In the beginning...

We were at Michaels on the weekend, with our trusty coupons.  Did you see us?  We were the ones buying everything NOT Christmas, all the orange paper, orange ribbon, Monarchs, etc... and the huge 2 x 3 foot frame for my Trick 'r Treat poster.  It now is framed, hung and gorgeous!  

This poster is an inspiration, we're already planning what we'll do for Hallowe'en 2014!

 

 
Well, our entire Los Angeles trip was an inspiration and I've started working on three bears that will be Day of the Dead bears.  The male will be black, the female white (oh so soft!) and traditionally decorated/dressed.  The third will be orange, a Hallowe'en/Day of the Dead mixture.  All will have removable paper maché masks. 

Perhaps a little too ambitious but it's brewing:  how about a creepy caged rat?  I'm drawn to this creature made by etsy artist YoltansArt and since I already make rats this could be a very cool new extension of my critters to make a Hallowe'en prop for my haunt in 2014.  We'll see...      

Hollywood Forever!

Mom and I were in Los Angeles from October 28th to November 4th and had an incredible time experiencing, among other things, Hallowe'en and the Day of the Dead!  I've written an extensive report on my website, you can see it here:  http://www.scratchingatthewindow.com/index.htm, just scroll down and click on the Day of the Dead poster. 

We brought home quite a few goodies...

...but upon leaving the Cemetery after our tour, I salvaged two marigolds.  They had been part of the Cemetery gates' decoration and were headed for the garbage but now they're drying and I will use them next year to attract my beloved lost ones home for our Dia de los Muertos in the backyard...

Happy Hallowe'en!

Happy Hallowe'en everyone!

This adorable image is from Maggie Rudy's blog:  http://mouseshouses.blogspot.ca/  She makes these incredible mice and their world all by hand with pain-staking detail and imagination!  Love the mouse skeleton in the window!

 How's this for elegant Hallowe'en attire?  (bat cape by Kate Bellando)

Enjoy this most magical night!  Booo!

On the other hand...

... we Canadians adapt.  From 10:00 to noon today in our local mall there was a trick or treat and activities for the kiddies.  So on a rainy, snowy (again!) morning the kiddies wore their lovely costumes and trick or treated up and down the mall in comfort.  There was a princess, a turtle, a faery, a pirate, a shark!!, Ironman, a black cat, etc...  Mom and I went to see what a success it was and were absolutely delighted that the little ones got to enjoy a warm, dry, totally fun Hallowe'en trick or treat, with a craft area too where they made little decorated trick or treat bags. 
  The shop owners seemed to be pretty excited too, standing in their doorways with all manner of treats, some were even dressed up!  It was a Happy pre-Hallowe'en to be sure! 
  This lovely display was in the Credit Union shop, isn't it boo-tiful!  Bravo!

Really scary!

In Canada, sometimes you can make snowmen for Hallowe'en!  Doesn't that suck!?  And wear your snowsuit under your Hallowe'en costume... sigh.  It snowed yesterday, REALLY snowed, not just a sugar sprinkle.

  At one point, it was slushing from the sky, huge sloppy blobs... It still hasn't all melted away, although by around 5:00pm today most of it was gone.  We had 7C but the darn stuff won't melt!!!  Ack!!! 

 

It just does NOT go with my Hallowe'en decor!!! 

Sigh.  Willow seemed to like it. 

 

Feeding the monster

Every year I splurge and get one or two Hallowe'en magazines.  This year, for my money, I went with the Taste of Home: Halloween Special.  (I saw the Martha Stewart and I have all of her previous Hallowe'en specials but this year's issue didn't have anything for me.)

 

There's a nice article called "Spooktacular Sips" on Hallowe'en beverages, something I don't have many ideas about, but the winning feature was a Day of the Dead party!

 

Here are two recipes from the issue to make your own Day of the Dead celebration:




And then here are two pizza ideas, proving that even if you have no time you can make something spooky just using your cookie cutters!









And for dessert?  How about eerie white bone cookies?  Or spider-webbed treats?  Nothing says love like a gorgeous box of gifted sweets... or human body parts.  Body parts are good too.

Fall delights

Apples!  This year there are lots everywhere!  We collect ours off the ground on the trail behind the cemetery; there must have been an orchard there and the apples are of different varieties.  Pesticide free, and there's something special about foraging for your own food!  So with a pile of apples we needed a new recipe... This one is easy and delicious, and (I later realized) gluten free too! 

(The bits in italics are what we changed from the original recipe.)

Baked Apple and Almond Pudding
Serves 4-6	Ingredients  1 lb (450 g) Bramley cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced (or use 8 apples)  4 oz (110 g) ground almonds  2 oz (50 g) soft brown sugar (4 oz if using 8 apples)  4 oz (110 g) butter, at room temperature  4 oz (110 g) golden caster sugar (or brown sugar)  2 large eggs, beaten   Round, ovenproof baking dish with a diameter of 8 inches (20 cm), 1¾ inches (4.5 cm) deep, buttered.
Method Pre-heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).   Place the apples in a saucepan with the brown sugar and approximately 2 tablespoons of water (or 4 tablespoons if using 8 apples), simmer gently until soft, and then arrange them in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. (or use pressure cooker for 1 1/2 minutes, include juices)   In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy and then beat in the eggs a little at a time. When all the egg is in, carefully and lightly fold in the ground almonds. Now spread this mixture over the apples, and even out the surface with the back of a tablespoon. Then bake on a highish shelf in the oven for exactly 1 hour. (or only 30 minutes if you used the pressure cooker) This pudding is equally good served warm or cold – either way, it's nice with some chilled pouring cream. Once cooled, it will keep in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. from http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/baked-apple-and-almond-pudding.html