FALL and HALLOWEEN....DAY 7

On DAY 7 of Halloween my love gave to me:  

   SEVEN SPOOKY and PARANORMAL NOVELS 

I enjoy a good mystery but during October I like to change things up a bit. I like a good scary/spooky/paranormal novel.  

Last year I read a variety of books with witches and vampires as the main characters but this year I have changed it up.  This year I am reading Edgar Allan Poe everyday.  Yesterday’s read was a short tale; today is a one of his poems.  

As I looked through my ebook library I found I had quite a few books I could possibly read this month but plan to keep with Poe.  

Each day I get a few emails from ebook sites which I subscribe.  Seems there are quite a few of novels with shift-shapers, witches etc...the last few weeks.  Sure once Halloween has past they will come up with books centered around the next upcoming big holiday.  

It’s good to take a break and instead of watching television or playing a game on one of your devices to just pick up a book and read.  

Until tomorrow.....enjoy the day.  

FALL and HALLOWEEN....DAY 6

On Day 6 of Halloween my love gave to me:

    SIX BAGS of CANDY CORN 

I like candy corn. There is just something about the sweetness of it during the fall. Candy corn has come a long way over the years.  It no longer is just the white, orange and yellow kernel shaped candy. There is Indian corn which is white, orange and brown. It is similar in shape but a different flavor. The brown gives it a more chocolate flavor I think. I recently picked up a sea salt chocolate and a bag of candy corn with chocolate peanuts.  Yes another tradition of mine is to get a bag of the original flavor.  I count out thirty pieces then eat one at a time while reminiscing about my maternal grandmother and one of my aunts.  There is a story that goes along with this. A comical story from when I was three years old.  It all centers around candy corn and my first experience with it. I’ll tell the story later in this month in a blog.  But for now let’s just say candy corn bring up a wonderful childhood memory. 

Over the years, after taking my allotted pieces I have used the remaining candy in a snack type mix I’ve taken to parties.  Candy corn can be used many ways; check it out on the web.  You may find something you like.  

What would I do if I did receive six bags?  I’d first hope it was different flavors; if not I’d probably share with others. 

Candy corn was always a favorite treat during this time of year; well just October.  

Another favorite but not everyone’s was those candies wrapped in orange and/or black paper.  They were like a taffy with peanut butter in the middle. They were called ‘kisses’ or ‘peanut butter kisses’.  Actually four of those seem to be enough for me.  I’d always find them in my truck-or-treat bag.  They’d be the last thing I’d eat.  

Memories of Halloween’s gone by.  Nice to reflect once in awhile especially when eating a few pieces of candy corn. 

Until tomorrow....enjoy the day and think about your Halloween of long ago. 

FALL and Halloween....Day 5

On Day 5 of Halloween my love gave to me:

FIVE SILVER SKULL NECKLACES 

As I said yesterday is not just for the young. It can be enjoyed by all.  One is never to old for Halloween.  

I have traditions which I am sure I mentioned.  Traditions are a good thing.  

A friend made this awesome necklace (see picture).  

She created quite a few funky pieces for the holiday.  What I like is that all pieces she created are one of a kind.  A few may look similar but there is a difference to each item. Like each of us, we are all one of a kind.   We are different, but there are few similarities at times to another.  

I wanted a necklace that I could wear all year and not just Halloween.  

This fits the requirements for me. 

Another tradition I do during October is to wear more black and orange.  Also I have a few Halloween tee shirts but usually wear them after the 20th to last day of the month. I needed to accessorize and found the necklace a good choice; as well as an orange scarf on other days.  

To me Halloween 👻 is not just about candy (although I’d never turn down a bag of M&M’s; any type will do nicely); but it’s about having fun dressing up and being something or someone different if only for one day.  

So on this Day 5 of Halloween 🎃 I put on my skull necklace, black shirt, orange shorts and black hat and go out into the world. Where am I heading? Wherever ny travels take me.  

Until Day 6.....put on your black and orange and enjoy the day. 

FALL and HALLOWEEN..... DAY 4

On Day 4 of Halloween my love gave to me:

     FOUR HAUNTED HOUSE ADVENTURES 

   

Yesterday I blogged about haunted hayrides. Today it’s haunted houses.  These probably are more popular.  There is so much that can be done and different themes.  There could be just a regular house that’s haunted; you can do a haunted school theme; haunted restaurant; haunted store etc...let your imagination run wild.  

Many organizations have done a haunted type house as fundraisers.   Like a haunted hayride, haunted houses are not for the faint at heart.   They are fun as you never know what will jump out at you.  

My husband and I once decorated one of our rooms in the house with a spooky theme.  Trick-or-treaters came into a room lit only by one lamp and lights strung around the room. They were greeted by a motion activated bat 🦇 hanging from the chandelier.  Sitting on the couch was a Skelton dressed in an off white lacy suit, a large off white lacy hat in her head and a dried dead bouquet of flowers. She was waiting for her groom.  A blow up coffin with another Skelton near a window. This Skelton wore a Philadelphia Eagles jersey with a sign stating fan waiting for a Super Bowl win. Vases of dead flowers were scattered around the coffin.  There were other odd things in the room.  Everyone who came inside enjoyed the room. Our porch was also decorated with spooky things. 

What fun times we had. 

If you are lucky to get trick-or-treaters you can go out to make a fun house for them.  

A lot of areas have a trunk or treat sponsored by a community group.  You can make it fun by decorating your vehicle. 

If you’re front yard is big enough you can turn it into a graveyard with the cute fake tombstones you see at stores. 

My front is small and since I live in Florida I have orange and black flamingos as my decorations again this year.  

You are never to old for Halloween I say. 

Until tomorrow.....enjoy the day. 

FALL and HALLOWEEN....DAY 3

 

On Day 3 of Halloween my love gave to me:

  THREE HAUNTED HAYRIDES 

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

The fall season bring harvest season, most farmers fields are now bare.  Corn 🌽 has been picked but the stalks remain. Some will harvest these stalks for sale to those looking for holiday decorations but many just may leave them in the field for the making of a corn maze or use in a hayride. 

A hayride is a lot of fun during the fall.  I have had the opportunity to be on a few in my younger years (during high school); been on a few haunted as an adult. There is nothing like sitting on bales of hay in a wagon as it’s pulled by either horses or a tractor.  I like the horse drawn wagon best. What fun to be totally scared while being pulled through a wooded area and/or corn field in the dark.  The only light is from the moon and stars.  Not aware of what will occur being the best part.  After the scare and fright it’s time to enjoy hit chocolate or apple cider.  

Unfortunately there is no haunted hayrides in my area to enjoy; but I do have my memories of hayrides of the past. 

This is only one fun event for the fall and Halloween.  

One particular hayride took us around a lake with a stop at a haunted house. After we enjoyed homemade pumpkin ice cream from a local vendor. What made this hayride interesting was being followed by a pick up truck that sort of scared us as he slowly drove behind the wagon on the lake road. We thought it was part of the event only to find after it ended the vehicle driver was afraid to pass the wagon. This scare added to the fun at no extra charge. 

It would be an awesome gift to receive the haunted hayrides; but I can only dream.  Perhaps you may know of one and decide to surprise someone by taking them for an evening of fright and fun. This is only a suggestion though.  These scary events are not for the faint at heart. 

Until tomorrow.....have a great day three of Halloween.  

FALL and HALLOWEEN....Day Two

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

It’s Day 2 of Halloween.  

On Day 2 of Halloween my love gave to me two ravens saying ‘nevermore’.  

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

With ‘nevermore’ being said this brings me to today’s rambling. 

I have always loved that Edgar Allan Poe poem “THE RAVEN”.  The first time I read it was in eighth grade.  It’s one poem that I find difficult for many to recite aloud.  I’ve always thought a certain type voice can only do it justice.  

A few days ago I downloaded the complete tales and poem collection by Poe.  As it’s Halloween month, I plan to read a tale a day and/or poem.  This will be a new October tradition.  

As I read Day one’s tale, I thought about other authors who write macabre stories.  I looked through my ebooks and noticed I have a few in the paranormal genre that I have read the past few Halloween seasons. I enjoyed reading a variety of authors, but wanted to concentrate this year on one.  I found it takes no time to read one of the Poe tales as compared to a full novel or novelette.  

It gives me few a bit more time to concentrate on writing and trying to compose perhaps a fall or Halloween piece.  

Yesterday I began my celebration of Halloween.  Yes I am wearing the black and orange.  Brought out of storage my silver bangle spider bracelet.  I have a new skull and spider necklace I commissioned to have made for me which I am wearing.  Got my yearly bag/bags of candy corn.  I put out my black and orange flamingos in my yard and decorated inside.  Unsure of my little give-aways for this year but still have time to decide.  These are my yearly October traditions.   

Both fall and Halloween are in the air at least for me. Football (college only) is watched every Saturday.  Apple cider sits in my fridge and pumpkin spice bread for my morning toast. 

Traditions are good to have; no matter how strange. 

Until tomorrow it’s not too late to begin your own October traditions. 

FALL and HALLOWEEN...Day One

I have always enjoyed Halloween. It's one of my favorite holidays. What makes it a favorite is the fall season.  Coming after at times a hot season of summer, autumn brings cool weather but not fridge temperatures like winter. I have always thought that fall was just Mother Natures way of preparing us for winter.  For those living in the north the leaves of brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow are a beautiful sight to behold.  The various colors of the reds, yellows and oranges I think of as Natures painting.  As they fall to the ground they make a lovely colorful carpet.  Of course they eventually turn brown and die making a crunching sound under our feet as we walk.

Fall brings out pumpkin spice flavored 'everything'.  Many are not a pumpkin spice fan, but for us who are it's great; from coffee to donuts bring it. 

I guess pumpkin 🎃 brings the thoughts of jack-o-lanterns with smiling faces or perhaps a menacing one; which brings me to the purpose of today's ramblings.  

Last year I wrote about what it would be like to receive a gift a day for the month of Halloween.  Much like my Christmas and Valentine's Day pieces; this centers around what one would receive for October. This year I plan to do again this year.   What fun would it be if one were to receive something related to the holiday everyday. From whimsical to fantasy I plan to write about it over the next month as well as blog about fall.  

Today being Day One, I begin. 

On the first day of Halloween my love one gave to me a big pumpkin to carve.  

The only problem with carving early is that it may not last till October 31st but then who says one cannot get another to carve?

Pumpkins don't have to be carved.  There are so many other things that can be done.  One I have seen over the last few years was to stencil it.  The one particular stenciling I've seen and really liked was with black cats, bats and ghosts.  With imagination and help from craft sites on the web ideas for your pumpkin are many. 

You can take the seeds from the pumpkin for roasted pumpkin seeds; but that is up to your own preference if you desire to do so. Personally I am not a fan of doing this.  

Well it's October 1st so a Happy first day of Halloween. 

Until tomorrow...enjoy your day.