Trick or Treat:)

 Happy Halloween!

This weekend has been a blast. Full of parties and trick or treating.

This is definitely my favorite time of year.

 Zoe and her cousins, Faith and Ethan.

 Two houses in our town. I love when people decorate for Halloween.

 Zoe is a fairy princess again, just like last year.

 My friend Hope helping me get the food and drink ready for our party.

I've known Hope for 26 years!

 Some Jacks in my yard...

This is a photo from my Father in law's spooky yard.

If you want to see more, click on my other blog:

The Night Mare

Scenes from my front yard.

Passion for Pumpkins

It's true, I have a love affair with pumpkins! I love to carve them, photograph them, take wagon rides to pick them and eat yummy pumpkiny treats (yes, I even bought pumpkin pie Pop Tarts). I have tried to grow them but the squirrels nibbled at the squash all summer long. I love pumpkins so much my local newspaper came out to write a story about me. Click here to read it.

Halloween... it's almost here!

Have you picked your perfect jack o' lantern?

Relax, it's Sunday...

What a beautiful Sunday morning to walk around the yard.

Here's what a saw this morning...

 Chickadee grabbing a seed and a red leaf on an heirloom pumpkin.

 A nuthatch swoops in for a quick bite to eat.

Little bug peeks out of a pretty pink rose.



Skipper butterfly sips nectar from an orange cosmos.



Last of the sungolds.



Ruby red butterfly bush has come back from near death.

Rescued from the Lowes clearance shelf.

Amish buggy trots by the front yard.

"Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week."

 ~Joseph Addison

Chadds Ford Great Pumpkin Carve 2010

The view of the pumpkin patch from our pumpkin.

We had pumpkin #8 and it was our 8th year of carving here.

To see our past pumpkins, click here.

My crazy mom and I.

She loves to paint her face like a pumpkin.

I'm starting to carve, working on the full moon.



The finished design, a barn owl and raven.

We won People's Choice, a first!

My daughter Zoe admiring our carving.

The crowd view from the back of our pumpkin.

Screaming skulls.

Christine O'Donnell is a witch... hahahaha!

Skulls and snakes were popular this year.

What a great idea!

I would not have the guts to carve up a pumpkin like that.

Loved this Sleepy Beauty themed dragon pumpkin.

A Visit to Ravenbrook Cottage

The beautifully hand painted writing, in Old English style, above the closet doors in the foyer reads:

 "All are welcome here at ♦ Ravenbrook ♦ as Luck would have it."

 When you walk through the front door, you know immediately you have entered the magical realm of Hugh Luck. My friend Carolee (King of Mice Studios) and I were fortunate enough to take a tour of the most amazing house I have ever been in. Hugh graciously allowed me to take photos during our visit (I think it would have killed me if I couldn't).

All decked out for Halloween, a gargoyle greets us as we enter.

The master of Ravenbrook himself.

An amazing witch by Jim Morrision greets us in the foyer.

The walls have been hand painted by Hugh, well known for his murals and faux finishing,

and president of Pine Street Studios.

Treasures to be found in every nook and cranny.

Click on each photo for a larger view.

Stairway leading down to a living room.

Antique paintings covering the walls. I am in heaven.

Hugh's kitty, Taboo, standing guard at he entrance to his office.

A vintage jack o' lantern mixes nicely with original Halloween art on an antique table.

Do I see an Allen Cunningham piece in there?

One of my favorite pieces, a Raven & Ring sign.

An original Scott Smith, one of many.

An antique gate is beautiful as well as functional.

A life size pirate from the original Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney sits in the tavern room.

I love this old rocking horse.

 You get a wonderful view of the woods, gardens and brook from the large windows.

Taboo follows us on our tour, carefully sidestepping one of Carolee's bowls.

A peek inside the Halloween room reveals more amazing treasures.

 I could spend all day in this room alone.

Hugh created the extrememly detailed house painting you see here.

New and vintage Halloween pieces mingle.

I love the antique doll bed now used by Taboo and his other housemates.

I couldn't take my eyes off this portrait.

Good bye Taboo!

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour.

I know we did!