Category: Uncategorized

“The other Halloween”.

I had mused last year that if all these wierdos can have their Christmas in July festivities, I was bound and determined to get some “Halloween in April”.

I come to realize, however, such a thing already exists. Walpurgisnacht.

I first come to learn of it through, of course, Bram Stoker. And, I encourage you to light a fire, curl up, and read or listen, for yourself.

For ourselves, we are finishing up the little things on all fronts to finally put this school work behind us.

Skulls are being finished…

From 2011 buildup

From 2011 buildup

The armor is rapidly nearing completion as well, however, my hands can only handle the sewing so long, and it may be a few days out yet.

LONG time readers will know about my fascination with the Island King Tiki Torch. From it’s debut in 2008, to the 2009 redesign, I have always felt these things were nice, but WELL outside my price range for the yard.

Ranging from $15-$20, it just was never feasible when you needed a bunch.

However, Home Depot today had them on clearance for $3.

From 2011 buildup

I just couldn’t pass that up.

From 2011 buildup

We may even go after some more.

Well, it’s not to say we’ve finished with the cleaning up.

But, we do have a small workspace now, and barring a sudden windfall to purchase a bunch more organizational materials, the rest of the plans to re-organize the garage will have to wait until next year. In the spring, we’ll be doing some work in the shed, which will lead to even more room, but it has to wait until I can move out all the patio furniture to work in there.

So, after a weekend of getting everything as set as it’s going to get for a few months, it’s time to look forward at what the first project is going to be.

This is the time of year I like to try out NEW things. That way, if it falls totally apart, I can fall back on my tried and true methods later.

Years ago, I learned to make molds around this time, for instance. Last year, we tried our hand at animating props…and utterly failed.

It’s time to revisit that idea of animation, and this time with more than an idea of how it should work. I’ve been reading over a MARVELOUS site for animation over at Johnny’s Ghosts. Now, I’m not really needing those ghosts in particular, but if I can figure out the ins and outs of his puppetry, we can use the idea to our own purposes.

Been trying to get on to post for a few weeks now, but my son has had the computer tied up as he completed homework.

(time to get that laptop for them up and running…)

But, we’re back, and up to our usual oddities.

Much as this website was the first project for 2010, the first project of 2011 is rather ‘boring’. Making myself an actual workspace.

With so much trouble last year resulting directly from my lack of one, it’s actually fairly logical.

First and foremost is clearing the space. And, most of what Santa brought me is organizational items. In the garage, I really should have gotten ‘before’ pics. But, we’ve cleared all the kids bikes off the floor, and moved all my bamboo and torch storage out to the shed, where I’ll be building a mezzanine shelf to accommodate all that…in the spring, or at least above freezing…

Along with that, we have improved the lighting.

From 2011 buildup

To something you can actually work under.

From 2011 buildup

And, we’ve taken a little page out of my wife’s organization book.

From 2011 buildup

I’m sure I’ll fill them all quicker than I expect…

From 2011 buildup

Still have a long way to go, but we’re excited to have an actual workshop for a change….

Ya know, I thought Halloween was supposed to be the season of mischief. However, it is our Christmas decor that has always been vandalized. I continue to find them moved into…not exactly child friendly positions…often broken in the process.

Every year save the ones we put Jack out, anyhow. Seems someone really likes to wreck our Christmas lighted animals.

Not that I mind, really. These deer were scheduled to be cannibalized for parts, anyhow, and were just put out ‘because’. (all our ‘normal’ decor broke during last winter)

So, what do I do with a deer that no longer stands up?

Add a little Christmas light blood of course.

From Christmas