So I Have This Idea...

Hi all - Dawn here.  (I thought I would specify that, so that when it shows up on Jaybo's Facebook account, his friends won't think he has lost his mind)

So this idea isn't about props, monsters, themes, or costumes... but about the Haunt as a whole.  This year for some reason, I have been obsessing over what the people on the sidewalk think when they look into our yard.

For the last few years, I have stood out on the other side of the fence, and listened to the kids, listened to the adults, trying to eavesdrop on what they like, what they notice, what scares them, and then I take note of what does NOT get noticed, etc.

We also pose with them as their parents take our pictures, I watch them take pictures of various props.  Which got me to thinking.  (That "thinking" usually gets the hubby running for the hills)

I want to see the haunt through their eyes - through their pictures. 

So, I want them to send me their pictures.  Not to get this great photography - but to see their vision - what they gawk at.  So I thought, I could pass out a business card to anyone I see taking a picture on Halloween night - something that says "send us a few of your favorite pictures" yanno, something snappy like that. (rolls eyes)

So then I thought....What if.......... what if I find a way to communicate to the people that visit our haunt.... a contest.  Something like..... If we pick your picture, we will email you, and you can pick any epitaph, and we will feature a gravestone of your choice next year.  Would people care?  Would all of that FIT on a business card?!?! 

I know some 10 year old kids that would think naming a gravestone would be super cool - but is that enough to make parents email their pictures to me?

Pfffft.  My head hurts.  I can overcomplicate ANYTHING!  So, does it sound like a stupid idea?  Useless?  No one would even send one picture?

Need input.  I think Jaybo is afraid of hurting my feelings, LOL.

UPDATE:  My best buddy Shellee-O came up with a really good suggestion, which proves why she was my best friend growing up - she puts up with my "train of thought" derailments as good as Jayson does.  She suggested putting a link to the Nickols Manor Facebook page on a business card, and put the details of the contest, and also allows people to upload their pics there as well.  Genius, I say.

Ready for Take-Off

Image Credit: http://www.toddbatesphotography.com/

Ok, I have to admit. I would so do this even now.

Halloween Overload

Got a call to arms from Garage of Evil today – and when they send me mail, I read it quick like. There is a new site that has been created by GOE member Ron Hanak…. It is called Halloween Overload and after checking it out, I think it ROCKS, and wanted to spread the word to anyone else I can.

As you can see from the little gravestones at the bottom of the graphic above, Halloween Overload is like a Craigslist for Haunters – classified ads for Halloween items only.

Buying and selling with people just like me?! Are you kidding?!? AWESOME!

So if you changed your theme last year and find yourself with an overdose of pirates and chests filled with gold – instead of trashing it (which I admit, we have done) or giving it to not-as-appreciative-as-they-should-be friends, then sell it on Halloween Overload to someone who is probably HUNTING for something just like that, and recoup a buck or two of your original cost!

I’m for anything that helps the Haunting community in general, and would feel so much better knowing that I was selling one of my beloved (but no longer used) props to a haunter.

I think its a fabulous idea. Right now, there are a lot of FOR SALE posts out of Cali, that are pick up only – no shipping…. but that’s where spreading the word comes in. The more people that know, the more people that register (for free) and list items (also for free) the more useable the site becomes.

And I for want want to buy something. and sell something. and trade something. So come on! Let’s inhabit this community, lol.

Halloween Overload.

Halloween Christmas Loot

First let me say – Happy Thanksgiving!  Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!  I guess it has been a long time since I posted, LOL.

We got some Halloween loot for Christmas, and it came in the form of building supplies.  My number one favorite thing to get a Christmas – and this year was the best yet.  Bless my family for understanding mine and Jayson’s disfunction… err…. HOBBY.

It all started with this box that my Mom and I had been collecting stuff for Jayson for months

 

Great stuff, extension cords, chip brushes, Gorilla tape, glues of every kind, cotton balls, and then everything we could get our hands from about 5 different Spirit stores after Halloween sales – A fogger, 2 more flame pots, masks, wigs, skeleton bags, etc.  This was as much fun collect stuff to buy as it was to watch him open it!

I’m not sure what Jayson is going to be wrapping this tripod around in order to take pictures of the haunt with, but far be it from me to question our photographer!

Christmas morning continued with goodies for me…

My brand new Dremel Trio, (woohoo, a new toy!) and an electric nail gun…

Speaking of Nails, Mom got me something Girlie AND Ghoulish

Clamps and Sharpies, Xacto Blades and Gloves, painters tape and an apron, oh my!

And just when we thought that we had scored enough to build and army of props, his Mom surprised us one last time

Wood skewers and mixing spoons, washclothes and duct tape, and what might be the cutest things of all….

  You pull the string on their heads and their eyes light up and their jaws look like they are chomping on brains or something.  I named mine Achmed, after the dead terrorist, I forgot what Jayson named his, LOL.

So, I think we only have to buy a gallon or two of Oops paint, and we are fully stocked for the 2011 build season.

Now, if only we had our ideas coordinated as well as our parents had our gifts coordinated, we would be on top of it this January!

ON TO THE BUILD, I say!       

It’s over

Well it’s gone. I took down everything this weekend expect for the fence and columns. Bring on the doldrums. Yay. LOL!

I keep flirting with idea of decorating for Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is why the fence and columns are still up in the yard. Yeah right! I really like them and don’t want to take them down yet.

Let’s see how long I can push this one.

Anyway, since this was the last time I would see everything together, I couldn’t resist snapping a few more pictures during the day. Got a little creative with the photos this time. I’ll give a virtual cookie to the first person that tells me how I took the photos.

Halloween Night 2010

As Dixie mentioned before, we were both too wiped to put up the haunt on Monday. So, we left everything up so I could take a few more pictures that night. It’s a good thing I dragged myself out there to get a few token shots, because early Tuesday morning a torrential downpour started that did not stop until this afternoon. Hopefully our paper mache items will recover. They are a little soft, but still intact. I currently have a triage area setup in the garage so I can operate on the worst cases.

Ahhh…the splendid night of the 31st! Much less TOTs this year versus other years, but a really quality group of people this year. Everyone was very well behaved, and not one teenager looking for trouble. I really hammed it up this year to get them to stop by the haunt. Our house sits two doors down from a very busy street that runs to an affluent neighborhood just to the North of our neighborhood. I situated myself on the street corner in full costume motioning for cars to divert to our street. I got quite a few! Those that didn’t stop, honked at me as they passed. I’m sure people will be talking about the freak on the side of the road for a good bit!

We now have regulars attending our haunt every year, and they go out of their way to let us know that we are now a tradition on their Halloween nights! Wow! We also had a rather large tourist group from Spain stop by our haunt. These people were going on and on about the haunt. We must have spent 20 minutes just posing with each of them for photographs. They probably hung out at our haunt for close to an hour just taking pictures of everything we had. Really nice people.

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I really enjoy the people more than anything else about this holiday. The kids are the best! There was a family of 5 that showed up with a small 4 year old boy that was not afraid of anything. I had a very scary costume and had been scaring the socks off of people right and left all night, but this little guy just walked right up to me and gave me a big hug! I ended up playing Simon Says, Peek-a-Boo, and Hide-n-Seek with him! I haven’t laughed or had so much fun in a very long time! I hope he comes back next year.

Anyway, I could go on and on about the fun that was had, and the plans for next year, but you people have all heard this before. So, lets get with the pictures already!

 

Plus, here is a cheesy YouTube video slideshow:

364 More Days, eh?

Happy New Year, right?  Planning for 2011 starts today.

For me, planning began last night around 1am.  Sitting across the street, smack dab on the sidewalk - in our costumes, because our feet hurt so bad, staring at the panoramic view of our haunt. 

Just staring at it…. Saying things such as:  I like this…. I like that…. need more of this…. need more of that… take that mess out completely, and wouldn’t it look cool if we had a big huge one of those right about there.

You know the drill, right?

We got the kids off to school this morning, just a few hours after we finally got to bed ourselves, and today is resting, and planning the 2010 take down.  We took today off to put everything away, but still need more pictures, so it will stay up a few more days.  Which is good, I don’t think either of us could move if we wanted to!

What is up with that?  I know I just turned 39 last week, but that’s not old!  I think we pushed ourselves way too hard since Thursday night, trying to get more and more and more done.  We didnt eat a bite yesterday, rushing around, it felt chaotic, like our wedding day. 

The only thing I don’t understand.  We plan all year.  We have sketches of the “finalized haunt” for positions, etc.  We scheme, we makes lists and discuss every little detail…. yet…

Every year, we spend the last 4 days like chickens with our heads cut off, trying to ADD this and add that.  Never satisfied, always looking for just this or that extra little detail.

I guess I need to buy less food that needs to be cooked for the last 4 days of next year, and more Power Bars, lol.

Pictures coming soon in a Jaybo post, I’m sure.

Haunter Fatigue?

If you guys are like me, then you have been getting very little sleep and stressing about every little detail of your haunt. Details that no one would probably notice except yourself. Family and friends have all been asking about your haunt and wanting to see it all right now, oh and by the way they just happened to mention it to 400 other people that you would give personal tours and they could drop by at anytime because you are such a nice guy.

The stress gets to the point that you want to throw your hands up in the air and shut it all down. We don't need this. We do this for the love and joy, and we are not feeling that anymore.

Stop. Breathe. Relax.

Better?

Umm...you are supposed to breathing a little slower. That's actually bordering on hyperventilating.

Ok, put down the rifle and ammo. That's not the answer!

Ok, time to break out the silly. Watch the video below.

Why?

Because it's silly, has nothing to do with Halloween or haunting, and it's good for our soul.

Hang in there everybody! We're in the homestretch now!