Halloween Traditions

Do you still celebrate Halloween or is that just kids’ stuff?  It is really my favorite holiday because it involves fun food and drink, lots of creativity and no gifts necessary. 

Last year we had a fantastic costume party.  This year, ummmm, no.  Just like everyone else.

But there are certain traditions that are easy and bring me a lot of joy.  I intend to continue that even this crazy year. 

Simple Decorations

I may not drag everything out of storage this year, but I am putting up some of my favorites.  I love this cute sign DF Terry gifted me a few years back.  I decorated my office bulletin board for Halloween and I see this cute sign every time I’m in front of my computer.

Terry bought it for me because she has heard me use this phrase over the years when I’m channeling my inner witch.

Theme Kitchenware

I have so many cute Halloween things in the kitchen from coffee mugs to potholders.  I’m bringing them all out to start using now. 

This ghost glass was a little treat I bought myself about, oh, 20 years ago.  When I still lived in Reno.  It makes its spooky manifestation every year about this time.  Here is a festive little mocktail and a fun straw.

Books

Oh, yeah.  You knew I would go here, didn’t you?  I like a little horror all year, but I cannot resist looking for something new and scary this time of year.  What’s your favorite scary book?

Anne Rice’s books are delish with witches and vampires and haunted houses and spooky towns (hello, New Orleans!).  I used to get so caught up in her stories, you would have needed a small bomb to get my attention.

Stephen King and I have spent many a night together.  The last I listened to on audio was Sleeping Beauties.  It was a tiny bit scary but mostly it was just so darn good.

Justin Cronin wrote The Passage trilogy.  Oh my.  It was six years between book 1 and book 3 and it was pure torture waiting.  So original and so good.

Jeff Lindsay wrote the Dexter series.  Yes, the TV series was the same character, but there was too much ancillary crazy in the show and it subtracted from just how scary Dexter is. I recommend the books, but you can skip the series.

Movies

I have never been a fan of slasher movies, but I do like a good ghost movie.  Any suggestions? 

The Changeling is an oldie but goodie and I have a personal connection to it which I wrote about here. 

Do you remember when Sixth Sense came out?  Were you taken in by the twist at the end?  When I watched it the second time, even knowing what the twist was, I still loved it.  As I have every other time I’ve watched it since.  I might dust this puppy off for viewing again this year.

It seems like the SciFi Channel does a marathon of Twilight Zone every Halloween.  I think I’ve seen most of the episodes, but every once in a while I catch something new.  They have really stood the test of time.

Food

I am going to try one cute little mummy recipe and if it turns out I’ll post pics.

But I don’t think I can go wrong with pumpkin muffins out of a box.  Enough butter on top, it’ll be fine, right?

Of course, it’s still like the peak of summer around here, but so gorgeous.  The plants are coming out of their heat-induced stupors and looking beautiful. 

This roadrunner was so focused on his prey he let me take his picture.  Luckily I never saw what his prey was and thus missed witnessing the circle of life.  Thank goodness.

I hope you’re enjoying fall, or as I call it, summer lite.