An Unorthodox Halloween – Page 75

2009. Or not.

It’s that time of year to look ahead.

All the Christmas Craziness is coming to an end, and a new year is comming upon us swiftly.

As I sit down looking forward, it’s clear 2009 will need to be scaled back. On the one hand, I have a whole new direction for the yard picked out. Something I personally have been needing. Being the Gemini that I am, I have to have something NEW, can’t be doing the same boring old thing every year. And, this tribal setup has been goign towards the boring direction with me lately.

Fortunately, I have the Lab setup for the school to keep me occupied. But, I’ve been meaning to get around to doing an unconventional witch. And, when coupled with too many nightmares from the Alien movies as a child,(Who am I kidding, they still can keep me up)watching Gremlins one too many times this Christmas, comming upon yet another new Witch I had previously not known of, this time from Navajo folklore, and a dissappointment that no one was able to see all my webgun work last year….

I’ve put together, in my head, a whole new outlook on the yard, and we’ll be working towards that end this year.

In fact, there’s actually 2! plans. One that I really want to try, and a fall-back that takes it just a bit to the left in case Jen remains so completely opposed to my first choice.

In fact, I already have acquired a bunch of victims ready for mutilation, even if Indy thinks they’re his bed.

From Halloween buildup 09

However, problem is with the budget this year.

I’m going to be working on my OTHER hobby this year, for a change. At least for the next few months.

As such, if I’m unable to complete things to my liking in time, the yard may end up the same as 2008 on Halloween. That’ll leave revealing the new stuff till 2010. But, I don’t know if that’s neccessary or not. There really isn’t a LOT of things required for the new ideas.

But, more on all that later.

Shadow and Light.

Meet Shadow.

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I first noticed Shadow around Halloween. And, it being that time of year and all, I didn’t think a whole lot about seeing a new black cat out in the neighborhood. It was the season for black cats and all.

It wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I saw Shadow again. Out the door on my way to work, I heard a couple cats fighting. And, there was Shadow fighting with a neighborhood cat. Once they saw me, the one took off, but Shadow came running over, begging. His tail had been obviously run over, and his stomach showed obvious signs of a recent weight loss.

Me being a sucker and all, I obliged, more to keep him out of under my car than anything else.

He was waiting when I got home. And thus has begun our time with Shadow.

Turns out he was sleeping in a barrel I found along the side of a road, I picked up to eventually make into a cauldron (somehow fitting), up till it filled with snow and ice, anyhow.

What’s troublesome was not a stray, rather a lost/abandoned pet. He’s been de-clawed, and fixed. No collar. No lost pet ads in the paper as of yet.

Very friendly, most likely litter-box trained, though we can’t have a 3rd in our house to actually know. He was obviously around both cats and dogs before, as he doesn’t mind our cats at all, and just watches the neighbors dog when it’s loose.

The kids started calling him Shadow, and he immediately responded to it, so it’s a very good chance that was his name to begin with.

If anyone knows of a lost cat, or would like what is sure to be a good house cat, please, let us know. Otherwise, maybe it’s a sign for Halloween.

And, last night was the luminara display at a local Cemetery.

So much snow, you wouldn’t even know it’s a cemetery.

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With it being the season and all, seemed fitting to get a picture of the star peaking out behind the clouds. (Not sure which planet it was)

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Scary Christmas Scene contest and updates

Halloweenforum.com is running a new contest for the holiday season. A Scary Christmas Scene contest.

Objective: To create the scariest Christmas scene.

How To Enter:
Create/Post a new thread within the contest section of the forum. Your entry does NOT have to be completed to create a thread, however the first post in the thread does need to include at least 1 picture and full description.

ALL entries MUST have at least 2 pictures taken during the creation of the project.

Photo re-touching and altering is not permitted.

All entries must be created for the purpose of this contest. The scene may contain homemade or purchased props but MUST contain at least ONE homemade Prop that has a “Scary Christmas” (scary=spooky) theme.

Your Official Entry:
Your thread must contain one post that is the official entry that contains:
– 1 picture of the completed project
– 1-2 pictures of the project during creation.
– One picture MUST be of your homemade prop(s) have your local newspaper with the date easily viewable along with the prop to help verify that the scene was created for this contest.
– Details of the project
– List of supplies used
– Total cost of project (in US Dollars)

Who Can Enter:
You must be a member in good standing.
Forum staff and sponsors are not eligible.
One entry per person.

When:
Contest entries will be accepted from December 18, 2008 at 12:01 am. and ends January 30, 2009 at 11:59 pm. For purposes of these Official Rules, all times are Pacific time zone.

After entry deadline, voting will implemented via a poll. Each member of the forum may only vote once. You may use your one vote for your own entry if you wish. Voting will end on 02-13-09 (Friday the 13th).

No Cheating:
IP logging is implemented. Any cheating of any kind will result in disqualification. No member may create additional accounts for voting purposes.
Posts and threads may be moderated.
You are not allowed to send unsolicited private/profile messages to encourage people to vote. Remember that all forum rules apply.

PRIZES WILL BE AWARED TO ONE WINNER:
Prize : V-919 Fogger

Prizes furnished by
MonsterGuts
Halloween Prop Building Supplies For The Home Haunter – Monster Guts

So, get out there and make Christmas Scary!

And, in case you haven’t noticed, we’ve added a recipe section over to the sidebar that includes links to all the recipes I’ve posted, and will be kept updated going forward. Also included a couple new links in the how-to and the other places sections.

The Three Wise T-Rex’s

Yes, yes…there was a “day 3” where I made lots of toffee…or rather a great big “oops”. Didn’t quadruple the recipe correctly. So, we’ll revisit that in a few days.

So, the Three Wise TRex’s.

The story of how they came to be actually begins when I was a child. I can only look back and imagine the frustration on my poor Sunday school teacher’s face, for I was a holy terror. And, among other things, one thing that always bothered me, and I always asked at this time of year: What happened to all the sheep?

If all those shepherds were heading off to see the baby, WHAT is happening to the sheep? Who’s watching them? Folks just leaving their duties, that isn’t right???

I’ld get answers ranging from “the angels watched them” (which brought another slew of questions from me) to the more pointed “Be quite”.

The next step in the journey for the TRex’s came from my son, in his own little Sunday School moment. The kids were asked to draw an animal that was in the stable with Jesus. And, as the kids slowly filed up and presented their Camels and sheep, Kyle proudly displays HIS animal. When asked what it was, he pronounces “It’s a T-REX! RAWR!!”

I could only smile approvingly.

THEN there was the Birthday Party….

With Christmas bringing me baking cookies anyway, and Kyles birthday being so close, and him having a DINOSAUR birthday party (and not liking cake, so thus the cookies), it made sense to buy a dinosaur cookie cutter.

And there, staring at the counter with a bunch of trees and bells and ginger bread men sitting next to a host of T-Rex’s, the story of the 3 wise T-Rex’s was born.

I am sure you know the tale:

The 3 Wise T-Rex’s….who waited for the shepherds to leave so they could EAT THE FLOCKS!!! (insert evil laughter here)

Ah…makes me smile.

We could even make it into a nice kids tale by having the T-Rex’s bring the wool coats of all the sheep they ate to baby Jesus. *snicker*

Thus it is, you CAN’T have Christmas without the 3 wise T-Rex’s.

Day 2: Cookies and Pickles

Ah, cookies.

I started the sugar cookies some 12+ years ago on Halloween. It morphed into a Christmas Tradition somewhere along the way.

This is my Mother-in-law’s recipe, and I’ve never seen a better sugar cookie anywhere.

Sugar Cookies:
4 Cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Butter or Shortening
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp soda
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup Milk

Sift dry ingredients together, cut in shortening. Add other ingredients and mix well. Chill before rolling and cutting. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Simple and up front. I do have a few suggestions and a minor alteration or two.

First note is that you REALLY MUST use bread mixers with this.

From Christmas

Second. DO NOT under any circumstances fill an entire bowl while you are letting this chill. Leave yourself space to get a grip on the dough, for once chilled, it’s brick-like. I’ve taken to molding myself little handles.

From Christmas

Now then, once it’s chilled (and you want to give it a good 8 hours), I’ve found rolling and cutting to be MUCH easier if you knead it for a minute or two, using plenty of flour to keep it from sticking to your counter or hands.

Then, it’s just cutting your cookies…

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Ah, trees, ginger bread men, and bells….

Of course, it wouldn’t be CHRISTMAS without the three wise T-Rex’s.

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I’m sure you know ALL ABOUT the story of the three wise T-Rex’s, but I’ll go into that a little more when I have more time to do it justice.

Now, the final note I have is on baking time. The recipe says 10-12 minutes at 375.

I’ve consistently found that too long, and my times have been closer to 7-9 minutes. So, I’ld check em at 7, if I were you…

Now for the Pickles…

I have NO IDEA where this recipe originates from, in the beginning. My Grandmother would make these pickles, and we’ld get to have some for lunch whenever we were over at her house. As she no longer makes them, I’ve taken it upon myself to carry them forward. And, since Christmas is a time of cooking special things anyway, they have become a Christmas staple.

Now…thing is, there’s really not a set “recipe”…

So, ignore the insanity, forget your mind screaming it sounds odd, and give it a try.

First, go buy some dills.

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Ok, now dump em out. Save the brine, if you have a use for it. We’re not using it here…

Now, chop them up and put about 1/2 back in.

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Now, cover them in sugar. (about roughly a cup, but I no longer measure these days)

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Now, you guessed it. Chop up the rest and put them back in as well.

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And repeat the sugar treatment. Next, get some pickling spice. I like the pickling spice straight in the jar, but my brothers are spoiled, and don’t like the ‘dirty pickles’ as much, so we put the spice some cheese cloth.

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There are 2 optional steps here in the recipe: Garlic and onions. Cloves of garlic for the sock, or chopped onions. Not having garlic, I used a little garlic powder.

Just put all that in the jar, then pour a bit of vinegar on top. About 2 Tablespoons worth.

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Let these sit in the fridge for at least 3 days. I prefer about a week, myself. And you get a unique pickle unlike anything you’re likely to have tasted anywhere else. Trust me, they’re good.