Saturday, October 31, 2020

Halloween in the 'Hood


I've been saving up a Halloween photo gallery of some of the fun decorations and jack-o-lanterns I've encountered around my neighborhood and on my way to and from work. My favorite is this house, with its monstrous three-eyed front door.

And check out that pumpkin at lower left...


...it's the Death Star!

Here are some more interesting pumpkins:


I like the one on the far right, with the moon and star eyes.


These are on the steps of one of our neighbors.


And this one's down the street. Not sure what happened here. Pumpkin fail!


Some houses have quite elaborate decorations...


...while others are more basic, but at least they're in the spirit of things.


Clearly the home of an American!

Dave and I plan to sit inside with the lights off this evening, as is our habit on Halloween. I didn't buy any candy or anything. I honestly doubt we'll get any trick-or-treaters anyway -- we never have before, and now, with the pandemic, it seems even less likely.
 
Still, Happy Halloween, everyone!

25 comments:

Moving with Mitchell said...

Great scenes. SG's mother and a good friend one year realised they had had so many trick or treaters that they weren't going to have any candy for themselves. So they turned out all the lights and sat on the floor in the dark eating what was left.

Anonymous said...

I quite like the pumpkin fail. It was probably the work of a young child. I no longer rant about American imperialism inflicting its customs on us for its own commercial gain. It's just a bit of fun.

gz said...

Interesting talk on the Out of Doors programme this morning on Radio Scotland about the origins of guising as it is called here or trick and treating. Mentioned the Mari Lwyd in Wales too, but the treating is to do with giving good luck for the year to come.
Lovely to see people having fun and being creative

Yorkshire Pudding said...

You did well to gather those pictures Steve. A carefully estimated 9.3 million people have died from hunger so far this year and here in the west we carve pumpkins that mostly go uneaten. By the way, in my childhood, you never saw any orange pumpkins. Lanterns were carved from large turnips. Much harder to do.

Ursula said...

What a great neighbourhood you live in. Such fun. Thanks for documenting those pumpkins, making me laugh as I am trying to dry off the down pour of all downpours. That I wasn't swept off my feet by the gusts taking one unawares, in not predictable intervals, is a miracle. No, it's not a miracle. More likely my guardian angel working overtime to the tune of Elton John's "I am still standing". Or maybe one of the fairies at my cradle dished out an extra large portion of luck - to last me a lifetime.

As to the "fail" of a pumpkin. Come on, Steve. Like humans not every pumpkin turns out beautiful. At least someone was kind enough to let it see the light of day - despite the harelip.

If there'll be a knock at the door this evening, it won't be me. More is the pity. If it were I wouldn't ask you and Dave for a treat, I'd bring one.

U

ellen abbott said...

I have never lived anywhere as an adult where we got trick or treaters. maybe half a dozen on a good night at the old city house but many years none at all. I haven't carved a pumpkin in a decade.

Vivian Swift said...

There must be a lot of American ex-pats in your neighborhood, because I've had British friends tell me that Halloween is an American holiday. Brits don't actually carve pumpkins, do they? But this gallery of photos makes me happy, but then, I'm looking for anything to keep my mind off of the election. I feel sick with anxiety, and that's saying a lot -- I've been through almost 4 whole years of Trump.

Anonymous said...

Nice Halloween displays there. I'm always impressed by how artistically some people can carve those pumpkins. Well done. We have for the past several years turned our lights out and closed the blinds so we wouldn't get any trick or treaters. We'll do it again tonight, but it's unlikely people will be out knocking. Happy Halloween! Boo!

Catalyst said...

Our plans are the same.

Margaret said...

Love the decorations, although I'm too lazy to get pumpkins. I do have some fall decorations out in my house though. It looks like some of the Jack o'Lanterns were done by kids, which is always a fun(?) family project. I do have candy but will be very careful handing it out (with a mask and BBQ tongs) but I doubt that many children will show up at my door!

Sharon said...

These are all great! I love the three-eyed door and the death star and those pumpkins in the third photo are beautifully carved. I'm having a virtual dinner with my friend David and his partner. And, if I can get myself in gear, I'm going to make some pumpkin bread.

Angelicastar said...

Happy Halloween Steve and Dave. i stop celebrating when my son became a teenager. He's 49 now. I never trick or treated in the neighborhood. i would
drive him around to my clients homes to get candy

Jennifer said...

The American's pumpkin is my favorite....it speaks for us all as we wait for this damn election to be over and done with!

Happy Halloween Steve, Dave, and Olga!

My life so far said...

I didn't realize that Brits celebrated Halloween. Love the pumpkins. My hubby drove all over this morning trying to find a pumpkin for our grandson to carve. A few days ago there were hundreds of pumpkins everywhere for sale and now they're all gone.

Ellen D. said...

We have placed our miniature chocolate bars in baggies and have placed them spaced out on a table in our driveway so the trick-or-treaters can grab a bag safely. Not sure if we will get many trick-or-treaters but we are ready! I like your photos of all of the Halloween decorations around you. Thanks! and Happy Halloween!

Allison said...

Since we live in a neighborhood full of old people, with no street lights, we don't get trick or treaters. I don't miss them at all. Plus, the rattlesnakes are still active. Javelinas eat the pumpkins so there's no reason to put them out, either. I'm turning into a scroogy old person, I suppose. Your pictures are great, I did enjoy the carving.

Debby said...

I made a pot of nice butternut soup. We are waiting for trick or treaters. We probably won't have any. I think people have really gone the extra mile to decorate for the kid's sake.

Red said...

They carve much better Jack-o-lanterns today. Some are very artistic.

Elizabeth said...

So much fun! I've been a bit of the Halloween Scrooge this year and not decorated. I did go out and buy some candy for any trick-or-treaters, but I don't think they're coming out at all this year.

The Padre said...

Outstanding Seires Of Carvings There Brother Man - Many Thanx

Cheers

Alphie Soup said...

Lots of carving talent has been put to work here. Orange colour and fearsome teeth rule.
Alphie

Sarah said...

Love all the local Halloween decorations. I have carved pumpkins a few times but their innards are so slimy and sticky that I don't enjoy it! People used to make turnip lanterns which must have been difficult as turnips are rock hard. There were people around last night in costumes but I think a lot of them were doing organised things-Halloween trails. That is what our neighbours who have two little boys were doing anyway.

Edna B said...

I love all the decorations. I think it's awesome that so many folks carved their pumpkins. We didn't get any trick or treaters, but then we don't usually in our area. Besides, it was wicked cold yesterday. Only in the twenties all day. I hope your temps are better, hugs, Edna B.

John Going Gently said...

I saw one toddler dressed as ET

Ms. Moon said...

No Trick or Treaters on the island. No big surprise. I sort of like that crazy pumpkin. I think a kid carved it and the parent(s) said, "Honey! That's beautiful!" and then they put it out for all to admire.