This Halloween, Pumpkins Go Postal!

Jumpin' Jack O'Lanterns....It's almost Halloween!  Speaking of Halloween and more importantly, of Jack O'Lanterns....there is no better way to celebrate our favorite holiday than to mail out all those spooky cards and boxes of candy, signed, sealed and delivered with 'Jack-o'-Lantern' Forever Stamps!  These Pumpkin Postage Stamps are most pleasing to my Lil' Halloween Soul,...and are hands down my favorite stamps to come along since the Edgar Allen Poe Stamps of 2009 and the 2013 Harry Potter Collection!  

In fact, they are quite possibly my favorite stamps ever!  I mean nothing says Happy Halloween better than Grinning Jacks.  These beauties went on sale this week, and are going fast...go figure!  But the good news is, you can stock up on them and break them out again every October, because they are 'Forever Stamps'!  So in the immortal words of Edgar A. Poe...once bought at today's price, these festive stamps will be mail-able at that same price...."Forevermore"!  You can't beat that.

For your enjoyment, below is a collage of a few other spooky stamp offerings the US Postal Service has served up in past years...so which Halloween Stamp do you feel best epitomizes the essence of the Halloween Season?

From August to Autumn

Wow...tomorrow is August 1st, and that means another birthday will roll around for me on August 2nd, and that is in no way exciting other than the fact that it officially marks the beginning of my annual Halloween Hunt Ritual. That's what I always request to do on my birthday...go around to all the stores and see if I can spot any Halloween products on the shelves. It helps soften the blow of growing another year older, because I instantly feel like an excited kid again when I spy the first pumpkin, skull, witch hat or bat! As all good and true Halloween Lovers know...the stores right about this time, will have officially begun their slow and creepy march towards our favorite holiday...All Hallow's Eve.

 Already, most of you should have spotted the slow roll out of Fall and Halloween goodies coming to Michael's, Joanne's and Hobby Lobby's near you. But after August begins and the school stuff is bought up....the Halloween Mercantile Isles will start rolling out the good ole' Orange and Black!  And that is honestly one of the most magical and exciting things about the season for me....the Countdown!  Pumpkin Spiced EVERYTHING will begin to manifest out of thin air, and the Fun and Fright of the season will 'materialize' right before our eyes.  And that means that there will be all sorts of fun Autumn Activities kicking into high gear as well.  In fact, I just ran across one that is Perfectly Pumpkin-y in every way.  For those fiendish friends of mine who live in or near Texas, you'll want to check this out. (I'm looking at you Gill-Man!)  It's just the perfect way to spend an autumn day.  And if you get the chance to go...be sure to post some pics for the rest of us to enjoy! 

"Autumn at the Arboretum", named one of "America's  Best Pumpkin Festivals" by Fodor's Travel, MSN Travel and Country  Living, will return to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden to  highlight the "Art of the Pumpkin" September 17 to November 23. The  Dallas Arboretum was just named one of the 15 most breathtaking gardens  in the world by Architectural Digest."

Over 75,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash come together to form the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village. A multitude of special fall events are also available throughout the pumpkin festival including a hay bale maze, scavenger hunts and Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch. Join us from September 17 - November 23, 2016.

For more information on all Autumn at the Arboretum events, call 214.515.6612 or visit Dallas Autumn at the Arboretum

(Photo / News - © Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden)

All Hallow's Eve 2014

It's ALL HALLOW'S EVE once again, and I've enjoyed spending the season with all of you Hallowe'en Heads out there.  Tonight brings an end to the great Hallowe'en Countdown of 2014!  And the Wheel of the Year turns once again.  May all the Spookiness and Magic of Hallowe'en, Haunt your Halls tonight...and may you have a most Frighteningly Fantastic OCTOBER 31st!    

xoxo, 

Wendy the Very Good Witch

Jack O'Lanterns and Ghoulish Gourds

© Pinterest via Erin Bourassa

Jumping Jack O'Lanterns Ichabod...it's almost Hallowe'en!  My, my, my.... how the magical month of October seems to fly by so fast!  Wish it would linger for awhile.  Speaking of Jack O'Lanterns, for today's Halloween Countdown post I thought I'd share some images of my favorite Jack O'Lantern's that I've found on the internet.  I'm of the belief that every Jack O'Lantern, just like every person.....has their own unique personality!  And although I have never met a single Jack O'Lantern that I didn't love...I do tend to favor ones that have a mischievous, primitive or grimacing gaze to them.  And although I do love the traditional Orange Pumpkin, I must confess that I'm actually more smitten with the Green and White varieties, especially if they have lumps, bumps, stripes and warts!  Call me odd...but I can't help what I find fascinating, and for me....the uglier the Pumpkin, the more I seem to adore it!  So without further adieu...I present my favorite Ghoulish Gourds.

 Oh...and one more thing....because I would be remiss if I didn't give The Pumpkin Man his due each October....at the bottom of this post for your squeamish pleasure....please enjoy another rousing Annual Rendition of "The Pumpkin Man Dance"!

© Pinterest via Jay Knioum

© Pinterest silver-fish Hub Pages

© Pinterest via Kat DeBlois

© Ed Conroy

© susannassketchbood.typepad.com

© leya curiousbird.typepad.com

© marthastewart.com

© Skull-a-Day

© Martha Stewart.com

© Pinterest gypsymare.blogspot.com via Chadds Ford Great Pumpkin Carve

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Hallowe'en Tree Jack!

And of course The Annual Viewing of the Pumpkin Man Dance!

Pumpkin Carving and Poe - Muppet Style

Thought the Halloween Countdown was a good time to go 'back in time' and visit the The Muppets on Halloween!   

First up is the Muppet Halloween short... 

"Zero Mostel reads Poe"...in honor of today's Winners of The Halloween Tree, Edgar Allan Poe Book Give-Away!   

Laugh along as the comedian's fears are "counted and compelled", so they can "quickly be dispelled"! 

And next up is the Swedish Chef who's looking to carve himself up some Jack O'Lanterns and turn them into tasty Pumpkin Pies....but the Jacks have a plan to stave off the massacre.  See who claims victory in this Halloween themed retro short...viewer discretion is advised.

"Swedish Chef Carves Pumpkins"!

Oh My Pumpkin Seeds!

Oh my Pumpkin Seeds!  I have just discovered the tastiest Fall Tidbits ever.  And being the crafty lil' Good Witch that I am (most of the time), I just couldn't help but start mixin' up ingredients in my apothecary kitchen and creating a whole new bowl of YUMMY!  Okay...I bet you are just dying to know what I conjured up, so I'll tell you.  First of all, I discovered a new Fall product at Trader Joe's.  Of course for me, everything at Trader Joe's is new however....because we just got our very first store here this Summer....woo hoo!  So when I was there on Monday trying to find my trail mix, I stumbled upon Trader Joe's Spiced Pumpkin Seeds.  Of course the word 'spice' immediately sends up a red flag for me, because I do not like hot and spicy anything.  And I figured they probably had some kind of Chipolte or Cayenne Pepper on them.  But luckily I am also a curious and resourceful lil' witch, so I checked the ingredients.  And lo and behold, the 'spice' in these babies is of the 'sweet' variety....like allspice and cinnamon.  Now we're talkin'!  But still being ever so cautious, I decided to buy just two bags in case I hated them, knowing the Hubby human Hoover would eat whatever I refused to, because he's not picky and he hates to waste food/money. Good man!

Now I must backtrack to our other favorite Fall treat...Publix Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream.  That is some tasty tasty stuff with bits of real pie crust and ribbons of whip cream in it.  We'd already picked up about 5 cartons of it when it was on sale, because that's how we roll.  Did I mention that there are also currently 10+ bottles of that International Delights SF/FF Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer that I mentioned in an earlier post, sitting pretty in our second refrigerator?  Yeah....that crap was too hard to obtain for too long, so when we finally found a well stocked cooler....we cleaned them out!  Where was I?  Oh yes...my new magically delicious concoction of Autumn Deliciousness.  

So when I finally got a handful of those Spiced Pumpkin Seeds in my mouth, I was in Pepita Paradise....omg, they are SO freakin' scrumptious and pretty much highly addictive as well  Also, these are the 'shelled' pumpkin seeds I'm talking about...not those nasty in the hull ones.  Anyway....the light bulb in my head goes off, and I think to myself...what a wonderful world these tasty tidbits would make an incredible topping for my Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream!  So I got right on that....and the rest is Halloween History in this house.  

 Everyone loved it....in fact we probably love it TOO much, but it is what it is.  So needless to say, I sent the Hubster back over to Trader Joe's first thing the next morning with a standing order of 'every bag on the shelf'.  And in true Hubster fashion, he brought me back just 6 out of  the 30 available bags....curse him!  That's okay...he'll just be making more trips like he had to do for the creamer, until he finally broke down and stocked up like I told him to begin with!  So for those of you with a Trader Joe's anywhere near you, get over there and get some now.  As for the Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream, Publix is a Florida only store I believe, but Trader Joe's has their brand of  Pumpkin Ice Cream too, and I'm sure your local grocers do as well.  And don't forget to add your Spiced Pumpkin Seed Topper!  You can thank me later for Brewin' this up!

 

And So It Begins...the Pumpkin is Back!

And so it begins....bring on the Autumn Season!
What a most wickedly wonderful surprise I woke up to this morning, thanks to my dear hubby!  I opened the refrigerator doors to discover the First Pumpkin Goodies of the Halloween Season.  Bye-bye sugar-free Hazelnut coffee creamer...you have officially been replaced until further notice by a brand new fat-free/sugar-free Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Creamer by International Delight!  In the past I've always used Coffee Mate sugar-free Pumpkin Spice creamer because it's the only Pumpkin flavored one we could find that was also sugar-free.  But this year International Delight has stepped up its game and actually beat Coffee Mate to the grocery store...at least with the sugar-free version.  And as I sit here typing, and sipping from my Owl mug, I can attest to its Pumpkin Pie Tastiness! 

And as if that man didn't already score enough brownie points with me today...my new creamer was flanked with Limited Edition Pumpkin Pie Yogurt - Light, from Yoplait!  How cool is that?!  I have not sampled the yogurt yet, so I can't report on its tastiness as of this writing, but truly how bad can anything with a lil' pumpkin in it really be?!  I am super excited to give this stuff a try, and plan on doing just that at lunch today, but the more important point of today's post is that it is officially The Season of the Autumn People....at least in the grocery stores....woo hoo!  I should also mention that the hubster also brought home a bag of Pepperidge Farms Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies the other day too, in case anyone is interested in checking them out. I was skeptical at first, but they were moist and soft and quite yummy...however there are only 8 cookies in the bag and with 5 people clamoring to try them....the whole bag was decimated within about 5 minutes!  Hence, why there is no photo evidence of it's existence!  All the more reason to go buy some more!  Would love to know what the rest of you are finding in your area grocers...so please be sure to post! 

The Littlest Pumpkin Farmer

So it's almost the middle of June, and for many that means it's also Pumpkin Growing Time.  

In order for those shiny round orbs to be plump and round and ripe in time for Halloween....there is a lot of hard work that must precede the prize, and this is the time of year that Pumpkin Farmers everywhere are getting their head in the game.
And that includes pint sized Farmer, Milan Lukes of Manitoba.  Yes, Milan may be a bit smaller than the average Pumpkin Farmer, but the boy's 'got game' when it comes to cultivating squash!  It started with his love of all things that are orange....which inevitably ended up with every Halloween Lover's favorite orange object....the PUMPKIN! 
Milan learned everything he could about growing pumpkins and got straight to work.  He tilled up a patch in his backyard,  planted his seeds, watered, fertilized, composted, heated them and even left a night light on for them.  But he says that the real secret to successfully growing a giant, is in selecting the perfect seeds to plant.  Apparently using seeds that came out of a 1300 lb. gourd increases the odds in your favor of cultivating another giant specimen.  Thus at the end of last year's growing season, Milan's labors of love rewarded him with a 500 lb. Giant Pumpkin, taking 21st place at the local Giant Pumpkin Growing Contest, and a $100 prize!  And that just served to peak his interest even more!  He will attempt to best his own record this coming Fall....when he hopes to reach at least 800 lb.  You gotta love the tenacity and determination of this little fella!  Be sure to check out the video link below of Milan's Pumpkin Farm...it's really inspiring to see his journey!

(Image of Lukes © Janice Lukes)

Big ambitions for 11-year-old boy growing pumpkins | CTV Winnipeg News

All Tricks and No Treats for Me This Year!

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.

Hello Everyone....And Happy Halloween!  I hope everyone had an exciting September! I personally find September to be almost as much fun as our much beloved October.  September brings all the excitement of the first Halloween items haunting the store shelves, and the first delicious taste of the Pumpkin Spice goodies of the season.  I truly live for, and long for, the 1st day in September all year long, which is then followed by the Autumnal magic of my favorite month of October!  Ahh yes...October! A month of leaves aflame in color, gourds ripe for the picking, breezy days and crisp cool October eves, twinkling with stars and awash in the glow of magical moonbeams.  And of course the mischievous grins of Jack O'Lanterns glowing bright on Hallowe'en Night!

In fact, this year I had actually begun my Halloween Countdown planning early and I was so proud of myself. Since this is my first post this season, you probably won't believe me.  But it's true....I decided that I would not be caught coming up short of posts in this year's Halloween Countdown, so I began completing posts early in the summer and saving them for October.  And I'm proud to say that I actually had 10 of them finished and under my witch's belt before tragedy struck.  Yes, anyone who has followed my blog for the last 5-6 years knows that I never miss the Autumn Season and Hallowe'en here in the blogosphere.  I might be MIA the rest of the year due to real life taking precedence, but I always find my way home to my Halloween Town on the web, and my little Witch's Lair in the Halloween Tree by August or September.  I blow back into town on a magical autumn breeze and revel in the Halloween Frolic with all my fellow Halloween Loving Denizens!  And I always come laden down with gifts to share of photographs, crafty things, haunted tales, artwork and poems to celebrate the season.

But sadly, that was not in the ole' tarot cards for me this year, even in spite of actually being semi-prepared in advance for once!  No, unfortunately the fickle finger of fate, lay it's boney curse upon me and turned my world upside down.  In mid-August, my dear Mother suffered a stroke.  So I spent the rest of a sleepless, stressful August, and first part of September, in and out of the hospital and rehab with her.  Then due to extenuating circumstances far beyond my control....we had no choice but to move her into our home with us for good.  This meant the rest of September and now October have been inundated with that massive transition, with no real end in sight any time soon.  Two lives have been forever changed and I'd be lying to say that it's been anything but overwhelming, exhausting and all-consuming!  It was not something that either of us would ever have wanted, yet it is what we now must both endure.  I have hopes that time will make things better, and that once all the dust of sorting out the mess and combining our lives has cleared....that maybe things will get easier for us all.  And maybe by this same time next year...we will have gotten into a groove that we all can live with..  And maybe, just maybe....I will be able to once again embrace the season with the same positivity, exuberance and anticipation that I've always had for it....but that has eluded me this year!

So needless to say, this is the very first chance I've had time to log on over here and provide an explanation as to why I haven't been online.  Since I literally exist the whole rest of the year...solely for the autumn months of September and October....I've found it rather depressing to be incapable of tapping into the excitement that this time of year usually brings. It hasn't been for lack of trying mind you...as I did reluctantly break out the Halloween decorations, and we've watched a lot of my favorite Halloween movies, and somehow even managed to still take our annual New England trip with a LOT of help from our relatives, who agreed to stay in our home with my Mom while we were gone.  But even in the midst of the most glorious Autumn Foliage we've seen in New England in a long time....I was just too depleted physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to tap into my usual seasonal excitement....and it's left me feeling rather down I must confess. But that doesn't mean that my favorite season of Fall, and my favorite holiday of Halloween is completely lost....it's just been majorly hijacked and hampered by life's ruthless twists and turns.:o(

So I have missed everyone here so very much, and I send out heartfelt wishes to you all for a most Magical All Hallow's Eve!  I didn't want to come completely empty handed, so  I'm posting a few Autumn Photos from my collection.  They are filled with the familiar black and orange colors that epitomize for me....the most spooktacular season of the year!  I sincerely hope everyone has been enjoying all the fun the Fall Season and Hallowe'en Holiday has to offer, and I hope to be able to share in the Autumn Revelry with you all in full next year, since life had other plans for me this time around! Hope to see you all around the Hallowe'en Tree this time next year, if not sooner!

PS...And just so I can officially keep calling it the "Annual Viewing"....I am posting the disturbingly fun yet so awkward and creepy  "Pumpkin Man Dance Video below! At least I was able to keep one tradition alive and kicking (literally) this year!  Enjoy.....or not! ;o)

Halloweeny Things at the Pottery Barn

It's Friday, and the weekend is here...hooray!  However, we will be working most of the weekend on house renovations and getting ready to put in new carpeting next week.  Lots to do!  While looking online for any new Halloween merchandise this morning, I did find a few things that I really liked from Pottery Barn, and thought I'd share some images.  I believe it's just a preview, and the items are not actually available yet, however, I created a shopping cart and added two things to it...and it appeared that it may actually let me purchase.  Of course, I didn't click on, to actually place an order, so perhaps I'd get a "not yet available" notice if I continued, not sure.  

I really like these string lights.  I especially love the Skellington-esque Jacks, because they are different from the standard Jack O'Lantern grin.  But at almost $40, the price does seem a bit steep for an 8ft. 10 count light strand.  Also, there were the cute Witch Hats, But I do already have a Witch Hat light set, so I supposed I can live without them.  But those Jacks are really calling me!

Jack O'Lantern Lights

 

Witch Hat Lights

And these small serving plates are fantastic too.  

I am especially digging these Halloween Plates... 

"Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble"!

 

Witch's Spells Plates

 Day of the Dead Plates

Okay...well if anyone is actually out there and reading this....

I hope you have a stellar weekend!  :o)

All Images © Pottery Barn

Pumpkin Brigade's Stormy Sea Voyage

Battered Jack O'Lantern in Hurricane Sandy's Wake

Photo © Mia Aquino

Well, it's 16 days Post-Halloween now!  Is anyone suffering from the Post Halloween Blues?  I've felt a bit down because I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I'd planned.  But then there was part of me that was ready to bid it farewell for this year. Although I can attest to NOT enjoying the glittering 'tinsel-fication' I get every time I step into a store now!  I miss my Pumpkins already.  So I was delighted to happen upon this great little diddy about a small Pumpkin Brigade's Stormy Sea Voyage!

I thought this story was kind of cool and interesting.  I'm sure you all have heard of a 'message in a bottle' right?!  Well what about a 'message on a pumpkin'?  That's what several residents in Connecticut found washed up on local beaches, and floating and bobbing in the water just off shore.  Apparently John Chambers, the owner of Shelly's Garden Center, found himself with a Pumpkin Surplus on the Monday of Hurricane Sandy.  Guess the locals had bigger things than Pumpkins to worry about at that time, and there were no customers to be found.  So he decided to take 6 of his Pumpkins and write messages on them with a Sharpie.  He knew that the orange globes would float, so instead of the proverbial message IN a BOTTLE, he wrote messages ON the PUMPKINS!  Then they took them down to the stormy Connecticut coast, and tossed them in the ocean.  The messages said, "If you find this Pumpkin, please call this number."  And as of the date of the article, 5 of the 6 Pumpkins had indeed been discovered....some as far away as Milford and West Haven.  

One beach comber, Angelo Nista, was walking along with his little Granddaughter when she exclaimed, "Oh look Papa, it's a Pumpkin"!  Sure enough, Shelly's Garden Center's 'Message Pumpkins' had weathered the storm and the rough seas, to make their way into the hands of curious recipients along the storm ravaged coast of Connecticut.  In fact, they held up quite well, and with the exception of a few dings, their Sharpie scribbled messages where still in tact and fully readable.  I do not know the fate of the sixth and final Pumpkin however, or if it ever made its way back or not....but as an avid Pumpkin Lover, I thought this was an uplifting little story, and a creative use of the Halloween season's most famous icon!

Have a great weekend!  :o)

Pumpkins have message for Sandy survivors

My Poem - When Orange Falls

Well hello,  sorry I have been MIA since our vacation to New England.  We came home to Volleyball Tournaments, Birthdays, visiting Relatives...and subsequent sickness from lack of sleep.  So I apologize for the absence of posts, but sometimes life demands to be lived in my real world instead of my preferred Halloween-Town...ha!

So today's post is a poem I wrote, inspired by one of my most favorite things of all time...the Jack O' Lantern.  From their place of birth, to their ultimate destiny as Halloween's beloved icon!  And with it is an image from my trip this year.  While driving down a back road in New Hampshire, I saw this little entourage sitting atop a stack of chopped wood, piled high for the cold of Winter.  Of course, I had to turn around so I could get a shot of them.  Happy Monday!

When Orange Falls

©  2012 Wendy A. 

When Orange falls across the land,

The changing season's close at hand.

And shadows cast by Autumn's sun,

Means Harvest Scarecrow's work is done.

Of guarding orange gourds so round,

Entwined on vines upon the ground.

While Scarecrow's kept a watchful eye,

Upon the black crows flying by.

His labors have not been in vain,

As sentry in both wind and rain.

His orange globes will see new life,

Brandished from the carver's knife.

And some, they will be sacrificed,

Made into pies served by the slice.

But most will don a new disguise,

With crooked smiles and flashing eyes.

With candlelight tucked deep within.

They'll flash their impish, toothy grins,

Casting shadows in the night,

That summon both delight and fright.

But to Trick-or-Treaters, 
cruising the streets,

Be they pranking with Tricks, 
or begging for Treats,

Orange Jack O' Lanterns, 
most surely mean...

Tis' All Hallow's Eve.... 
So "Happy Halloween"!

Image and Poem © 2012 Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)