Bwwwaaaa haaa haaa!!

We had so much fun carving pumpkins this year. My little guy absolutely loved it. So much so that we've had to go out and light the candles in them each evening before bedtime so that he can jump around and enjoy them.

His is the little one in the middle, named "Happy Evil", his daddy's is "Happy" on the right and mine is "Saucy Evil Genius" to the left. ;-)

 

Will be taking my wee Captain Jack Sparrow out trick or treating in the evening after his party at preschool. (Sorry, Johnny Depp, I love you, but you got nothin' on my Capt'n for cuteness!) Let's hope for a mild evening for all the kidlets.

Now, for those of you who enjoy a little atmospheric music to go with your smoky green grog, here is a cover by The Strangelings of Donovan's 1966 classic, Season of the Witch. Love the avian imagery in this version.

Wishing you all spooky goodness on Halloween. Bwwwaaahhhaaahhaaa...

Love in Old October

All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.
~Thomas Wolfe

There's something about October that compels us to seek out the touchstones of home, whatever they might be and whatever home might signify. For me, it is turning deeper towards my truer self. My creativity is inspired. I need to connect to the earth and things of the earth. I bring branches inside and pull my pottery out of the cupboards. I get out into the ravine in the early mornings. My walk/run regime is turning into more 'run' these days but I slow down for the pretty bits.

I usually start before the sun rises and finish as it begins to warm the earth. I love the smell that rises from the leaves as it melts the frost off them.

This morning was especially sublime; vivid colours, thick, sparkly frost and a perfectly blue sky.

I want jewellery that looks like this. Or maybe a fascinator of glittering leaves. :)

There was the finest glazing of ice on the creek this morning. As pretty as it is, I really do hope it melted later in the day. (I'm just not ready!)

My garden is quietly laying down now. I still, however, crave the final brilliance that October promises. We went to the garden centre last weekend and picked out pumpkins and mums for the front entranceway. My little guy is so excited that we will be carving jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, and so am I. :)

My favourite pumpkins this year are the little white and orange striped ones. Have you seen them? They are so cute and festive looking.

In the Thomas Wolfe quote above he says all things point home in October, including the "lover to the love he has forsaken". If you're feeling the tug of something you've pushed to the back cupboard, this might be the perfect time to take another look at it, in the liquid gold light of old October, and see if the murmur of love is still there. Who knows what treasure you might find tucked away? A talent, a gift, a memory, a relationship? Whatever it is, I bet it will be beautiful. :)

The Magic Halloween in a Garden over Hill & Vale

Halloween was quite thrilling this year. My little guy, at 2 1/2, is old enough to catch some of the magic of it, so we headed out to the country to the pumpkin festival held annually at Prairie Garden and Greenhouses.


It was a spooky affair, to be sure. There we met this little piglet who sadly declared she lost half her nose when she wiped it. I think the stuffed animal she won made up for it, though. Our little tiger immediately found the pumpkin of his dreams, just big enough to carry and rub his cheek against in affection. :)

He was most mesmerized by the strange animals

The flamboyant chickens

and strutting turkeys were much more fascinating than our kittycats have ever been...

This horned creature seemed to think everybody was there to feed him exclusively

Next, the little tiger found himself walking the plank

Fortunately, he was able to forego a battle with this rather suspicious looking knight

Who seemed to be more interested in creatures of the firebreathing variety

Lurking in a corner was the mysterious Mr. Mossman, and his adoring wife

Maybe they were avoiding this fellow; you don't want disturb him, he might be hungry...

Of course, in other seasons this spooky place transforms into a garden centre so there had to be a beautiful flower

or two, ...blooming their heads off...

The staff were very friendly, however,

And looking back in time at it now...

It really was quite a blast!

Hope you had a great halloween too!

The Great Pumpkin Quest

Somebody whispered in my ear it was a good day to go pumpkin hunting. I couldn't deny any longer it was that time of the year...

So we gathered the wee toddler up and headed out to a local garden centre for a stroll about to find the perfect pumpkin...

or two....

Ok, maybe I got caught up in the exuberance of it all...

So, yes, ok, we got five pumpkins and an assortment of gourds. They just looked so happy together we couldn't break them up. You understand, right?

Hope the Halloween spirit is bringing you some fun this week!