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Notes from the crazy Halloween Lady
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Crunch Time!

Well, it's down to the wire.  One week to go.  I feel like I should be running around in a panic.  The mood here is strangely calm though.  Everything is organized.  There's not a ton to do until set up.  A bit of photcopying, a few things to purchase and a couple more ghouls to build.  Everything seems to be rolling along perfectly.

I had a nice weekend in Vancouver with my parents.  We bought my dad tickets to see Kris kristofferson for Father's Day and the concert was last Friday night.  We had a great time despite the calamity of errors we went through to actually arrive at the theatre.  Forgotten tickets, missed ferries, late ferries and some family drama.  I'm glad we made it though as it turns out Mr. Kristofferson was staying in the room across the hall from us and I met him in the hallway.  It's odd to stand talking to a man whose music is playing in the background of most of your childhood memories.  Funny how things work out sometimes.

If everything keeps going this well until the haunt, then it should be smooth sailing. Thanks again to all the volunteers.  I needed 31 and I now have 36.  I've never met people so generous with their time.  Thanks as well to my neighbours, the Poustie Family and my mother in law, Sandy who have opened their yards and hearts to the haunt and to Cameryn's Cause.  It's because they let us add their property to the haunt that we were able to expand it as greatly as we have.

 I'm not sure that I'll post again until after the haunt.  Wish me and the haunt crew luck!  See you all on the 24th and 25th!

For now I'll leave you with a photo of a certain 74 year old handsome devil.

 

 


Posted by hallowitch at 8:17 PM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 15 October 2008 8:54 PM PDT
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
The Spirit of Volunteers

Our volunteer meeting last night was VERY successful.  We filled 26 of the 30 spaces we need filled!  Thanks so much to all of you who came out signed up.

My friend Carolin came by last week and built one of her famous ghouls.  She came in like a whirlwind, scissored, painted and glued.  One seriously maimed mannequin head later...she was gone.  The result, another hideous thing for our haunted forest.  What a nice, unexpected surprise!  Thanks Carolin.

 My thanks again to all of you so far who have come out and given your time to help pull this crazy thing off.  It doesn't matter if you can spare one hour or twenty.  Every bit helps and every bit makes a difference to the success of the haunt.  Also, thanks to the people who have donated items and funds so far to get this event up and running.  Every penny is appreciated!

 Happy Haunting!

 

Carolin and a couple of her "GHOULFRIENDS"

 


Posted by hallowitch at 10:59 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 30 September 2008 11:33 AM PDT
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Exciting News!

Something very exciting has happened!  I was contacted by a Documentary film maker from Victoria and was invited to be a part of a film she is makng about home haunters.  Her name is Chelsea Lowe and if her website is anything to go by her work is fantastic! I'm excited that she is interested in the community aspect of the haunt and Cameryn's Cause.   She is travelling here next month to meet with the haunt team and interview us.  It should be a great time!  Please check out her website.  http://www.chelseadigital.ca/ 

On another note, this week Ange, Tracy and I will be starting to build our cemetery background ghosts and do our yearly maintenance on our flying crank ghost "Willow"  I will post pictures when the ghosts are complete.

Thank you to Kim McCaffrey Kennedy at
http://www.beadyeyedbrat.com/halloween.html for making the awesome banner below for our haunt.

 

 


Posted by hallowitch at 2:58 PM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 30 September 2008 11:36 AM PDT
Monday, 22 September 2008

There's nothing I'd rather be doing today than what I am.  Working on a fundraiser for a great cause, inspired by a brave soul who would be eight today.  Happy Birthday Cameryn. I'm thinking of you and your love of Halloween as I sort through the pumpkins, ghosts and goblins tonight.  Thank you to your family for sharing you with all of us.  We will never forget you.

 

 

 


Posted by hallowitch at 9:48 PM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 30 September 2008 11:45 AM PDT
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Spray Can Adhesive

I learned two things this week. One, Spray adhesive and fake cobwebs are NOT easy to remove from clothing, porous surfaces or eyelashes. Two, there are certain friends in your life who make everything fun. I'm coming to the end of a crappy year personally and have not socialized lately as much as I'm used to. Many friendships have fallen to the wayside. People who I thought I would have depended on have lost touch. I'm not blaming anyone by any means. Everyone is busy and things get pushed aside. It is as much my fault as anyones. There are also the friends who suprise you. Ones who dig in their heels, take some of the weight off your shoulders and let you know they're in it for the long haul. A few of them are old friends, but suprisingly many of them were "newer" friends, people I have become close with in recent years. A few weeks ago my friend Carolin came over and did something nice for me, against my will. A brief argument and a few near tears later she said, "just let somone do something nice for you, we don't need anything in return" I assure you, that's a bitter pill for me to swallow. I like to be the "do-er", not the reciever. It weighed on my mind all day. At night I sat at the computer to work on the Cameryn's Cause newsletter and came across a quote on the internet. It read "The object of kindness is not to repay it but to pass it on" I instantly felt better. Life lesson learned. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and let someone do something for you. It doesn't mean you're weak or incapable. It just means you're human. Do something nice for someone else if it makes you feel better.

My friend Ange is one of those long-haulers. Besides being a Halloween nut and a fiendish haunter like myself, she is also one of the most generous souls I know. I have never heard her say no to anyone. She ALWAYS comes when I call. This is the time of year that we spend the most time together. She's one of those that you could be apart from for months, but when you re-connect it's like you were never apart. We've been meeting once a week for our "haunting" sessions and I'm loving it! Laughing with friends is one of the best ways to spend your time for sure! This week along with our friend Tracy, we built two cool "Spider Webbed Victims" for the haunt. It was an experiment for us all, learning the ins and outs of gluing web to a plastic skeleton using spray adhesive. Our shoes now stick to the garage floor. Hilarious! What a mess, but the two new ghouls are fabulous! They're sure to give the kids a scare on Halloween night. I had a great time. (despite the eyelash problem)

Despite the sticky mess, I learned something fabulous. Perhaps the greatest friendships can be held together with something as simple as a little sock tape and spray glue.

 

 

Posted by hallowitch at 7:52 PM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 17 September 2008 8:13 PM PDT
Friday, 27 June 2008
Energy Renewed

I have to admit, I was dreading the start of this Haunt season. I have put off meetings, walks with my friends to talk about planning and haven't had any interest in all the sites I have stored on my computer. It's been a long year for me, and I wasn't feeling enough energy to put into making it as successful as I'd like.  To be honest.......I wasn't feeling it at all.

Last week I finally pulled it together and called a meeting. Only two people came. My trusty sidekick Ange of course. She's always willing to take part and has an excitement for the project that I've been lacking. Also in attendance, a new, and wonderful addition to our haunt family, Tracy. She showed up, four and a half months pregnant and busting with ideas. She brought a whole new excitement to the 2008 haunt. With her flair and creativity, and all the wonderful pages of ideas that Ange brought, I'm feeling a whole new excitement for this years event. My energy is renewed and I believe this will be our most successful Haunt yet. I've been working hard to get the website in order for the season (www.barnesboneyardhaunt.com) and I'm finding myself looking forward to late night tombstone making and summer afternoons paper mache-ing trees and ghouls. I know we will have fun. 

A great time will be had by all and a great cause will be supported as well. Please check out the Cameryn's Cause for Kids Society website. It's a great local organization that helps families when they need it most.  You can read about what we do and all about the amazing little soul who inspires us.

www.camerynscause.com

 

Posted by hallowitch at 7:05 PM PDT
Updated: Sunday, 29 June 2008 8:33 PM PDT
Saturday, 14 June 2008
What's up with that?

Some one asked me today..."Why do you like Hallowen so much?  What's up with that?"  I had to think about it.  I have always loved Halloween.  As a child, getting to get dressed up while running amok in the neighborhood and actually being allowed to take candy from strangers!  What's not to love?  Homemade ghosts made of bedsheets.  The smell of firecrackers and candlelit pumpkins in the air takes me back to a time when trick or treaters lined the sidewalks on Halloween night and it wasn't unusual to have 200 or more ghosts and goblins knocking on the door looking for candy. 

It's different now.  Kids don't get to run wild on Halloween night.   In fact, we're lucky to have a dozen trick or treaters.  Costumes are all purchased at Walmart.  Kids are restricted in their school activities for fear of offending another's beliefs.  You can't give out home made treats and you now have to have a permit to let off fireworks in your yard.  Plain and simple......"It just ain't what it used to be"

I suppose a large part of my love for Halloween is just me clinging to those childhood memories.  Hot dogs and hot chocolate for dinner on Halloween night.  Me, dressed as a witch eight years in a row.  Sherry, the lady up the road who used to give out full sized chocolate bars and pop.  My dad, lighting off fireworks dangerously close to the power lines and then raiding our candy stash before bed.  All these silly little things, add up to some of the most memorable times of my childhood.

My love for Halloween and all those memories are what inspired me to start our yard haunt.  It's a place where kids can go, get spooked and stuff themselves full of hot dogs and hot chocolate.  A safe place with of the smell of candlelit pumpkins and where kids can be kids...or ghosts or witches. 

It's also a time when new memories are created.  Ones of my kids and I staying up late to create ghouls and spooks to scare the visitors.  Of, my dad, proudly building our ghost.  Our delight in seeing her "float".   The girls, freezing their butts off to sell a few hotdogs.  It's a time when my family, friends and I can work hard,  be silly and immature and know that in the end our efforts will not only be a blast for the kids, but also help out families in need. 

And last but not least, my wish is that  perhaps when the children who visit the haunt are grown up, they will fondly remember and tell their own children about "that crazy lady on Holm road who had the cool haunt for us when we were kids."  If that's the biggest thing I'm ever known for, I'm okay with that.

Please visit our haunt site and sign our guestbook.  If you live nearby, feel free to visit our haunt this Halloween season.  Admission is by donation to "Cameryn's Cause for Kids Society"

www.barnesboneyardhaunt.com

 

 


Posted by hallowitch at 11:25 PM PDT
Updated: Saturday, 5 July 2008 9:05 PM PDT

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