Remembering Souls...

Halloween came,  not once did I answer a knock on the door! That, I'll tell ya, is a first. I do love the tradition of tick-or-treating! I wasn't at my own place of comfort - on my street, with my neighbors in their homes all about me. Instead, I was dog-sitting for my niece-pups 'oer near the coast. Only once did the thump of candy seekers at the door come to be. I had no treats at my "sitting-home", so I didn't answer. Is that bad karma, or something??  ggeeeshhh - mean ol' broad (that'd be me)! hhaa


All of my spirit was not lost - I posted this outrageous photo of myself and Hubby on facebook ~

 

 

Today, November 1st is All Saints Day, tomorrow - All Souls Day. Fittingly, I came home from the dog-sit house to attend a funeral.  The gentleman that passed was the Father to some of my family's peers-high school friends. This family and mine had many similar values and spent nearly every weekend in the same spot - the baseball field! It was a lovely service. Makes one reflect on all that is good and what truly matters in our lives.


This sweet gal lost her Pops ~

For some reason I was hoping to come across an altar from Dia de los Muertos this year. A slow pass through at a very old cemetery in the fields where I was staying did not harbor any such altar. Much to my dismay! I am intrigued by this celebration. I've even considered traveling to Mexico to witness some of the holiday. The art and the heart & soul of it are profound. The idea of celebrating the lives and deaths of your loved ones that have passed is such a joyous thought! Would have been a good idea to offer our love in this way to my Aunt Bea, last week! 



Taking the dogs I'm sitting back to their home at the coast tomorrow. I'll have a mindful, happy, sunny weekend there. I'll be remembering souls that have mattered in my years.

the beach I walked yesterday - one that my family frequented when I was young...

The Halloween House

Story time.   Rather than a spooky costume, it wears a Cinderella-ish one ~

Halloween hooligans are no longer parading down our street. The lights are turned out. In between candy duty there was plenty of time to think back on a Halloween day - 23 years ago. Our first day in this house!
How did we get to this point? Remarkable in the number of years that have drifted by. Amazing the changes to our abode, and in ourselves. Memorable the experiences, joys and people that have come in and out our door and our lives......

We had a very big year in 1988. Wedding vows were exchanged.

Months later we found our way to buy Hubby's Great Grandparents' home. Hubby did not see the possibilities; was not keen on the move. You really couldn't blame him - the place was a wreck! I couldn't locate the pictures of the interior to put with this post. Creatures and goblins could've made it home. We were unable to move our furniture in, it had to go in storage. Minor yet time consuming work filled our days until the end of October. On Halloween we decided to spend our first night here - on our mattress on the floor.

I do have some before and after outdoor photos ~

That beautiful walnut tree! The one that harbors those squirrels that I often speak of. Amazing the changes. I can see the years when I look at that photo above.

I laid the brick under our walnut to give us shelter beneath it's boughs, to allow for a table in which to PICNIC and break bread with loved ones. It wasn't at the very start that the yard became my creative space. Paths were forged in time and continue still. They pave the way through this place we call "ours", those paths are not always straight, often a brick will come away from it's moorings and need to be reset. I love that these bricks are nearly all reused and found. They've been a part of many homes and paths. And now these stones belong here - as do we!

Halloween~

our masks



Together - dressed for Halloween in 2011 ~

As in 1988, we'll be sleeping at the Halloween House in the home we've established - by following specific paths and winding our way through the many curves that life throws. Us & Bricks - sturdy as hell!!

How Do You Boo ?

Everyone's got there own personal style for decorating. During the Fall season - Halloween sure has some zany
goofball-ian (totally made up word) types! The creativity out there is amazing. Somehow I'm not a fan of the over-the-top front yard displays. Don't get me wrong  - I'm mostly a more-is-more type gal. Mostly I'd just rather walk on past your home and smile at your choice of gourds and squash. Possibly even marvel at the fall color and flora in your landscape.

In our neighborhood there aren't that many children. I s'pose that's the reason that most homes only have a pumpkin or two in their yards. However, when I'm out walking in more youthful enclaves I notice the penchant for gigantic and mainly spooky decor.  And, I mean these people go  BIG !!  Like - nearly as close to this as possible ~

I might become a convert if they had that same Victorian home ! Or, what if  Lurch were to come answer the door, or Cousin Itt waddle out to greet me in his unique linguistic style?! Mostly my distaste sits squarely in the dismembered body parts and plastic tombstone genre. Have I become a graveyard snob? Where's Shari's gobliny spirit? I do have a thing for ethereal beings, skeletons and curiosity cabinet whats-its! Okay, found me "spiritus-Halloweenus"....here's the dismembered body parts found 'round my place ->

I would obligingly do front yard behemoths if it were of this certain artist (Sonoma County area). I think I've posted about him. His name is Patrick Amiot. His neighbors each have a piece of his sculpture on their lawns.  When last we visited, I took a photo of this favorite - just for Halloween posting ->

Isn't she splendid?! and then I played around changing her into this for a greeting to send to our nearest and scariest ->

Hubby carved a pumpkin so that I could get my Halloween groove going. On a sort-of-Fall-like day, of which we haven't felt many, I was in the mood for a candle and jack-o-lantern lighting ->

already withering in the heat...

We've been invited to two pumpkin carving parties this weekend. I may bring this guy with the warts.....
NO, NOT HUBBY!!




cool-ass!


 My postbox had an adorable treat waiting for me the other day ->

My dear San Francisco gals are gathering for Fall Birthdays!  I cannot wait! I can feel my

SPIRITUS HALLOWEENUS  growing!!