Later, Gator!

Hey, everyone -- adventure calls! I'll be back in a month. Giddyup now, horsie!

Modern Witchery

Mouse Hotel -- oooo, scary!

Last year we also constructed a Mouse Hotel for the front steps. This is much easier to make than a jack-o'-lantern because you don't need to clean out the pumpkin. Just cut a few holes and stick in some plastic mice from the dollar store. Easy-peasy!

Here's my attempt at an arty photo with witch's hats, candy and rubber rats. Yeah, I know -- "don't give up my day job." The rats' names are Cardinal Ratzinger and Archbishop Fang. They squeak when squeezed and have been with us for a few years now. Her Royal Highness the cat does not care for them. I think it's their little evil red eyes and long ratty tails.

And here's a blurry action shot from the front steps on Halloween night 2010. Scary, eh? LOL!

Jack-o'-Lantern Frenzy!

Every year, My Rare One and I carve two jack-o'-lanterns to sit on our front steps on Halloween night. We try not to make the JOLs too scary because most of our trick or treaters are pretty small kids. Typically, they pay no attention to the pumpkins anyway, being totally focused on candy. But their accompanying parents often comment favourably on our efforts, LOL!

Usually we employ one of those carving kits that come with several patterns, pointy sticks for making the pattern perforations on the pumpkins and little saws for cutting out the design. Actually, it's pretty amazing what a good job you can do with those easy-to-use kits. Last year, however, I designed my own "diabolical vampire cat" pumpkin --

My Rare One used a pattern to spell out this seasonal greeting --

Here they are together --

Not quite so compelling in full light though! Darkness and candlelight work wonders. My Rare One and I find that to be true in other contexts as well.

Halloween Week

Is that the sound of a car coming up my driveway?

Yes! My bat alarm has been activated. Fly, my pretties, fly! Warn me of the intruders' approach.

Oh, foolish one! Do you dare to approach my humble abode?

Very well, then. I'll come and open the gates for you . . . . creeeeaaaakkkk . . . . sorry, pay that sound no mind -- it's just my hip joint acting up again.

Hello, brave and foolish visitor. Welcome to Halloween Week at She Who Seeks blog. Come closer . . . if you dare.

I'll lay a big smooch on ya, sweetie! Mwah! Mmmmm . . . tasty!

Come closer and tomorrow I'll show you my . . . *cackle* . . . pumpkins!

[Cat art by Ryan Conner and found here at her Etsy store]

HRH Acts Up and Acts Out

Well, Her Royal Highness the cat has been giving me nothing but attitude lately. At 16 years old, she is like an out-of-control teenager -- except that in cat years, being 16 makes her 80 years old. So maybe she's really like an out-of-control senior citizen. Both are impossible to deal with, quite frankly.

I do the best I can to maintain a calm, even keel but I've had to put my foot down about the language she's using. Where she learned to swear like a sailor, I'll never know.

Where did my sweet little kitten go?

Follow-up re Louise McKinney Park Labyrinth

Thanks, everyone, for your questions about yesterday's post. As a result, I did some research and discovered some fascinating things!

The labyrinth at Louise McKinney Park was designed and built in June 2010 by Leah Dorion. She is a Metis artist from Saskatchewan who constructed the labyrinth as part of The Works, Edmonton's annual art and design festival. The labyrinth's official name is Turtle Rock Effigy and here is a description of its significance from the festival program:

Turtle Rock Effigy combines the First Nations turtle rock effigy with a Celtic labyrinth path on its back, a symbolic representation of the bringing together of First Nations and European cultures.

Zing! The lightbulb comes on! Turtle Island is the traditional native name for North America. And so all those rock piles around the edge of the labyrinth must represent the head, limbs and tail of the turtle! I certainly didn't figure that out when I was there, so I must return to walk the labyrinth again sometime in light of this new understanding!

[Photo of Leah Dorion and her turtle labyrinth artwork found on her website. Photo by Debra She Who Seeks.]