The decorating has begun

 It's slowly getting closer to Halloween, which means the neighbors are quietly putting their ghouls and goblins out in the yard.

Every one has been buying new items this year and it's very surprising how creative people are getting.

Case in point, a neighbor down the street from me, has decided to upcycle her husband's wheelchair as well as some camping chairs. She added some drinking buddies, by way of skeletons, as well as a stationary yard crawler and an owl. 

What I didn't get a picture of, was a recent addition (she added it after I took the photos and I haven't been back). She added a witch of sort, about 6 feet tall, standing by the garage. It's strange to see it, because it's hiding among the bushes between the houses. I'm sure it's there because it's powered to a socket and the owner wants it to wiggle and jiggle when / if someone approaches. 

I just had to laugh at the decorations though. I didn't expect this from her, but I kind of did. She's such a nice woman and totally open minded to things, so I'm sure she had a blast trying to figure out how to put it all together. It doesn't help much that her sister is part of the social committee and there's a contest going on for people who are putting things out for the sugar rush night. I am sure this woman wants to win, but I've seen a lot of houses in the community who have a ton of things out. 

We're talking blowup scenes that would make Kris Kringle blush. 

Things like entire movie sets from The Nightmare Before Christmas and various garage door covers (the bat one with the pumpkins is popular - two house have that particular version and they're on the same street). Last year, someone had a Beetlejuice cover, and that owner had been dressed like the B man and his wife as Lydia. It was straight out of the end of the movie - they replicated the wedding scene. #nospoilers

It's so crazy to see how people keep upping the ante every year. Gone are the days (in my old neighborhood) where the one family would create an elaborate theme by using a Radio Flyer and their kids. Every trick or treat night, the dad would be pulling the kids in some sort of float, whether it was a pirate ship, space ship, cowboys, or spur of the moment quick thinking. That family won the surprise medal every time they turned up. 

Although, going back to last year, a full family (several generations) all dressed alike. They were a walking skeleton crew. From grandma and great aunt all the way down to the infants, everyone was wearing that black onesie with the white skeleton body painted on it. There had to be at least 20 of them in that party and they walked the community, taking the chocolates and such from every stranger they came across. It was wild. 

It'll be so interesting this year and at one point I'm going to have to drive around my community at night and get pictures of the houses. I just need someone to go with me so I can sit in the passenger seat and take the photos.

Until then, stay safe and inside. You don't know what will attach to you if you go a-wandering....

Cheers;

See also:

* Skeletal owls via Amazon

* Skeletons via Amazon

* Stationary crawler via Amazon

* Camping chairs via Amazon

* Skeleton bodysuit via Amazon