Repurposed Christmas Blow Molds To Halloween

One of the reasons I love Halloween (ok beyond candy) is in the Haunt world the most brilliant people exist and inspire me to no end.

On the Halloween Forum there is a thread where Hilda has taken Christmas Blow molds and stripped the paint and repainted for use at Halloween.   Her work is simply brilliant...

Here are some samples of her work:

Lollipop Blow Molds:

You Gotta Love Zero!!

 Mrs Claus

Here are some other Mrs. Clause blow molds repurposed:

Old DollHouse

New Dollhouse

Simply amazing, when you get a chance, check out the thread on Halloween Forum, genius at work!!

Excerpt from a Dog and Cat's Diary

I thought this was hilarious, I dont remember where this came from but kudos to the original authors, all the links I had are now dead 

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity. 

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.  The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. 

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards! 

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However,I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. 

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe, for now...

New URL Address For MansionAtMidnight

Hi folks, to eliminate some confusion on my blog address I am changing it to:

http://mansionatmidnight.blogspot.com

Even though I liked the concept of the Bittacle (archaic word for a compass binnacle which lends itself to the world wide web and navigation and all) the Mansion At Midnight can now point to the right URL I hope.

Thanks!

In Irons

Our Hearts are Broken..

Our hearts are broken, our little girl cat Belle had to be put to sleep due to a "saddle thrombus" which is a blood clot that settles in the rear pelvic region.  Its very painful for the animal and the prognosis is not good and 98% of all cats will have a reoccurrence of it within 2 years (usually less).  Belle had a heart murmur that was undetectable 9 months ago, then 5 months ago it was discovered and then yesterday was found to have grown and damaged her heart.  It was that fast, Monday she was playing and eating and then Tuesday we couldnt find her and finally found her behind the spa on our screen porch (we dont let them out)... I picked her up and put her on top of the spa (favorite spot for her) and then noticed she was dragging her hind legs.

We immediately took her to the vet.  We were all on board for aggresive treatment but this morning it was discovered she had deteriorated, she couldnt even pick herself up and the pain became greater for her. 

We got her because Mrs. InIrons was out numbered by males in the house...but wouldnt you know it, she became my little girl spending the whole day in the office with me (I work from home) and following me around the house wherever I went.  She liked being with Mrs InIrons too and even though she was 2 years old and about 9 months with us, she was adapting to the other 2 rascals that we have.

As I said our hearts are broken...

Amazing Haunt - Self Built Dark Ride

As you may well know, Dark Rides are darkened amusement park type rides where riders in guided vehicles move through typically a theme based scenario.  Some of my favorite dark rides are:

Disney's Haunted Mansion

Mr Toad's Wild Ride (no longer)

Pirates Of The Caribbean

Snow White's Scary Adventures

I mean gosh here is Disneyland's Snow White entrance:

Wow, doesnt Disney do it good?

Well there are some folks in our Haunting culture that really do it great!  I got the 2011 Home Haunter DVD Collection and came across this one guy doing a smashing job on his own dark ride.  Tons of animatronics and lighting.  It requires a lot of electrical control and instrumentation which is my original background with 16 years of engineer electrical control and instrumentation at Kennedy Space Center on the space shuttle. I simply love this stuff. 

You have to see this, both the ride with some cute kids and then the backstage videos:

Here is the backstage pass:

The cars are driven by a simple portable drill motor and battery.  Good for 3 trips and then they change them out (trip counter built into the buggy)

Amazing, this guy easily has $75- $100K into this..... take a look!

New Plan For Spooky Tree

Found this tree and owl outline decal for a spooky tree on Amazon.  I think this is what I am going to use for my 2012 Halloween Set Design in lieu of the tree I had planned on originally.  I will project the image onto plywood and cut that with jigsaw or saber saw.  Then finish off the plywood with monster mud for texture and a dark gray paint with brownish highlights with a dry brush.

I really like this, its somewhat Dave Lowe-ish in design.   Maybe put some LED eyes in on the OWL and have MP3 player playing back night time sounds with crickets and occasional Owl hoot.

Gee I really gotta get going on these projects!

Funny Cat Pics...

Ok I like cats and dogs, but we have three of the feline oriented furry devils.   I have posted about them before with the problems of lack of sleep that they cause.   But I do enjoy their antics and behaviors during daytime non-sleeping hours.  

So I have stolen from Queen Of Darkness blog several funny cat pics.  This probably certifies that I am strange.

Mmm Eastery Goodness

Kelly at Queen Of Darknessblog posted smart idea of delicious goodness... called Bunny Bait.

She also posted scenario of having a trap of sorts with the bunny bait and stuffed rabbit. But got me thinking what Dave Lowe would do? And who would be setting the trap? Leprauchan? Coyote from the Roadrunner cartoons?

Whats even more amazing I didnt know that Orville Redenbacher made a "TENDER" popcorn.

Cannibalism WTF??

I hate the daylight savings time change.  It totally screws me up.

I hate my cats now.   They do not let me sleep at night with all their shennanigans.

So between the two I am suffering horrible insomnia....oh I can get to sleep.  its all this other crap that wakes me up and prevents me from joyful REM sleep

Let me introduce the feline team and some background info:

We have 3 cats:  Dash, Chip and Belle.  They are all rescue cats, we use Pawsibilities in Daytona Beach area they do a great job, check with Kim she is wonderful.

This is Dash, our oldest.   White cat with the bluest eyes....really well behaved but has become somewhat of a chubby chap.   They say white cats with blue eyes are deaf, that is not the case with him as his significant Pavlovian response when you open the pantry in the kitchen and he is awoken from deep cat nap at the other end of the house.  Not deaf, definitely fat (he doesnt look it here as he stretches out and reclines in the wonderful sunny heat on our back porch)

Here is Chip and Belle.... Chip is on the left, Belle on the right

Belle is a all girl....affection and attention is strictly at her convenience and on her terms.  She sleeps the whole night and is really a good kitty, but definitely a Diva

Chip....he is our problem child.  His work shift starts after 2 am.  Knocking stuff off tables and desktops and chewing wires and making and raising a ruckus with feline frolicking.  He stirs the other 2 up.  He is adorable and cute during the day, but night time is a terror

Of course this wakes me up....I can then cannot get to sleep.

What the hell is the deal with the time change?  Why is it necessary now?  Kids going to school in the morning?  Let em start later in the sunshine dont change the damn time cmon people!  Farmers needing extra daylight to harvest and all that crap? Bovine Scatology, all the farmers I know start work before dark anyway and finish when its dark.  Hard working people God bless them!  So we dont need to change the time due to daylight savings time.

I find that I cannot go to sleep at night and cannot wake up in the morning.

So between the cats and time change I am without sleep, and as I lay there at night unable to sleep I start thinking crazy stuff like cannibalism.

Why would people resort to that?  It seems to be based out of indigenous peoples in warm regions like Africa and South Pacific were there would be plentiful other food choices, why resort to as they call "long pig"?  Only western based cannibalism is when people are stuck in a mountain due to plane crash or in a mountain pass on a wagon train stuck due to blizzard.  The rule is stay out of snow then if cannibalism is not your thing

But what would the menu be like in a cannibal restaurant?   Would you have Prime Minister Rib, Old Man and the Sea (surf and turf) or 3 Men and a Baby (platter)?

This is the crap I think of at night when not sleeping....Cannibalism??? WTF!!!

I just need some sleep.

Holy Crap... Amazing Haunt

This guy is amazing....once you get to his blog, start going through his different posts for his Halloween haunts.  Click on each link below to take you to the blog post and you can see videos and other pics of their incredible Haunted Mansion inspired haunts.  Simply amazing!!!

Here is Indian Jones Temple of Doom Haunt:

Here is a Haunted Mine Walkthrough.  Simply brilliant!

Here is their Haunted Mansion Inspired 2006 haunt:

Take a moment and review his blog and all.... Kudos and more Kudos.  I dont know how they get the time and space and energy to do all this with different haunts every year.


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