Autumn and Halloween

[Panache]

Every year I look forward to this time of year with its playful winds and falling leaves, digging out my turtlenecks and sweaters to ward against the slight chill, making spicy pumpkin pies (with cinnamon whipped cream), enjoying hot buttered rum and nightcaps, and relishing the slight chill of the shortening days.

I realize that there are those on this forum who take no delight in the coming of All Hallows Eve, but ever since I was a wee lad, I have always loved the spooky fun of Halloween. I find that the following helps put me in the mood for this season.

Reading spooky tales by Stoker, Poe, M.R. James, and H.P. Lovecraft (and the his circle).

Watching Robert Wise’s wonderfully spooky “The Haunting” and Jacques Tournier’s slightly flawed but very atmospheric “Night of the Demon”. I also find “Creature from the Black Lagoon“, “The Thing from Another World”, and the very campy “Trollenberg Terror” (a.k.a. “The Crawling Eye”) to be loads of fun. For more spooky silliness I also pull out my old VHS tapes of “Kolchak: The Nightstalker” to watch the episodes “Horror in the Heights”, “Zombie”, “The Sentry”, and my favorite “The Spanish Moss Murders”.

Decorating the front yard. We have a giant spider web across the lawn with an arachnid I made out of PVC pipes with a spread of legs with a six foot diameter. The F-H.C.A.G. made a wonderfully creepy victim out of old clothes, a plastic skeleton and a pair of nylons.

Making elaborate Halloween costumes.

On Halloween itself my family enjoys watching Disney’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hallow” after the children have gone trick or treating (perhaps with a slice of that pumpkin pie and a small dram).

So for those of you among the good members who also delight in this time of year, here his a place to share what you do to put you in “the Spirit” of the season.


Cheers

Jamie

[macwilkin]

October is a busy month for me, as I am out talking about Ozarks ghosts and superstitions at various programs for state parks, community organizations, festivals, classes, etc. This is my "busy season" for discussing "things that go bump in the night", as the old Scottish prayer states.

Like you, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (the 1999 Canadian version) puts me in the mood for fall, as well as the changing leaves here in the Ozarks, and a nice pint of Woodchuck Dark & Dry Cider. I also have some old documentaries that a friend of mine made back in the 90's about Ozarks ghosts and superstitions that I always break out at this time.

Cheers,

Todd

[Joe Gondek]

This is also my favorite time of year
I like it better than Christmas
No Obligations, just enjoy Holloween and the fall colors

[Dirk Skene]

October is my favorite month. Chrisp but not yet as cold as November & later winter. I love Holloween. The smell of Jack-O-Lanters with burning candles is a fond memory.

[cessna152towser]

I usually like this time of year and feel ready to settle in at home more once the nights start getting dark earlier. But this year - whether its because I'm getting older or because of the incessant rain we had all through May June July and August - I'm just beginning to enjoy being able to get out and about more in the pleasant summer weather which has blessed us here since the beginning of September and I'm just NOT ready yet to accept that summer's almost over and soon the weather will be turning colder.

[Coemgen]

Halloween was my grandmother's favourite holiday, God rest her soul.

[pdcorlis]

Since I was young Halloween has been one of my favorite guilty pleasures. I don't just like Halloween, I LOVE Halloween.

Having been blessed with a stay at home mom with a wicked sense of humor and amazing sewing skills, My vast assortment of childhood costumes would have put a lesser Hollywood studio to shame. Hobo, cowboy, astronaut, living dead, mummy, pirate, sea captain, absolutely nothing was out of reach - and all just a little bit twisted if you get my drift.

Having planned for weeks, we happy few would explode from the house at twilight, our nostrils filled with an intoxicating blend of wood smoke, composting maple leaves, and air heavy with dew. The rich scent provided a dizzying backdrop as we scampered to the devilishly decorated houses that filled our "territory." We learned over the years the exact route that yealded a bounty not valued in tonnage but admired for its quality and diversity. All these years later I have come to respect the dedication of our neighbors. Each providing treats straight from the kitchen in a time before razor blades, straight pins, and rat poison. The only danger from a popcorn ball then was the obvious threat of cavities and a sour gut. Better than Christmas? You bet.

Today, I'm on the other end dishing it out instead of taking it. Our house is a shining beacon of old fashioned inappropriateness. No "harvest festival" at Phil's house - no-sir-eee. Its skeletons, ghosts, spiders and plenty of colored lights. Happily I dish out sugar filled treats to kids - nothing healthy here - sorry. If you're after sugarless gum you'll have to look elsewhere we only deal in the hard stuff. Just one rule at the door... No Costume? No Candy - its just that simple.

At the end of the night when the candy bowls are empty and the street is quiet I sit back knowing the tradition lives on. I can only hope the next generation picks up the torch and holds it high for all to see. Long live tradition and long live that age old phrase from Mischief Night "Trick or Treat."

[Luckey]

The little ones in Coeur d Alene are luckey to have your house to visit.

[Rex_Tremende]

Having planned for weeks, we happy few would explode from the house at twilight, our nostrils filled with an intoxicating blend of wood smoke, composting maple leaves, and air heavy with dew. The rich scent provided a dizzying backdrop as we scampered to the devilishly decorated houses that filled our "territory." We learned over the years the exact route that yealded a bounty not valued in tonnage but admired for its quality and diversity.

What a phenomenal photograph in words, Phil.

Regards,
Rex.

[auld argonian]

One of my favorite aspects of Halloween is waiting for the last family that I know will come trick or treating: the Thompsons.

The Thompson kids attended the same school as my two kids. There are thirteen Thompsons and their mom and dad are two of the most patient and wonderful people that I've ever met. Without exception all of the Thompsons are nice, smart, polite children and just a pleasure to spend time with.

I used to direct the annual musical at the kids school and the casts were full of Thompsons...a very talented family and their grand dad is Dave Green who's one of the most famous piano bar guys in Chicago and who, by coincidence, knows my mom from the days when she worked as the desk clerk at the Bismarck Hotel and he was playing in the cocktail lounge...small world.

A couple of the girls were our babysitters when our kids were small and now they're grown, married and bringing their own children with trick or treating...and these kids are adorable. It's sort of become a ritual for both families for the Thompsons to come over at about eight o'clock and be our last group of trick or treaters. I make up special trick or treat bags just for them...hey...special treatment? Fer sure.

Anyway, it sure doesn't seem like this much time has gone by, but it has, and seeing the Thompsons every Halloween is one of the nicest parts of the holiday.

Best

AA

ps: ...and if I'm lucky, my wife finds something very cute and sexy in the way of a costume and wears it for Halloween. Hey...I'm human...