I think it's safe to say that my haunt got its ass kicked this year. Oh, not by the neighborhood haunts which, I must admit, are getting better and better with each passing season, but by Mother Nature, that nasty bitch that sends wind, rain, and pain. This October has been the windiest and wettest one in decades here in North Texas and beat the crap out of the haunt every other day that it was up.
Did we let that get us down? Hells no!
Idiot or not, The Boneyard got something of a late start this year partially due to a complete lack of time on my part and partially due to a particularly nasty bout of depression I've been suffering from the last couple of months. I soldiered on and got my act together and brought the old graveyard out of mothballs.
I set up the yard about three weeks before Halloween -- much earlier than last year, but then again I think that the spirit was in me. The pea soup and killing of clergy only confirmed it. And then the rains came...
Day and night, night and day... the rain would just not stop! My poor Grim Reaper (with a new head) was soaked and actually toppled over several times thanks to the soaking wet costume and the saturated ground. Tombstones went flying off in the night into neighbor's yards -- some never to be seen again!
It just kept raining and blowing, blowing and raining. I know that a dark and stormy night is perfect for Halloween, but enough already!
Here's my skull with spider-legs. Probably the freakiest thing I've ever owned, all thanks to my wife, bless her.
This guy I got at a 50 percent off sale last year. He doesn't sing or do anything stupid, he just laughs menacingly and whispers, "I see you!" I'm planning on making a full-sized body for him when time permits.
A few weeks go by and, for the first time, our tree in the front yard blazes with incredible red leaves. It's Halloween!
Thanks to Daylight Savings Time, the majority of the haunt actually took place under sunlight. Normally, I'm open to all kinds of things, but that's just wrong...
Cranking up the fog machines, I noticed that for once, there was a complete lack of wind. Halloween night weather could not be any better!
This year, I thought about putting some Tiki torches out, but with the grass turning brown (even with the ample rain) I thought it would be a better idea to just set out the artificial fire cauldrons. Plus, it would reduce the chances of any more children setting themselves on fire on my property.
Finally, night descended - and the life on my camera battery ended, but I assure you that the haunt was hopping with ghouls and boys of all ages!
That's it for this year! Be sure to donate to the Haunt to help further not only a safe place for children in my neighborhood to trick or treat, but also to help educate about the holiday and to counter hateful Christian propaganda against it! Do it, or by vicious hellhound will destroy you!
Remember, kids, keep Halloween forever in your heart!