I had just finished posting to this and we had a power surge and lost all of it. So I'll try again. Karen, I'll keep you posted on Joe and the little Spooks. Thanks for your comments on the Ghost. OA, I've always decorated DGD swing set and play house for Christmas. This year I used it for Halloween too since it's easy access to power. Dream, thanks and glad you like Joe. The carving on him is amazing. Jeanne, thanks for all the sweet comments. We live at the bottom of the Mission Mtns. Those are hills in the scarecrow picture and are our view in the back. I'll show you a moutain shot we see from the front in June. They are beautiful most of the year. Lynn, thanks and if you want to come trick or treating now you're very Welcome. Our place is right next to the highway so we always try to light things up pretty well for the Holidays. We've done so much in the past and everyone has grown to expect it so we usually have most of the yard decorated. This year only the front and side. Frou, we generally get up to 150 little gobblins at our home. They have started doing Halloween parties at some of the Club Houses so it has cut back to 100 a couple years. DH grew up here and I came as a 1st grader so we're not stragers and most parents come in with their children just to say "Hi". your sweet comments on this post. Punk

Those 2 pics with & without flash are great Ragna, particularly the photo without flash. I like how you captured the nocturnal spooky mood, with the web visible in the darkness, and no color except for the dark blue & ultraviolet sky. Not an easy feat snapping pictures at night without blurring due to relatively long shutter speed. (added note - I had my monitor's brightness turned down that evening so the pic display was automatically enhanced, w less contrast, etc) On the subject of Halloween, let me veer off with a brief ode to plants with various shades of orange pigment (compliments of b-carotene and related carotenoids). I'm happy with my plain mono-color zinnia and marigold. One of the landscape plants that came with my house was Ixora -add link- (Maui red variety, which is actually a very soft yet rich orange). Also I should look into pumpkin as a sort of groundcover with the yellow-orange flowers and sprawling vine. Can anyone give me some clues on Texas lantana please? I want one that's yellow and orange only, if possible. I planned to purchase some at the latest plant sale at my local SABG, but their young ones were already showing a wider range of colors (candy pink, etc) so I passed. Is there a variety of Texas lantana that's yellow and orange only?

I have a recipe for yeast rolls that use pumpkin or squash puree, along with whole wheat flour, the kids love them. I've had pumpkin ravioli in a sage and browned butter sauce, it was really good. If you don't want to make your own pasta you can use wonton wrappers. I've added pumpkin to hummus and it was pretty good too. I've stirred pureed pumpkin or squash into chili and lentil soup, but if your chili packs a punch at all, you won't taste it in there. Good luck, I'm trying to find some way to use up 72 butternut squash, LOL. Good think I like squash and I can use it to make a fake "pumpkin" pie, Mother loves that. Annie

I'm. not a fan of Halloween but I have fallen in love with this handmade wreath. The owner will make it without the bird (I don't care for that and have my own idea). https://www.etsy.com/listing/635191755/halloween-wreath-gothic-home-decor-wall?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=black+halloween+wreath&ref=sc_gallery-1-2&plkey=f63135da18ce2acea9ccfa62afed6eaa4d7e8be6%3A635191755&cns=1