haunters

Got an email tipping me off to a Halloween giveaway from Something wicKED This Way Comes. 

The contest is running until October 7th.

The prize packs are actually a lot of fun and varied - books, dvds and more.

Be sure to enter. We all like free stuff, and since the neighbours won't like it if you trick or treat as an adult, this is the closest many of us are going to get. 

While you're on the site, check out their haunt pictures from last year.

Cool breeze, blue sky. Feels like fall. And it should, becaaaauuuuuuse....

It's that time of year again! Two years ago it was decided there needed to be a holiday weekend to mark the approach of Halloween. It is to Halloween what Thanksgiving is to Christmas.

"It takes place the 7th Sunday before Halloween, which means this coming weekend is Misgivings Day Weekend!

How to celebrate? Well that's easy. Eat as much fall fare (like pumpkin ale, trick or treat candy which is now on sale at the stores, pies both savoury and sweet) as humanly possible. Work on Halloween props, decor and projects. Watch horror movies and break out Halloween cartoons.

One of the first sites I ever listed on my links page way back when was HauntProject.com. I have always thought it was one of the best, straight-forward resources online for home haunters of all skill levels. It's also the only site I ever made a point to contribute links to as often as I could despite busy schedules and absences from online forums. And each time, the Perfessor and I would exchange a couple of emails back and forth, often wishing each other happy haunting.

This morning on Dave Lowe's website I was striken...literally stopped in my tracks...to learn that PerfessorEvil (Rik Cary) had passed away this weekend. My mind couldn't absorb the information. It's unthinkable. HauntProject has been such a constant in my life, and in the lives of countless other haunters. 

He leaves behind a legacy of links and resources that have reached thousands upon thousands of people. He was a champion of Halloween. He will be greatly missed.

I hope there are plans to keep the site running. It would be a shame to see all of his work and generously donated time be lost. 

Check out the 2010 video of his haunt (above) and then see the magnificent additions he had last year in 2011 (below). 

Saturday was hot.

Humidex was over 100F.

There was only one make-and-take that lured me out into the heat, and that was to make the zombie crossing sign (above). It was so hot that the black sticker overlays were starting to stretch and melt in my hands as I tried to line them up on the yellow background.

Taking breaks in the air conditioned camper, I made a point of walking around the entire campground, taking pictures of some of my favourite displays.

While all of you south of the border are finishing up your long weekend, and Canadians are dreaming of what they did last weekend, I'm looking ahead to next Friday, June 3rd. It's the annual Great Lakes Fright Fest taking place in Petersburg, Michigan at Totem Pole Park.

A large group of haunters descend on the campground, decorate their campers and tents, and spend all day Saturday sharing ideas as they participate in workshops.

The cost? Free if you're staying over at the campground (you just pay for the campground spot you rent). If you aren't camping, it's $3.50 (the cost of a fancy coffee). They just ask you bring food donations to share during potluck meals and canned goods to give to charity.

Dave the Dead wanted to have something to set apart his campground display from all the rest, so I'll be attending solely to provide him with a Canadian decorative addition, stomping around his ghouls with a hockey stick.