Monday, March 5, 2012

Finally...Something to Say.

Sorry folks, haven't been around a bit, mainly because I have had nothing to say, at least in the Hallowe'en sense.  Seems that housework, work, overall just having a late winter malaise has dried up my creative juices but yesterday I got a jumpstart.
For those who may remember this post on the Hallowe'en Tree from Gurney's nursery, I may have forgotten to mention last year that my two Katsura trees came in (one died but a quick call and they replaced it free of charge), the one that lived put on leaves and in the fall, as promised, released a smell akin to cotton candy, caramel and ginger just as promised.  It was better than expected (I actually didn't expect any smell at all).  So yesterday I got 2 more Katsura trees and a sugar maple.
katsura tree-cercidiphyllum-japonicum

Sugar Maple
I dig maples.  I love their blazing fall colors, their shape and their connotations of Hallowe'en and fall. I also love maple syrup but I'm not going to be driving any spigots into the trunk any time soon.
Also, as if that wasn't enough, I got a book from Amazon in the mail too (loves to see me a pasteboard box with a smiley face on it on the doorstep)...
Book Three Babaaayyyy!!!!
I didn't know that the Mitchells had released volume three, I came up on it by accident.  Folks, this set of books is a no-brainer, beg/steal/borrow the money type of investment.  They are WELL worth the price tag (keep in mind that they are in full color, idea-packed and beautifully photographed).  Lots of great ideas and inspiration in each and every volume.

And if that wasn't enuf...
I won a complete set of Hauntforum DVD haunts from Hauntcast!  How did I win (besides drawing a circle in monkey blood on the floor by the light of a full moon while chanting a spell naked with the blinds open, or was that too much information?), I went to PayPal through the Hauntcast site and became a yearly subscriber and hopefully might win another of the kick@$$ prizes that are offered.  So get your rear in gear and go sign up for Hauntcast!  Even if I didn't win or didn't have a chance to win anything, I would subscribe for the information that they provide and if nothing else, to support the haunt community.  Com'on folks, it's getting close to March 8, the deadline where they HAVE to have 250 subscribers or the deal's off.   Do your part, and PayPal is STILL offering no interest payments for 6 months so you don't have to fork over the $100.00 all at once, you can pay a little at a time; it's what I did and it doesn't hurt that way.

The good part of blogging and following blogs is that you can get information you didn't know was even out there.  A bit ago, I ran across someone who blogged about Hallowe'en plants, namely Pumpkin on a Stick.


What is there NOT to love about this?!  Ok, lets get this out of the way...1...2...3...awwww they're so cuuuutttte!  A member of the eggplant family (of all things) this cutie can be cut and dried for autumn/Hallowe'en arrangements.  So, I buys me some seeds (found some organic ones, not that it would matter to me if they were organic or infected with pathogens or nuclear waste, just so long as they grow) and used these cool seed starting trays from Burpees which doesn't allow me to to the unforgivable seed sin....overwatering (bought the trays at Lowe's but have seen them at Kmart and everywhere else).
My pumpkins on a stick babies!
Against all advice, I also started Chinese Lanterns
I have heard that they are prolific, invasive and can be a noxious weed.  Don't care, they're pretty, that's all what counts to me, although I will probably be cussing at them if half of what I have heard about them is true.  But what would there be not to love about a flowerbed full of invasive little orange lanterns?
My little Chinese Lantern seeds waking up...
Lastly, there needs to be a new show of the Discovery Health Channel...Hallowe'en Hoarders.  I looked through my shop and realized that I am a hoarder.


 I NEED everything in there.  Yes, there's just a tiny walking path through it but everything in there is valuable.  I NEED it!  I'm expecting my family to be seated in the living room one day and I walk in for an unexpected intervention.
"Joe, we need to talk with you because we love you."

"What is this? What's going on?!"

"Joe, we think that you have a problem with your Halloween obsession.  We think that you might need a little bit of help"

"Nothing's wrong with me, I don't have the problem, you all do. You've been against Halloween from the beginning!"

"Now Joe, please calm down, we are only concerned for you. We think that you just need a little rest from your hobby, that's all."

"Rest?!  I'm behind already!  I have several new props in mind that I haven't even started on! Nothing is wrong with me, everyone just doesn't understand!"

"We do understand and we know that you just need a little rest.  You look chilled, let these nice two men help you put on this nice jacket."

"I'm not cold and you are...wait, why aren't there any holes at the end of the sleeves?!  I'm not crazy, you are, the whole world is mad I tell you!  I've got corpses to build and coffins to construct!  Let me go I tell you!  I'm not mad, I'm the only sane one around!"

"Take good care of him, he's really a nice man deep down"

"I WILL KILL YOU ALL AND PUT YOU IN THE YARD HAUNT!!!  YOU'RE CHEAPER THAN A BUCKY TO ME!!!  I AM GOING TO HAVE THE BEST YARD HAUNT BECAUSE OF THE REALISM, BECAUSE I'LL HAVE REAL CORPSES!!! IT WILL BE GREAT, JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!!!  OH WAIT, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT, YOU'LL ALL BE IN IT!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

"On second thought, keep him as long as you can, we could use the rest."

9 comments:

The October boy said...

That was a great post! Well worth the wait. I hear you on the "intervention " thing. Not quite at the hoarders stage- but that can happen before you say "Boo".
Tried the last few tears to grow a sugar maple, but they never made it. The street I grew up on had all sugar maples for the parkway trees and I don't even have to tell you what it looked like in the fall! I guess you can't go back home....but maybe I will try again

Anonymous said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE maple trees (besides being a Halloween Addict I am a Tree Addict.) I will be looking for the pumpkins on a stick. Thanks for sharing.

Terra said...

Hilarious read! Thanks for also dropping the shout-out for the Hauntcast Resurrection :)

Old Fashion Halloween said...

Can you share the pumpkin on a stick seed source? I love buying these from the florist in the fall. Thanks!

Pam Morris said...

LOL! I love that hoarder bit--my family has come close to accusing me of the same thing--I say, "yes, but it's only my art and Halloween stuff that's in boxes stacked to the ceiling in 2 rooms." It's not like I've overrun the whole house. Seriously.....

Jeanne said...

A wonderful post!!! I dig the trees - just gorgeous! I miss my Maples here in Colorado. Been thinking about planting a Golden Linden tree - supposed to be as colorful as a Maple come Autumn....
And those Pumpkins on a Stick! Most Awesome! They'd look good in my flowerbed. I've had Chinese Lanterns and unfortunately they never got as pretty as those shown in your pic. And they were noxious for me in Arkansas. :0(
Love the last bit about Halloween Hoarders! Too Funny! Kinda sounds like my Hubby.... :0)
Happy Haunting!

suzanne said...

I can fully relate to your blogging malaise. But you've certainly found the solution! Especially love those pumpkins on a stick!

Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...

Okay, that post made my day....on so many levels. I just might be the perfect post....garden and Halloween. I am smiling from ear to ear.

Cheers!

Stephanie D said...

Ooo, pumpkins on a stick! Will have to check those out!