Monday, October 26, 2009

Blogtober 26 - The Homestretch & Giveaway!

One week from today, marks the beginning of the "Christmas Season", after which, all planning, shopping, baking, crafting and creating focuses on the end of the year holiday.

This week, though, we come down the homestretch of Halloween! And Blogtoberfest! And I have a banner photo!

This house was a few blocks away from us when we lived in Kansas. Every year the artists that lived there created dozens of carved pumpkins. Giant pumpkins! They began working on them in the week before Halloween and if the weather was cooperative, they would last part of a week beyond Halloween. A lot of work for such a short-lived (and ultimately messy), result!

The pumpkins lined the driveway, the front of the house and were strategically placed around the large corner yard. One year, there was an article in the paper that told the story of how they started with just a few from a friend's pumpkin patch, and it grew each year.

Elaborate Christmas displays are not uncommon, of course, but this is the only Halloween display that I have seen that so many people enjoyed. I don't know if they have kept it up since we have moved, but it will always be one of my best Halloween memories! (the banner photo is more pumpkins from the same yard, as I am sure you guessed...)

This week, Dearest Sister shared some of her historical costume history, as well as our practice of making sure we 'get our money's worth' from specialty garments.


Here is Ms. A (in the reenactor costume), as Jessie Benton Fremont, in a fifth or sixth grade 'Heroes' program. Ms Fremont was the daughter of Thomas Hart Benton and wife of John C. Fremont the explorer. Along with her husband she had many adventures in The West.

Luckily, Jessie lived in the 'Civil War Era' and DS lived in the 'Civil War Area', so the costume was perfect! Ms. A had to practice sitting, though, so as not to be embarrassed by the hoop popping up!


And the hoop was not just an undergarment ...
..it also serves nicely as a hiding place for small girls!

__________________________

By now, and especially after DS's buildup (did she say glory?), you are expecting a reveal of great importance and excitement, I am sure.

Well, I cannot lift the veil completely - but, as promised, DS and I have put together a little End of Blogtober Giveaway! (And more buildup and hinting at something more to come...)

Okay, here is the deal, or my part of the deal, anyway. To commemorate this co-blogging adventure, we are having a giveaway. I am giving away this little bundle of feedsack fabric. It is four 'fat eighths' (9"x18" pieces), one each of the four prints in the photo. She is giving away...something fabulous! Just leave a comment on this post to be entered in the drawing for the fabric. Leave a comment on her post, tomorrow, to be entered to win...something.

Comments close at midnight (cue eerie music) on Halloween! Winners 'and more' will be announced on November 1st.


Check in with DS tomorrow for more information! And Glory!

12 comments:

Gaynell said...

I really enjoy the pictures of various folk in the same frock. It is different on each one.

I have not been by the jack o' lantern house this year..or maybe I have and there are none to be seen!!

Iron Needles said...

Too bad we couldn't have hidden that permed hair of mine!

Love Miss A in the civil war frock.

PS I am not to be entered in the contest. Just to clear!

Allie said...

What a cool house and yard - you don't normally see lots of carved pumpkins like that, they're fabulous!
Great costume - I like to look at them, but would hate to wear or make them, lol!
That fabric is lovely!

Martha said...

It's so great that those dresses were saved -- Miss A looks very attractive in the civil war outfit (the snood and the gloves are a nice touch). I sometimes wish I had saved a few of my weird hippie outfits.

Just to be clear -- I DO want to be entered in the contest!

Anonymous said...

I do not remember that house! Was it on the corner of your street? I have a really bad memory! Which is also revealed in the dress picture where I forgot the cute-kids-under-the-hoop-skirt appointment. I was probably in a clown costume.
Blogtober fest has been quite entertaining!!!

Lynne said...

Love your banner photo! What a cool house to look forward to each year!

Also loved the pic of DS in the hoop with the girls hiding underneath—how fun.

Will you be sorry when October ends or will you be glad? I think I will be a little sad ...

Just commenting, no need to enter me in the contest! ;)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Love those photos! You (and your sis) have inspired me to blog more often but I gotta tell ya... I'm running out of things to say!

Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. :D

Virginia G said...

Love the pumpkins! We don't get much of that in NYC.

jan said...

G - It is also fun to go through all the old photos to find them!

IN - I could have cropped the hair, but that would mean cropping the head, and well, that would be creepy!

Allie - actually a ginormously full skirt if pretty comfortable, but I am with you on the sewing part! That is why I have sisters!

Martha- I wish you had saved some of your hippie outfits too! lol!

Lynne - I will not be sorry to see October end, but only because I am looking forward to November! ;)

Kate - I think we might be running out of things to say, too! But that does not stop us - never has!

Anon - maybe you were so well hidden under the hoop that the camera did not detect you...

Virginia - Welcome and thanks for your comment! Thanks for coming to our 'fest'!

Sarah or Semmy said...

I so enjoy you and your kin. Never had a sister so it is entertaining to hear about sisters. The pumpkins are fab. Nothing this great where I reside.

jan said...

Welcome, Sarah or Semmy! Thanks for stopping by and for commenting!

Kim said...

Awesome giveaway. I would like to be in it as well I have put a link on my blog as well.