I am not going to make a reference about how fast the year is running out, as that would create panic!! All I will say is that thankfully we have Halloween to divert attention from such situations! And what a diversion it is. Halloween is really a lot of fun and what I love about it is that it isn't just about horror, it is about dressing up in what ever you want to wear and that everyone, children and adults alike genuinely love it. There is a real party collective feel to the whole proceedings and in that spirit I thoroughly enjoy it.
There are of course several steps to true enjoyment. First there is the anticipation of the said good time. Then next comes the thinking about decoration and of course really I am getting ahead of myself because about 6 months prior you have to decide on the outfit!!! (for us that was an inspiration moment in the Isle of Man where we saw a knights outfit....it was so perfect that it had to be packed and if I remember correctly Rufus {Louie's large bear} had to ride home squashed inside the helmet in the carry on back pack and we had four! hats bought that holiday, bowler and top including the Darlek knitted one). Then you decorate the porch with the first nod to Halloween.............then on the week preceding the occasion you get pumpkins and carve. The day of Halloween is when we put out smoke machine and ghost suspended from our outdoor ceiling fan on the porch, light the path with candles inside hurricane lanterns and await the revelers who will brave your path to get fantastic candy and goodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant.
Louie has had the anticipation in spades, as he was in the Halloween Parade in West Chester, held earlier in the month and he was there with his dance group. There were lessons learned. First, don't walk with the group! That is a note to parents, OMG we thought that we were doing the right thing, but my control issues took over and I was trying to prevent the children from the group behind us mowing us over with their banner........Then of course the children along the parade watching have hands out in front demanding candy........ more like aggressive begging and of course we had none. And lastly don't give anyone in the crowd eye contact, as you do the walk of shame and shouts of "what are you doing in the parade" I know we learned and next time I will be along the side lines watching. But Louie loved it and was helping carrying his groups banner (his fingers were numb but he felt it was worth it).
The other big event this last month was taping for the audition of his dance group for the University Dance festival. They have practiced their little feet off. After the taping they went back for Pumpkin Carving at the dance teachers house and it was such fun to see them having such a great time.
So then we had to carve our own pumpkins and I prepared for Halloween. I made home made tomato soup for the night and hot dogs and off we went trick or treating, me and Louie managed an hour and came back to hand out sweets and goodies. Damian and Isaac socialized with the street and gave soup to peeps who were manning their candy. Hopefully I didn't poison the whole street!
The real result was good time had by all and we swing into November and the leaves are swirling and it is such a beautiful time of the year. I have blabbed to all at home, you have to come and see the leaves and that said I dragged boys across West Chester yesterday and took photos of leaves and the wonderful sights along the way.
West Chester has all these carriage homes in the alleys and I love them, so took some snaps of them too. So here is the photos...enjoy. For those across the pond..........the leaves are amazing here in quantity and colour. People are very good about getting rid of them, at first I thought that was silly until I saw drifts of them! feet deep on cars and roads.............so yes they blow them into piles and hoover them up. Me and boys love the Borough Hoovers that come out latter in the season.......they are fantastic and as they suck up the leaves they blow them into the holder at the back but there are gaps and they fly about the vehicle like a fire boat on the water! just such fun!!!!
Louie going on Halloween parade
Just so you know a sweet knight is underneath all that, managed to snap this on the way, love the Tudor style door! very in keeping with outfit.
Had to put this photo in, Louie made a remote controlled car out of lego, it really is fab.......think by now it has been turned into something else.
Pumpkin carving!
Our pumpkins and Isaac's top hat man is wonderful!!!! These lit up really well.
Louie's spiders web and look a spider came to live on it.
Some autumn colour
Louie going to school as a knight
Yup off to school on a dark and foggy morning dressed as a Knight
That's the fog I took a picture of.
Marshall Sq Park on the morning of Halloween
Some people really do scary well for the occasion............believe me it is even more scary when it is dark at this house. They win the prize I think.
This poor skelly looks like he has one leg........but no as Louie pointed out, his hips have rotated......his words.
This is really to try and show you the colours and more so the leaves on the floor look like a carpet!
Pumpkins
So now they have had hot dogs and off they go...........
That would be the haul smile of the sweets and we are sorting them!!!!
All these photos are from yesterday and the things we saw along the way. This is a carriage house.
I just liked how this looked....
As you can see, I had trusty assistant and large boy along too....
My dear friend, Doris's sweet gum, is in full colour and just so beautiful.
More interesting buildings along the way
The colour positively radiates from the trees.
I'm bored!
Ok you got me!
The old Fire House in West Chester, I must have taken a million shots of this but the details are so wonderful
Louie and I spied this old vent up an alley
More carriage homes and their details.....
This door knocker is just splendid.
What about that for a door knob
I love this picture, I didn't realize until I snapped that I had such a perfect reflection of the house opposite and this I would say is a fab depiction of West Chester. neat!
This is on Church Street and this belongs to one of my favorite churches....I like the stone and details
I walk along past this house so often and saw this side where the ivy is taking over and it looks like the trees and nature are claiming everything back.
The Maple in this picture is just radiant! wow the colour was so yellow.
These trees were hard to capture the true orange...just stunning
Just some more little details that we saw.
How cute is this little house!!!!
Finally home and sunset.........great walk and great fun and hope you liked all the colours of autumn.
