Wednesday, October 31, 2012

How We Like Halloween

We make these holidays our own, and what we celebrate includes gathering friends, harvest and health, creativity, a smidgeon of mischief, silly thrills, history and art, and pumpkin flavored everything! You cannot be too old to enjoy the levity of tricks and treats. There is no call for gore, or horror, nor stress nor pain.

Halloween.

It's a goof and a spoof.

It's great.

James, old man. What do you say? Shall we rattle some bones, whip up a feast, turn on the fog, and make it a night of frivolous fancy?

Holly brought carnival cake to serve with our spider cider.

I like how this is a celebration that gives our less appreciated creatures, the bats and rats, a chance to step into the limelight moonlight, to shine.

Bambi made her mask. Her own smiling eyes belie the tearful eyes of her costume. There is an amazing history, in art, and religions, across many cultures about eyes on palms. Some of it, I admit, is quite chilling. I like the "See and Do" description...

The Eye-in-Hand icon
manifests the bond between
two essential human functions:
sensing/observation (the Eye)
and doing/acting (the Hand).


- John Dilworth 14 june 2007

An entire family of birds arrived in their finest feathers!
Amira Peacock!

This dapper Ol' Bro' Crow!

And a fabulous Lady Bird.

We said Howdy, to them all!

I cannot imagine giving up the playfulness and good humor of Halloween. I acknowledge, it can get out of hand with commercial nonsense, and dark elements that go far too far. Long live chicken suits, and grass skirts! Long live laughter! We make our traditions, we create our stories, we embrace our beliefs, and I will not surrender the good elements and pleasures of a Happy Halloween.

Seeing Stacy, like this... oh, it made my heart sing! It's her! So delighted and delightful, so giddy to the core.

Gabe points the way to the Magic Kingdom. I love Halloween, because it's a night we dedicate to making our own Happiest Place on Earth. Not because of the frights and scares, but happiness in spite of darkness. We overcome!

Cousins playing together, quilts on straw bales, starry nights... a few of the things I love to see.

Soon William will lead us through his cemetery. Jess gave Robin a tour. William made it such an authentic looking place that we all felt quite respectfully in awe.
Maria's idea for her pirate captain... she should share her gold! Captain Maria carried chocolate gold to pass out to all! No tricks, just treats.

My cousin, Priscilla, brought her sweet princess, Emma. Another treat, for us all.

Tess and I, top hat and elegant skirts, all ready for a night of merriment.

Alex and Bambi, unveiling the Tiramisu. This dark dessert, saturated with espresso, was easily the scariest feature of the night.

It's a good thing the younger, smaller, guests stuck to the salads and less super-charged desserts!

We prepared a buffet entirely made of salads. Garden delights, all.

And friends brought more, like this purple and pea-d potato salad. Love the unexpected colors, the textures, shapes and heebie-jeebie kitchen sensations. Like those oddities, the Piggies William created. Such fun.

In the whole wide world, there are real scares and fears. No doubt there are many who will not find much interest in this year's revelries, and I sympathize. Life takes some balancing, deliberate intention to measure some good with the trials and heartaches. One night, to mock the spooks, and say Boo to the darkness, to laugh in spite of shadows.

Happy Halloween, Lucas. He made his own Invader Zim! Halloween, when we can make ourselves the hero, the protagonist, the conqueror, the lovely bird!

We are not alone. In fact, we are probably more connected than we realize. How cool is that?

Behind those bones... Eli! He made an elaborate, full size skeleton puppet.

Friends around the fire.

Stories in the moonlight.

A goof, and a spoof!

For the goats, too!

Best wishes, comfort and amusement, safety, and some daring, for your Halloween!

15 comments:

warren said...

I like halloween too though it is going to be creepy around here tonight...at least 25% of the city is without power and that makes for a strange feeling when you are used to lots of lights in a given area...

I expect dark out in the country but not in the city. Oh well, it's all going to be fun!

Jennifer said...

Such a glorious celebration; I love that I can really picture it, really position myself there, in my imagination, among you, and enjoying every moment as you all so clearly did. Best for a fun evening tonight, too!

valleycampdurango said...

next year i'm coming. i will find your fun filled house and celebrate. i will bring salad and cider and a costumed entourage!

happy halloween, my dear!

kara said...

Happy Halloween! So exciting to see Priscilla and Emma here.... it really is such a small world, and the internet connectedness makes it even smaller! (Also, that graveyard looks amazing- and super spooky!)

aka Jules said...

I'm with Ivey, count me in!!! :)

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

How did it go, Warren?
I think I could handle a dark Halloween...
but stepping out into a snowy night!
That would be strange for us.
Although, we were in Minneapolis for the "Storm of the Century,' Halloween '91. I hope you all found your fun and treats!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

I love that you can picture it, too...
because it reminds me that we've had the
pleasure of your company, here.
Happy November, dear friend.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Happy Halloween, indeed!
The more the merrier!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Oh, yes... I almost forgot!
Internet family, all of us!
Funny about the graveyard... it's dear and pleasant.
I worried it would be a heebie jeebie thing, but it's
actually quite lovely. Of course, I doubt I would be so
cool and calm if it were actually occupied...

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Excellent.
It's been such a blast, I am not even _scared_ to think about next year!

judy in ky said...

You and your family sure know how to make fun happen! Wonderful photos.

Janece said...

Thank you for such a perfect and fun evening! We wish we could have stayed longer, but the littlest peacock was exhausted. She fell asleep the instant we had her in her warm and cozy nest!

coralmom said...

I am both delighted and giddy to have made it on to Chickenblog! <3

coralmom said...

:)

Jenny said...

Looks like you guys had a festive Halloween. Everyone's costumes are so creative and fun.