Fred – An Unorthodox Halloween

The life of Fred.

Fred first joined us Christmas 2007. At the time, he represented the most significant single investment in Halloween we had ever even thought of.

From Halloween buildup '08

However, he was BORN July 4th, 2008. At the time, I was dragging him over to my dad to help with impaling him. Some of the neighborhood kids screamed and cried at the sight of him…my niece however danced around holding his hand singing happy birthday. Thus, he was ‘born’, and was soon at work in 2008.

From Halloween 2008

And reprized his role in 2009.

From Halloween 2009

In 2010, we lost nearly everything we had built up for Halloween in August, and was left with a last minute scrambling to put together SOME idea for the yard, didn’t realize I was putting together what would become a basis for our theme ever since. Fred, however escaped destruction and took one for the team.

From The Harvest

2013, Fred was promoted to full time employee by my daughter, who insisted he needed to watch over the corn “so the birds will nibble on HIM and not the corn.”

From 2013 buildup

Last month, Fred was his normal cheerful self for our little Walpurgisnacht display.

From Buildup 14

He’s presently resting up for another tour as the designated nibble target.

From Buildup 14

HOWEVER…

Talia has apparently declared him dead.

“That’s Fred. We put him in his coffin, so now he’s happy because he’s dead, and can be a happy ghost.”

From Buildup 14

RIP Fred.

7/14/2008 – 5/14/2014

We hope you’ll stick around and be a happy ghost for us this year.

Turkey day roundup

For the first time in quite a few years, we did not head out for the annual full contact shopping festival known as black friday.

You know. I loved the old 4 am openings. Waiting in the cold, hot chocolate at the door, doughnuts, etc of yesteryear. You can take your 6 PM Thursday crap and shove it. Give folks a chance to get their dinner down, for crying out loud.

Instead, my wife and I went to see that new Hunger Games on Friday. Theater wasn’t that crowded since everyone’s getting their sales on.

We did manage to spruce up the yard for the season though.

From Christmas

Harvest Party 2013

Wiggles

We’re taking things a little on the easy side this year. Vacation coming up and all, don’t want to have too many projects outstanding.

Combined with the garden expansion, and the need for a new point and shoot, it’s allowed me to rediscover my love of bugs.

Long before the Halloween bug bit me, I had a thing for insects. At one point I wanted to be a hollywood bug wrangler, thanks in large part to Indiana Jones.

But, the boss didn’t like the idea of the bug collection. No bugs in the house, not even dead ones. Thus, it’s a minor miracle we have our little baby wiggles.

Playing with the macro setting on the new camera…

From 2013 buildup

I soon started taking bug pics.

Squash bee.

From 2013 buildup

Damsel fly.

From 2013 buildup

Long Legged Fly.

From 2013 buildup

It’s really made me want a proper macro lens for Bertha (the nice camera).

It wasn’t long before I noticed a Monarch butterly. Now, I’ve been purposely allowing milkweed to grow for a few years now, and planted butterfly bushes in the hopes that food and habitat would attract them. I’d just about given up. But, mom has been fluttering about our ‘butterfly garden’ for a week now. Noticing her struggling in a windstorm, I considered catching her and bringing her in, but she fluttered over to the neighbors. So, I went checking in the milkweed.

From 2013 buildup

A day later, that egg was showing signs of life.

From 2013 buildup

And, we had “Wiggles” (as Talia has named it).

From 2013 buildup

2 days after hatching, Wiggles is still first instar, but starting to show some of the characteristic patterns.

From 2013 buildup

So they don’t nibble on the corn.

Neighbors,

It was my daughter’s idea. She insisted we needed to make a scarecrow “so the birds don’t nibble on our corn”.

She then proceeded to instruct me on EXACTLY how to make it. I had to get Fred, and put him in a coat, with his arms out, and a hat. “Then the birds will nibble on Fred and not our corn.”

Good memory, she has.