Celebrating Halloween

[Jeff Wrangler]

My lights are lit, including the jack-o-lanterns in the side windows, and I've ended spooky season by watching the original 1978 "Halloween".

I used to watch the 1979 version of Dracula, with Frank Langella and Laurence Olivier, but I never got around to finding it on DVD.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Technically, both are correct.  Some feel that "lighted" is more correct...

I think I would write, "I lit the candle at sundown," but "The candle was lighted at sundown."

Anyway, one thing I might add to put paid to celebrating Halloween: The unsold candy goes on sale November 1. 

(I needed a few things from the drugstore yesterday, and while I was there I picked up a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups and a bag of candy corn at half price.  )

(It's funny. I never really cared much for candy corn, but this year I had a craving for it.  )

[Jeff Wrangler]

Last month already, I began to see pumpkins for sale at the supermarket where I shop, and at the farmer's market I go to when I'm at my dad's. A year, maybe two years ago, I noticed that virtually all the pumpkins for sale in both places were nice, globe-shaped fruits. That made me wonder: Not so many years ago, I remember pumpkins for sale in all kinds of odd shapes, some "tall and thin," others flat on one side (because they had lain on their sides while they were growing), as well as some--but by no means all--pumpkins that had a nice globe shape.

There has certainly been a change. I wonder what's happened? 

[Jeff Wrangler]

The Halloween attractions have begun opening.

[serious crayons]

Last month already, I began to see pumpkins for sale at the supermarket where I shop, and at the farmer's market I go to when I'm at my dad's. A year, maybe two years ago, I noticed that virtually all the pumpkins for sale in both places were nice, globe-shaped fruits. That made me wonder: Not so many years ago, I remember pumpkins for sale in all kinds of odd shapes, some "tall and thin," others flat on one side (because they had lain on their sides while they were growing), as well as some--but by no means all--pumpkins that had a nice globe shape.

There has certainly been a change. I wonder what's happened? 

Maybe they're bred to be round, or maybe they give away the oddly shaped ones? The oddly shaped ones -- lopsided, elongated -- can actually make the coolest jack-o-lanterns.

[Front-Ranger]

Maybe the odd shaped ones go into pet feed. I've been noticing that cat and dog foods have sweet potato or pumpkin in them. It's supposed to aid digestion.

[serious crayons]

Or all those pumpkin-spice lattes!

Just kidding, I think a lot of pumpkin-flavored stuff doesn't even have pumpkin in it, just the spices that go into pumpkin pie. (Starbucks' lattes reportedly do contain pureed pumpkin.) I like pumpkin things in fall, so I'm not complaining. But my favorite is the Dairy Queen Pumpkin Pie Blizzard -- I'm pretty sure it has actual pumpkin pie in it (it certainly has chunks of crust).

OK, now the word "pumpkin" is  starting to look weird.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Maybe they're bred to be round, or maybe they give away the oddly shaped ones? The oddly shaped ones -- lopsided, elongated -- can actually make the coolest jack-o-lanterns.

I've speculated about that.

My dad always insisted that we get a pumpkin that was taller rather than rounder. He felt that made a better face.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Or all those pumpkin-spice lattes!

Just kidding, I think a lot of pumpkin-flavored stuff doesn't even have pumpkin in it, just the spices that go into pumpkin pie. (Starbucks' lattes reportedly do contain pureed pumpkin.) I like pumpkin things in fall, so I'm not complaining. But my favorite is the Dairy Queen Pumpkin Pie Blizzard -- I'm pretty sure it has actual pumpkin pie in it (it certainly has chunks of crust).

OK, now the word "pumpkin" is  starting to look weird.

What the world (or, I guess most of it) calls pumpkin pie, my father refers to as "spice pie" because he says it has so much spice in it you can't taste the pumpkin. The pumpkin pies my mother made were much paler in color, more orange. My father always said you could taste the pumpkin her pies. I don't know what by way of spice she may have put in the pie, but she always sprinkled cinnamon on the top.

[CellarDweller]

October 1st, the start of "Spooky Season".



I've decorated my apartment for Halloween this year.  I normally do only the windows, but decided this year to do some different things around the apartment.

Here are the before and after pics.