Saturday, October 30, 2010

2010 Halloween WOW

It was my year to host the Halloween WOW (Witches of Wye). I also invited some 'town witches' (guests), so that made 13 of us (a coven??). Trolling the Halloween store, I noticed the trend this year was zombie children. There were no fewer than five life-sized tots in crouching positions leering up at me with yellow teeth and red eyes, drooling with anticipation at chomping into my flesh. Then I saw one little tyke walking alone before me (he was moving, and had normal coloring, so I assumed he was still 'one of us.'). He was scared stiff, moving s-l-o-w-l-y and cautiously among the 'children.' When his mom called to him from another aisle, he lit out pretty quickly. I'm pretty sure he had nightmares that night.

I've collected lots of Halloween decorations over the years when we held an annual party, but I didn't put a lot out this year. I wasn't spending a week digging a 'graveyard' in the front yard. I do like to decorate though...

I was a gruesome witch. Excy wouldn't even take my picture or kiss me goodnight (warlocks not allowed at a WOW). We had another witch, of course, and a student from Hogwarts, but for the most part the girls didn't dress up this year.



I like my witch and ghoul pumpkins, and you can't really see the severed body parts, bugs, and spiders and cobwebs around the porch...



I took black plastic trash bags and shredded them, stringing them in rows above the entry.



I made a wreath by spray-painting a grape vine wreath black and entwining snakes and bugs around it, also painted black.



My zombie digs out from the earth every year. I put a kerosine lamp and lighted pumpkins on the walk to illuminate him and added snakes slithering up the drive.



Some of my vintage-inspired decorations, like the little cat band and the 'conductor.' The ghosts I found at flea markets. That's Leatherhead lighting up the mantle.



One of my many witches with her roses full of bugs...



Celebrating Lynne's October birthday with a Mickey's cake -- they're the best...



I made the ghosts by spray-painting butternut squash and painting them. We painted the tombstones and the boys did a wonderful job, I wish you could see them more clearly. Surrounded the arrangement with spanish moss and spare eyeballs. Put out pumpkins full of chocolate and candy corn.



A few of the witches solving the problems of the world...



And finally, the best costume of all -- Excy's son Corey wearing his cat Dixie as a hat. She stays as still as he likes to do this...You have heard of the Cat in the Hat? This is another take altogether...

22 comments:

Traci Marie Wolf said...

I'm in the hospital with Alex tonight, more than happy to miss my family's festivities, In order to be with him. I have to say, I can't sleep so it brought delight to my night to read your post.

Deborah said...

I just love the cat! wonderful post :o)

Chris said...

We still need to make it to your place for Halloween one year. Glad to see you didn't go to any trouble this year.

ReformingGeek said...

I love your decorations.

The cat is the hat. I love it.

Shredded trash bags. Cool idea.

Glad you had fun!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Y'all sure know how to throw a pawty! Happy Halloween everyone!

Sweet Tea said...

Now that's a party you won't soon forget! Loved all the deco - especially the roses with bugs - had never seen that before. LOL
GREAT FUN & PHOTOS!!

wendy said...

What a fun party!! Decorations look great.
Witches of Wye...that is awesome.

e said...

That cat must really trust Corey! Sounds like a wonderful time.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Wow you do have great pics of halloween...hope it was great as the pics showed!!! i am sure it was
kim

The Artful Gypsy aka Wendy the Very Good Witch said...

Well good evening...a very Happy Halloween to you too. So nice to meet a fellow creative Leo! Loving all your decorations above, and I do hope you had a fun night. We certainly did! And I must just add that you are simply gorgeous! I love your hair...was just reading your post on Gray matters. :o)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Man! Davy Crockett only had a coonskin hat which pales, simply pales, beside that "cat cap!" Looks like it was a great party. Thanks for popping by my blog today. But I have a confession to make -- the "skeleton cat" picture came from the internet so I don't know how they got the cat to hold still for it. Frankly, I suspect photoshop!

Arkansas Patti said...

Thanks for stopping by TNS and commenting. Always love to meet my neighbors.
"but I didn't put a lot out this year," Mercy, I can't imagine what a "lot" must look like. Very impressive decorations.
Adored the cat hat. How warm and the vibrating purr must feel great.

Shawn said...

That looks great - Halloween is my favorite holiday, looks very impressive.
Mr Monkey

rancour said...

zombies are way the rage this year it seemed, might as well have been called zombiween at the party i went to more than 2/3 of everyone that showed up were zombified

meleah rebeccah said...

Oh Wow! Talk about Halloween done right!

Linda Medrano said...

Your decor is awesome! Dixie totally rocks as a hat. If I tried that with Smokey, I'd lose eyeballs!

Tam and John said...

Fabulous decorations!! You belong in my neighborhood!

Tam and John said...

Oh, PS those zombie kids just freak me out. They're way too creepy, even for Halloween!

Stella said...

Wonderful decorations!! I love that you love this holiday so much :)

Anonymous said...

you certainly do get into the holiday!! great decorations! thanks for stopping by and saying hi at my place ~ so nice to meet you!

Traci Marie Wolf said...

Hi there. I saw this the other night and thought you would appreciate it. Enjoy.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/190061/saturday-night-live-women-of-snl---real-housewives-open#s-p1-sr-i1

lisbonlioness said...

Your decor is lovely! Not too little, not too much. Really bootiful!
And if you will excuse me now, I gotta fall off the couch laughing at cat hat.