Back in the Halloween Hood & First Fall Finds

Well Hello Hello....are any of my favorite spooks still out there?  It's that time of year again when I am finally attempting  to take a summer break from those hectic holidays, and the super busy spring semester and end of the school year!  I have missed everyone here so much, and have been anxiously awaiting my opportunity to come back home here to Halloween Town on the web, and resume communing with my fellow Halloween Heads!  I hope everyone has managed to stay safe, sound and healthy!  Of course I'd be completely remiss if I failed to point out the obvious.....that it is now JULY!  And we all know what that means....YES! Halloween is just around the bend!  Woo Hoo!


Can you all believe that Halloween is just 114 days away...4 months and counting.  And everyone should know that it is the next three months leading up to October, that are what really gets the ole' Halloween Juices flowing and Monster Blood pumping.  It's the lead up that holds all of the excitement, anticipation, planning and preparation.  Of course October itself, is always a Candy Fueled, Pumpkin Scented, Spell Bound cacophony of sights, sounds, aromas and colors.  A Magic Filled month of Autumn Treats, Creepy Decor, Colorful Costumes and Candy Consumption....but lets not forget to pay homage to the 3 blistering hot and miserable months that precede it.  Those wretched summer months that we must endure en route to our much beloved month of October, and that most Magical of Holidays...All Hallow's Eve!

For it is in those three dreadfully dry and dull months, that the first signs of the season begin to slowly awaken from their seasonal consumer crypts.  As the last of the garden gnomes and pool toys disappear in the summer blowout sales, quickly replaced by the surge of school supplies and backpacks....that is when the astute Halloween Aficionado will discover the first tale-tell signs of the Harvest Season emerging.  Sprouting quietly like the shoots of last years pumpkin seeds...the crafting stores will start the season rolling.  Artificial Autumn flowers, leaves and gourds slowly appear, followed by feathered owls and crows.  Next comes the first sightings of the seasonal ribbons, and then scarecrows and fake pumpkins!  Within the following month, true seekers of the dark may be lucky enough to spot the first signs of Halloween decor at Garden Ridge, HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  And by August/September the first of the Fall themed Magazines should be hitting the shelves, filled to the brim with Hauntingly Good Halloween Inspiration.  And usually by September, the limited time only, seasonal flavored goodies begin to blow into the supermarkets on an Autumn Breeze.  Before you know it, it's Pumpkin flavored coffee, donuts, bread, lattes, cookies and candy galore!  Aaaahh....if you close your eyes and make-believe real hard, you may even be able to smell the spicy scents wafting in the air.

My first sightings this year were of course the usual Fall flowers, gourds and feathered birds at Michael's.  Also, Hobby Lobby has their Autumn Section bursting at the seems.  And Costco even has Autumn wreaths and skeletons out already!  I know there are those who would prefer not to see seasonal items until at least the month before the holiday, but for me....seeing these things always puts an extra spring in my step and gets me in creative crafting mode!

Yes, it is this slow crescendo, and trickling out of the Autumn/Halloween merchandise that makes the waiting and anticipating so much fun!  October still lies in wait, beckoning with a low, mournful faraway call, that will grow slowly louder and more hectically frantic as the month draws nigh.  So take the time now while the pace is slow, to start your Seasonal Sleuthing in the area stores to see what macabre merchandise is clawing its way to the shelves.  Has anyone else started seeing the Fall merchandise in your neck of the woods?  Be sure to share and post your sightings, so we can all join in and partake in the anticipatory excitement of the impending Halloween Holiday
~ Wendy  :o)