Autumn is upon us!

To celebrate the first day of Fall, here are some of my favorite pictures from the past.

The Season Swap that almost wasn't

I took a 4 day weekend to take care of our season swap. Where I mow the yard one last time for the year, put up the summer stuff, and officially decorate for Halloween outside our house. This year, it rained almost every day, but I managed to get in and out and get it done...just not as fast or thorough as I would have liked. I usually get everything out and lighting done in one day..this time it took three.

Here are a few pictures of our Skeleton Project on Day 2:

We added 2 more skeles later on.

We also added a highly customized Zombie Prop....Introducing Fester Enrott

Before you say something, he did not lose a shoe....he found one!

I used mocha coffe to stain the shirt...every time you get near him he smells like baking cookies now!

At the time of these pictures we were about 20% into it and we were enjoying the sweet sounds of bagpipes marching by as our town celebrate a Celtic Festival just a block over.....much more to come!

Rain Rain go away...come again another Halloween Season.

Today marks our annual "Season Swap" day where we usually do the last mowing of the year, put up all the bright summer decorations and drag out the Cemetery for the official start of the Wicked Woods Haunt season. It has been absolutely beautiful weather for the last 3 weeks. I even took off time from work so I have Friday through Monday to work at my own pace. Then BAM! Rain! Mother Nature hates Halloween!!!

Usually Season Swap day is really nice and it rains on Halloween (Past 4 years counting). Maybe this year it has swapped out. I hope. Oh Well, I will just hope for a long enough break in the rain to get all the props and tombstones out and run the lights (my biggest fear of dealing with rain is electricity).

As for the final mow of the season...the wife is telling me not to mow...She thinks the unkempt look of the grounds coupled with the already impressive collection of fallen leaves is perfect for our "look". I will follow her advise and see where this leads ;)  

Time to work on projects till Mother Nature settles down! 

Signs of The Season

They are everywhere....if you are willing to look....

Starbucks delays Pumpkin Spice lattes.......OH THE HORROR!

Last year, Starbucks offered them a whole month early! This year, they will be delayed! Why must you toy with my emotions Starbucks?

Click *HERE* for the full story.

Bag Pipes, Thumbs up, and Wind Ghosts.

We literally put in 12 hours straight on the Halloween decor. We are now about 85% complete and it was the oddest, but most gratifying season swap ever. 

 

Our little town of Big Stone Gap,  is home to a Celtic Festival.

So today while we were dragging coffins and skeletons out into the yard, a parade of bagpipers marched by....For the rest of the day, I decorated to celtic flutes and bagpipes.. Odd... but I loved it!

Due to the festival, we had a BUNCH of out of towners in the area. I wish I had kept count of all the people the drove by and gave us the "thumbs up" or commented how much they loved what we were doing. It was truly gratifying to hear all the people come by and say they loved what we were doing. Even the preacher of the church we live next door to commented it was 'just amazing!". One woman took a few pictures and said to me, "I get it...this is your art....this is awesome!" I guess it is my art, but we have so much to do! I need to run out and get some extension cords, fix a broken Jason and Mike Myers prop, and get my fire and ice lights hooked up. There are so many other projects we are working on, it is down right maddening. 

One thing I am proud of this year is our wind ghosts.. Just love them at the new house! Especially the one flying over the house!

More to come!

Season Swap at 50% completion and climbing!

Part 1 of my annual Season Swap went off without a hitch. The weather was great! I even took the day off to spend all day working (crazy huh?)

 I took down all the happy, grinning suns and melodious wind chimes. Planted potted plants for winter and packed away anything that has to do with warm weather and sunny days. I even managed to get out all the outdoor Halloween decor, including several miles of extension cords, and have it ready to go early Saturday Morning! Last week I had a couple of electricians come over and put in some NEW high end outdoor receptacles.

 Now it is time to transfer this

Into something more wicKED like this!

I worry that it will take me far into Sunday to get just the minimal outdoor portions done due to this being completely uncharted territory for me. Time to put the "what if's" aside and hit the "what next" button!

I am also proud to say I have mowed for the last time in 2014.....well, I had a little help.