Harvesting the best of fall in a blog
Today, November 23, is Boris Karloff's birthday. Boris Karloff, you may know, appeared in dozens of classic horror films, as well as providing the narration for the original Grinch in Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Boris Karloff is famous for starring in Universal Picture's Frankenstein (1931) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as... Continue Reading →
Happy Halloween! Get out your candles, Tarot cards and crystal ball! In the spooky spirit of the day, let's watch a movie about a very wicked witch! But in this case, the witch happens to be a man. You may or may not have heard of it, but Night of the Demon (1957) is a... Continue Reading →
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Today, I bring you the last spooky word of the season: séance. If you watched Night of the Demon, then you saw a scene featuring a séance. Here is that scene... So, "séance" is our spooky word of the week (and the last one until next year!) A séance, of course, is an... Continue Reading →
Every Sunday evening, my family would listen to old time radio programs. In the spirit of that tradition, I have posted a different Halloween episode each week. As Halloween draws near, listen to Fred Allen's radio show, featuring the incomparable Boris Karloff. Enjoy!
Wondering what to do with your jack o' lantern and decaying decorative pumpkins after Halloween? Compost your pumpkins! Pumpkin Palooza is a composting event held by Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. From October 29 to November 13, 2022, take your pumpkins to one of these locations for environmentally friendly disposal: 1-66... Continue Reading →
The weekend before Halloween...time to get your spooky on! Recurring Events Cox Farms Fall Festival (Centreville, VA). Market with apples, pumpkin patch, farm animals, corn maze, hay rides, entertainment, food, picnic grounds. Don’t miss swinging into the foam pit and don’t forget your free mini-pumpkin on the way out! Plenty of Halloween decorations but nothing... Continue Reading →
Make a trio of spooky black cats using these craft instructions from Crayola.
All this month, I am featuring four horror films of Val Lewton, who is attributed for developing the cinematic "jump scare." The first reputed use of the jump scare in film occurred in Cat People (1942), which is the featured film this week. The "Jump Scare" is a cinematic technique you've probably experienced while watching... Continue Reading →
One of my favorite things to do in Octobers gone by was to drive around the neighborhood with my son and check out the Halloween decorations and lights at night. My son called this a "Spooky House Tour." The weeknights before Halloween are perfect for setting out on a tour. There are fewer crowds and... Continue Reading →
Happy Apple Day! I have an apple recipe that I know you'll love. This healthy recipe tastes a lot like Apple Pie to me. Add a few drops of vanilla or almond extract if you like. For one serving, add to a smoothie blender... About 1/4 cup of applesauce (or 1 apple sauce single serving... Continue Reading →
Autumn in Virginia 