First, I figured with this string of 100 degree days, I best make sure my little pile of decay experiment was still nice and damp, and water the gravesite for the buried version as well.
Peeling back the plastic revealed an entire new world of life and activity beneath it’s surface. I’m pretty familiar with most things that crawl, but here were species I’ld never seen before. In abundance. Fleeing from this invasion of light upon their dark world. At least 3 forms of mold were now growing on the newspaper as well.
I don’t know that this experiment will work any better than the gravesite method, but it sure is more interesting. I soaked the area again, and covered it back up. Let all those little things do their stuff. Eat them clothes! Fred needs a suitable wardrobe.
Speaking of Fred, my dad gave me a call as well. Just wanted to let me know he’s got a pole rigged up for Fred. Hasn’t tried to put it upright yet as that takes at least 2 people. I just say we’ll have to try it someday, to which I get the reply “I’ll be home Sunday!”
Ok. Guess Fred is going up Sunday! Front or back yard is now the question…While I would LOVE to have him out front, with the countdown sign for a day or two, it might just be a bit much for the neighbors this early. Poor little girl next door is still afraid of our house from last year as it stands. (Course, she has a good view of the back anyway, so that may not be able to be helped.)
So, with clothes coming along, and a pole prototype done, I just need check back in to see how my brother is coming along with finding the lighting for Fred.
Finally, we got the hut walls up and finished. As suspected, we’re having to switch directions with the roof again. Gluing the grass in place doesn’t look like it will work. Next plan is making panels to go up on the roof out of grass and duct tape.
Don’t remember the actor, but he was asking about his first acting experience which led to some grade school play and some funny pictures.
That got me thinking of the only school play I ever enjoyed…
A school play version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
I can’t remember exactly what GRADE it was. Or whether it was around Halloween or not. And, while I’m sure I was given some minor role to act out as well, what stands out in my memory was being placed in charge of the special effects along with 2 of my friends.
Now, the Headless Horseman has a special place in my heart anyway.
We had the classic decorations in the house when I was a child. The posable skeleton cardboard cutout for the front door. A witch and cat picture to hang up. A cardboard spider. You know, the classics. I’ve seen most of them at shops here or there since. But, we had one…always my favorite, and I have not seen it around since mom got rid of it. A picture of the Headless Horseman, pumpkin held high, against the light of a full moon. I LOVED that picture.
Couldn’t look at it for fear. But I loved it.
Then, there is the superb Disney film.
So, here we were making The Headless Horseman. With me and my friends in charge of the effects.
I recall making lots of sound effects. Mostly by hand or mouth. Babbling brooks, horse galloping, wind, etc. We even made a ‘flaming pumpking’ of a basketball with crate paper that mistakenly bounced off the wall ‘off stage’ it was supposed to disappear into and out into the audience…Some lighting effects here or there, even.
The play wraps up with the narrator telling that on some nights you can still hear Ichabod, and the three of us effects folk let a cry in unison into that microphone so eerie the memory of it still makes my hair stand up.
So, here’s to the Headless Horseman. Quite possibly a main reason I turned out so wierd…
The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight By Jack Prelutsky
The Headless Horseman rides tonight Through stark and starless skies, Shattering the silence with His otherworldly cries. He races through the darkness On his alabaster steed, The Headless Horseman rides tonight, Wherever the fates would lead.
And he rides upon the wind tonight, He rides upon the wind, Galloping, galloping, galloping on Out of the great oblivion, Galloping till the night is gone. He rides upon the wind, tonight, He rides upon the wind.
The Headless Horseman rides tonight Beggared in robes of black, To bear a being from the earth, Never to bring him back. He’s evil, foul, and bottoming, With laughter on his breath. The Headless Horseman rides tonight, The minister of death.
And he rides upon the wind tonight, He rides upon the wind, Galloping, galloping, galloping on Out of the great oblivion, Galloping till the night is gone. He rides upon the wind, tonight, He rides upon the wind.
The Headless Horseman rides tonight, He rides the wind alone. Beneath his arm he tightly tucks His head of gleaming bone. His voice is harsh and hollow, It is horrible to hear. The Headless Horseman rides tonight To fill the earth with fear!
And he rides upon the wind tonight, He rides upon the wind, Galloping, galloping, galloping on Out of the great oblivion, Galloping till the night is gone. He rides upon the wind, tonight, He rides upon the wind.
The Headless Horseman rides tonight Upon his fateful trip, With silvery stiles of steely death Held fast in boney grip. He sweeps it swiftly forth and back As over the earth he glides, And none in the world is safe tonight, For the Headless Horseman rides.
And he rides upon the wind tonight, He rides upon the wind, Galloping, galloping, galloping on Out of the great oblivion, Galloping till the night is gone. He rides upon the wind, tonight, He rides upon the wind.
I’ve been told in several performance reviews, one of my greatest strengths is the ability to adjust to changing circumstances on the fly, and improvise solutions to fit the circumstances. I don’t know about that, but Halloween always seems to offer such opportunities.
This is the story of one such challenge.
Long time readers here might recall a couple mystery projects in the works.
Well, I think it’s time to pull out that umbrella and get it all wrapped up.
EARLY in the year, Kyle had said he would want to help me out this year. I’m not actually counting on it, but, after watching Pirates of the Carribean a few times, and many of the wierdo documentaries we view, he decided he wanted to be a headhunter/cannibal to help out, as it fits with existing decorations. And, a little hut will work well whether he’s in it or not.
Thus it was that in April we were out searching for umbrellas.
See, I had this plan. A nice little hut. Thatch umbrella for a roof, and then we’ld just have to make the walls. Thatch umbrella’s were $60 minimum. Regular Umbrella’s I figured would end up in the $40 range at the end of the summer. So, we made our own umbrella for ~ $6, detailed above. The original plan was to use grass table skirts to make the thatch for it’s roof.
The skirts were too short, and too thin for it to look up to my standard when spread around on the umbrella. Thatch umbrella covers were $30, and didn’t look quite right. But, we had other, bigger problems…
We looked over several real huts and began making stick walls.
Let’s just say this was abandoned due to severely underestimating the number of sticks it would take.
Meanwhile, weeds had begun to grow, and they fit through the holes pretty good. We began threading them through the wire. This would be a great look. However, the remodeling project has made it unrealistic time wise.
I was prepared to abandon the project for this year when I was cleaning out the garage to make room for the table saw. There I stumbled once again upon the grass table skirts….
The current plan NOW is to remove the sticks and weeds from the wire. Apply these grass table skirts (and the new ones purchased) to form the walls. THEN glue the weeds onto the umbrella with some carpet glue…
And, somehow, I’m sure we’ll end up changing direction somewhere at least one more time before it’s done…
As for why I need the bead curtains. Keep guessing…
Over on Apolyton, ny preferred place to go for Civilization info, they had a little contest for some Civilization Revolution prizes. Being a fan of Civilization in general, I entered, and WON!
Got a T-Shirt for Kyle…and an XBOX 360 faceplate.
I don’t have an XBOX 360.
And, while being interviewed about winning, I jokingly suggested I might just have to turn it into a halloween prop. Then Dan had to go and make it into a challenge to do so…
Hmmm…
I do need some odd beads for a necklace Jen is making for my costume. Could cut them out of there…
Little torch action could probably bend it into a good longbone shape…
Could probably carve out a little bunch of bones and make it into a hanging skeleton thingy.
Might even be able to distort it enough for a creepy face…
The near daily trips to the local hardware stores to get odds and ends, and being treated actually NORMALLY was getting rough. “What ya building?”
“Oh, just some new floors…”
Boring. And, missing that oh so lovely bewildered look the ‘Oh, just something for Halloween’ typically gets. Especially prior to October.
But as I was out grabbing more stuff last night, I couldn’t resist the temptation to swing by Joann’s real quick. I’ve been waiting for something there…
And, though the new row upon row of fall/halloween items was nice…it was not it. Back to the clearance aisle where all the summer stuff is now 60% off. And, as I headed out the door with an armload full of grass table skirts, and everyone commenting “Oh, you must be having a Luau!” it was nice to see that puzzled look wash over everyone’s face when I smiled and replied.
