Where Did The Day Go????

For the past few days I have been busy running around town taking care of this, that, and the other only to find myself just futher behind than ever. I have finally got the youngest set for college. He really should have done it all for himself, BUT, he decided sort of last minute to join the marching band. As a parent I have mixed emotions about this, but what parent doesn't. I have managed to brainstorm an idea with the oldest on the delimma with Tim's hands. I also managed to take 10 minutes while cooking dinner to string orange lights inside Norville. I put a flasher bulb on the string (which I think is slightly defective) so now he flashes his wonderful smirk. You know you have done good when the young ones have to stop because it caught them off guard!!!! I also took an hour to myself today to wander around HobbyLobby today. Found some great vines for Norville's arms and they were 1/2 off to boot! Yet for all of the running around I have yet had the chance to work on any of the brainstorming ideas that we came up with. Of course we didn't write them all down and I can only remember a quarter of them.








We are planning another trip to Adams, TN though. In between football games, band competitions, work and what ever else comes up we are GOING to take the time to go. This time we are going in force. Girlfriends, neighbors, best friends, family members, we are going to bring them all. The three of us are not going to be the only ones to be a little jumpy right now. We have been finding faces in almost half the pictures that I took that were not there when I took them. Like the one to the right...when I took that picture the rock wall in the upper right did not look like that.

Finding that Feeling

Well I was only able to recruit the youngest and his girlfriend to go to Adams, TN with me. She had been to Adams before but not to the Bell Witch Cave. If you haven't been it is well worth the trip. It is very easily missed since it is a tiny town that looks as if it is going the way of the ghosts that haunt the area. The story itself will give the hair on the back of your neck a good work out (if you get the right book) and has been the basis of several movies. We only did the cave portion of the tour, which was fine enough for the kids. I have always found caves to be creepy, but then add a legend like the Bell Witch and the creep meter just about pegs out. Though the tour wasn't very long, by the time we got to the turn around point several people were not unhappy to be heading back. It was at the turn around point, of course, that things got interesting. Our guide was pointing out a few rock formations to us when several of us started hearing voices. About half way through her speech one of the people in our group asked if there was another group in the cave. She told us that she was the only one giving tours today so no one else was in the cave. Boy did this get the goose bumps bumping. She then started pointing out a formation that with the naked eye you can't see.

Of course I had my camera with me and nearly jumped off the rock I was standing on when this face appeared in my view screen. I tried several times to capture the image, but was unable to do it. It wasn't until after I turned the flash off that I finally got it. By the way we kept hearing the voices until we began to leave the area. I doubt if you can make out the face in the picture but boy does it pop out at you when you look at the view screen!!! Honest I didn't move the camera to a different area!

Trying to Find Inspiration

It has been a week since I got back from my mother's and I am still looking for that spark. Tim has been standing oh so patiently next to my "desk", Norville has taken his spot on the printer and I have managed to find some odd bits and pieces to add to the atmosphere. But it just hasn't hit. I will admit Dollar Tree has a wonderful supply of small crows and barbed wire for this year but, like I said nothing that has really sparked it for me. I am down to driving around looking for inspiration. I guess that is why I have decided to take a small jaunt to Adams, Tennessee, home of the Bell Witch. Also supposedly who the movie American Haunting is based on. (Not to get on a soapbox but, Obviously someone didn't read all of the books about her.) Luckly I only live a few miles from Adams so it won't take long to get there. I have managed to convince the youngest and his girlfriend to go along with me. Hopefully I can convince a few other friends to go. The more to scare the better. Maybe this might get me more in the mood to haunt. I think part of my problem might also be seeing more Christmas decorations in the store than anything else.

Waiting For the Light Buld

I just returned from visiting my mother in Alabama. Tank (the dog) and Boo (the cat) were both mad at me for leaving them alone with Pappa Bear and the boys for that long. You would have sworn I was gone for a month not 4 days. Everyone says that if I hadn't come home when I did Boo might have done something to Norville. Pappa Bear said that he would come into the kitchen and catch her looking at Norville with a certain look on her face. He just knew she was plotting the different was to make Norville suffer for making Momma leave. She sure yelled at me once I got back. In fact she still yells at me whenever she comes into the kitchen and thinks I am leaving. Tank has just attached himself to by backside. They both finally calmed down once they seen me fire up the laptop.

So now I am looking around for what project to complete now. Tim's hands are going to have to wait for the brainstorm to hit. I just haven't been inspired with a solution to his hand problem. I need them to be strong enough to hold the lantern and the staff, but they need to be flexable so that when I pack up for the year he is not still holding onto both items. I have thought about working on my outfit, but that means getting up in the attic and trying to find all of my sewing stuff. (The attic isn't the most friendly place right now.) I have been looking at some of the sites that I go to the most but inspiration/despiration/infatuation just hasn't taken hold just yet. For once it isn't because of procratination!!!! I have not been inspired by most of the hands that I have seen because of the fact that once they are dry, they are in that position only. Tim might not be holding onto the staff next year if I can figure out how to make his arm move like I want to. Then he would look really stupid with a hand clutching nothing.

Finally Done!!!

Well his head is complete! And his name is Norville. I am really pleased with the way he turned out, Pappa Bear was even impressed. Thank you so much SpookyBlue and Pumpkinrot! The hard part is over, now it is just trying to figure out exactly where I want to put him then figure out the best lighting. Next project...revamp Tim. His hands need to be made this year, he need a little stuffing around the middle and I still have to figure out the best way to make him stand without so many ropes and stakes. I think that I am going to try my hand at LED eyes for him after this season. Maybe that way it will be done by next season. That and I think Norville needs a mate. We do have a small bird problem here. At least I got him done before I go to my Mom's.

Procrastinating

It is amazing how little work I have gotten done on my paper mache pumpkin that I started last year. So I have told myself that I can't start a new project until it is done. I think I took myself seriously this time. I am actually at the painting stage. This amazes me because I am the queen of procrastination. Up until 2 weeks ago this pumpkin was just a barely covered blob. Now it has eyes, a nose, a pretty wicked smile, a black base paint and one layer of pumpkin orange paint. I think all I need is one, maybe two more layers of orange, then maybe a good dry brushing of apricot then paint the vine and then find the perfect mount. Only 82 more days, easy.

I have gotten several comments about my latest creation already. My younger son's girlfriend said that it sort of creeped her out to walk by it a few days ago. My older son had the best comment though. Coming in at 3:00 in the morning and seeing it will definitely make you think twice before continuing into the house. I have to figure out what kind of lighting there was at that time and try to duplicate it. Of course, I have decided to have my haunt up for the entire week this time which is a first for me. This will give me plenty of time to tweak the lights and fog machine for the best possible performance.

At least Tank and Boo are sharing in my creative endeavors.

The Frantic Rush is ON

Around the house signs of fall are starting to show. Several trees in the neighborhood have already changed color. Strips of paper and bowls of watered down glue are found on the table, freezer, butcher block, floor and anywhere else it can end up. The computer has been running nonstop back and forth to my favorite Halloween sites for inspiration, frustration, and sheer jealousy. I have a wealth of ideas and no knowledge of how to make them take shape. Plus my secret Halloween change fund is tapped out. At least my JOL is starting to take some shape. Hopefully the vine will not give me as much trouble as the rest of it has. I think I have started to come to grips with how not to do some projects.