In later posts I'll go into the details and do some how-to's. As it's already September, this year's prep is well underway so it's perfect time to catalog the process.
In 2004 when I was house hunting, my realtor rolled up across the street from a gem. The minute I saw it's front porch and steps, I envisioned pumpkins lining the stairs. That year I carved 4 of the 5 pumpkins I bought. I thought holy cow, look at how magical! It's quite quaint looking back at it now, but the seeds of great things are often a tad underwhelming.
2004, in all it's out of focus glory...
Precious, right?
Then things started to grow. For a couple years I went with a whole spider theme, as if my house had been infested with spiders. I made hundreds of spiders out of pipe cleaners. I became known as "The Spider House." This was my first touch of Halloween Neighborhood Notoriety and oh, I was hooked! What?! Kids are talking about my house!?!? There's a "word of mouth" about MY house!?!? Well, obviously, I'm going to have to go bigger next year, right?
Spider House, 2007. I think I was up to 8 carved pumpkins that year.
2008 things started to get real. I hated how dark the porch was so my focus that year was improving the lighting. And I started to expand beyond the spider theme. I had been super resistant, I loved being The Spider House, but it was just too hard to resist some of the props out there. Little did I know, I was taking a giant step off the deep end and had fully transitioned into Haunter.
The haunt grows...Not entirely sure of the pumpkin count that year. Definitely getting into the teens...
2009 I added a cemetery. Still Spider House but at the time I started developing a new direction for the haunt. I wanted it to look like a proper, spooky house. That house in the neighborhood you ran past as a kid. I wanted kids to look at it and have a brief moment where they question whether it's awesome Halloween decorations or, does a witch ACTUALLY live there? This would dictate just about every new purchase or DIY prop from this point forward. I tend to avoid animatronics, inflatables etc. Nothing overly cartoonish. I've taken this philosophy to heart and perhaps a tad too seriously, as you will see coming up.
2009 and the pumpkin count grows. Meanwhile, my inability to take a photo in low light does not improve.
Skipping ahead to 2010. My dad is a clever guy and can build all sorts of things so I asked him to build me spiders that would drop from the trees and porch and then recoil back up. He thought I was nuts but okay, if his daughter wants spiders that drop from the trees so be it. He built this incredible contraption of pulleys and motors and it was a huge hit. I also managed to infect my dad with the Halloween bug and he's been back every Halloween since.
Meanwhile, I still couldn't take a proper picture...
2011 and the Spider House is no more (although I always include webs and spiders to some degree.) I'm full blown "Witch's House" and I was gleeful. The Trick or Treaters loved the changes. With regulars coming back year after year, they love trying to find the new additions as well as their old favorites. The chalk ghosts are hugely popular and everyone loves the multitude of pumpkins. I believe 2011 was the year I was up to 28. Once I've hit a number, I can never do less than that subsequent years. I've really carved myself into a corner with this "rule." Sigh.
2012, big year. BIG year. I had always hated those cheap foam tombstones. Slightest breeze and they'd fly away and break. I found some amazing cement molds on ebay and because a pro at concrete. My graveyard took on a whole new life and has become the first thing I put out each year. I like to do it at night so when the kids are on the way to school, one day it's not there and the next, full cemetery. My roommate from college was also out that year so I FINALLY got some really great pictures of my decorations.
33 pumpkins that year. 33! And the big news, the following year The Today show featured one of the pictures on their show. I got to hear my name and "33 hand carved pumpkins" fall out of Al Roker's mouth. I will never be phased by the odd looks by fellow shoppers when I'm stocking up on Halloween in August again. Al Roker approves, so there.
And now... the photos!!!
Skipping to 2014, still steadily growing. By now I had introduced some carved craft pumpkins to the mix. So much easier to start every year with a solid dozen ready to go.
A daytime shot, morning after. Doesn't look too bad for 400+ trick-or-treaters.
For some reason I have very few pics of 2015. Same with 2016 but there was a good reason for that. My daughter showed up just a week and a half before Halloween. I still fully decorated though. Got a neighborhood full of kids counting on me.
One of the few pics from that year, but likely the best photo yet...
2017 has lots of great photos and new additions that made me swoon so I'll do a separate post in honor of it's glory. In the meantime, behold Pumpkin Bushes:
And finally...last year. Two words: Zombie Horde. Wait, even better. 3 words: Free Zombie Horde!!!
Phew. That was a long one. Won't do that again! But at least you're now all caught up and familiar with the depth of my Halloween "sickness." I can't wait to share some of my favorite details & tricks.
51 days till Halloween...time to get haunting.
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