I'm Really Trying Not To Be Scrooge...

but, I'm so glad that Halloween doesn't require awkward gift giving situations.

First of all, I STRESS over finding nice gifts for everyone. I hate that the season has put so much pressure into the "bigger, better" gifts, but I also hate giving someone a box of prepackaged summer sausages...bleh.

Then, my list grows, and grows, and grows... because I don't want to leave anyone out. Funny thing about a growing shopping list, it causes the bank account to shrink and shrink and shrink ;)

Then, there's the awkward work/"holiday" situation. It's all a matter of being politically correct and blah, blah, blah. I celebrate Christmas, but I would in no way be offended if someone wished me a happy Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Yule or anything else that is celebrated this time of year. I'd look at it as an oppurtunity to learn more about the different celebrations.

And FINALLY... there's the work gift giving situation. About 5 presents were left on my desk yesterday, three without names, one with just a first name and thankfully one with a first and last name. I though that the one with just the first name, was from a co-woker, that is in the cubical next to me. When I thanked him for the gift, he gave me a very confused and embarassed look and said, "What?".... apparently, it's from another co-work with the same name that I don't work as closely with and didn't expect a gift from...awkward!!!

TOO MUCH STRESS!

I miss Halloween =)

Knowledge

I'm very excited today, because a book that I ordered should be waiting for me, in the mail, when I get home. To get a better understanding of my beloved holiday, I've been digging around on the internet, reading about the ancient traditions, from which Halloween was born. After reading various articles about the festival, Samhain, I became very intrigued by the over-all concept of the traditions that the Celts followed throughout the year.

I'm not going to even pretend to be an expert on the subject, but just from what I've read so far, their beliefs and traditions seem to be so... orgainic... if that makes sense. They lived off of the natural world and their festivals/celebrations and their calender reflected that.

It all just seems to make sense, the way that everything that they did followed the natural flow of Earth. Uncomplicated and pure. Reading about it relaxes my mind.

In anycase, I think that the knowledge that I'll gain from reading more about Samhain, will give me a deeper, more complete understanding and passion (if that's at all possible =) ) for Halloween =)

You've Never Heard of...

The Christmas Jack O' Lantern?

Ok, what about Skelety Clause?

Don't worry, neither has my husband... or the neighbors... but mark my words, they'll be asking about them come next Christmas =) People just can't resist something out of the ordinary =)

All is Right With My World Again =)

The blogs I'm following are back. Yikes, that was scary!

What Happened!?!

I lost all of the blogs that I was following... what happened!?!

Reason No. 1, Why I like Halloween...

better than Christmas: Halloween doesn't require one to untangle an impossible knot ball of twisted icicle lights.

First Sketch for 2010

The ledgend of 'Stingy Jack' is a new legend to me. I love jack 'o lanterns and this year, I wanted to find out about their origins and how pumpkin carving became a Halloween tradition. Basically, the legend states that Jack was a 'stingy' man and got himself into trouble by tricking the devil twice and making a deal with him, that he would let him out of his imprisonment, only if he promised not to take Jack's soul when he died. When Jack did die, heaven did not allow him in, because he had been such a terrible person and the devil would not let him into hell, because he had promised Jack that he wouldn't take his soul. So, now Jack roams the earth, with a carved turnip, that contains an ember from hell, that the devil gave to him, to light his way on his lonley travels.

At first, I didn't really think too much of the ledgend, but when I started considering new characters for my cemetery, Jack was the most logical character that I could think of, to put in a haunted cemetery, that also contains many jack o' lanterns and two pumpkin headed scarecrows.

So, here's my first sketchs of Jack. I hope to get him completed for the 2010 Halloween season. I'm also hoping to make him my first prop with movement =)

My Kind of Christmas

Happy, smiling faces...


These guys are from last year, but I plan on much more of the same this year =)

Freaky Food

The hubby and I had a blast giving creepy names to all of the food at our Halloween party.

Spooky Scents For Christmas Presents

I'm very excited. I just ordered two candles (Haunted House and Midnight Mass) from Dark Candles, for Christmas =) My Mom wanted ideas for presents, so I happily obliged =) Since I all ready have an account with them, I ordered them myself and I'm having them shipped to my parents house, so that I won't be tempted to open the package. I cannot wait!

If you haven't experience Dark Candles lovely scents yet, I suggest that you give them a try =)

www.darkcandles.com

Day Old..

I really enjoyed my JOL's this year and was super happy that I got to enjoy their warm, glowing grins for a few nights following Halloween =)

Happy

A Look Back...

Last year...

This year...

New Scarecrow

This big fella was a new edition this year =) I hope to make more creepy pumpkin critters for 2010 =)

More Halloween Pictures

There's an Edgar in the ditch!

Big JOL scarecrow.

Scarecrow with smiling, glowing minons.

A Few From "The" Night =)

Black n White

Nightime Shots

More Pictures =)

Gettin' There...

Window Detail

Here's a better (bigger) shot of my stained glass window project =) If it ever stops raining, I'll put it back out and take night shots of it illuminated =)

Weekend Accomplishments

Many things were accomplished this weekend. There's a few more projects to finish up and a LOT more decorations to put out =) The neighbors are asking >=) LOL! Nothing like keeping them on the edge of their seats!