Ghost Story on my list now. Thank you Peony.

Around here squirrels are eating the pumpkins that are set on doorsteps. They are ravenous.
  I got some snack cakes to give out, also peppermint patties. The cakes will go first, I don't mind having leftover peppermint patties.

I have a Halloween wreath on my front door and we have a miniature Halloween village of all the classic movie monsters in our front window.

BeagleDaddy will carve some pumpkins for the front stoop.  We used to do a more elaborate set up but we're both too tired any more.


BD will watch movies and eat junk food but I have to work the next day so I'll go to bed.

I am really struggling with deciding if I want to treat the trick or treaters this year. It hasn't been a lot of fun the past few years (only a few kids show up; none of them want to interact... I might get a grunted thank you.) I don't have children, so I don't feel like I've abused the system by taking and not giving. Yet, I still feel guilty for not treating. There's a movie that has sparked my interest at the theater, so maybe I should spend the two hours doing that??? I guess we'll see how I'm feeling on Saturday.

I hear you! That's why I stopped distributing candy and switched to reverse trick or treating. I made up bags with Halloween themed pencils, stickers, erasers, etc. along with some candy. One house had kids who never said thank you and their mother barely said a word. (Other kids were super appreciative.) I cut that house's bags to a small pumpkin of candy. (They moved.) Everyone is now on a dozen donuts plan. It's cheaper than the bags were and waaaay less hassle. We delivered them last night and one little one was jumping up and down on the couch yelling thank you. She was so cute! (The other kids messaged me on FB messenger to say thanks - they're all teens now.)