Eerie Path

Via Flickr Hive Mind.

Best Wife Ever = Me!

I love, love, love giving presents! More than that, I love giving presents earlier than anticipated and for a lot less than one would normally spend on them. I especially love giving presents to Mr. ShellHawk, who is my very favorite person-at least 98% of the time. (The other 2%, I find myself debating alternate uses of my cast iron frying pans, but this post isn't about that.)


Mr. ShellHawk has been wanting a  Kindle Touch for awhile. Now I'm a big Amazon shopper, if you haven't figured it out by the new widget on my sidebar. I generally hate shopping in stores. I hate hearing frustrated moms screaming at their kids, I hate salesmen who try to hard sell me things in which I have no interest, and I hate my own compulsion to tidy things up as I roam the aisles. 


Online shopping eliminates all of this to my satisfaction. Because Amazon has such a wide array of stuff and a wish list option, Amazon is usually the first place I go. Since I shop there so much, I got the Amazon credit card and bought a Prime membership, which gives me free two-day shipping on most of the stuff I buy. When I use the credit card, I get points.


No this isn't a commercial for Amazon. I'm getting to the good part of why I'm such an awesome wife.


I got a notice from Amazon last week that I had a bazillion points, which added up to about $170 worth of product. So, Mr. ShellHawk's gift was suddenly a no-brainer. I bought the Kindle Touch plus a lighted cover, a power adapter, and the two-year extended warranty and only paid $20 out of pocket! Yay for me! 


A trip to Hallmark provided a cute bag and I already had tissue paper lying around, so wrapping was easy. When Mr. ShellHawk got up to go to the gym yesterday morning at 5:15, I got up and started to get his breakfast together. When he got home, the bag was at his place on the kitchen table, and a mushroom and spinach omelet and a cup of coffee were minutes away from being ready. He was so surprised and happy to get his Kindle, which he thought he was getting for his birthday in a couple of weeks.


Off he went to work, and off I went to the store to pick up a few items I was missing for the evening's dessert. I incidentally have received a starter for Amish Friendship Bread and was running low on the things I needed to add to it yesterday, so a trip to the store was not an option.

I brought out my "good dishes," which actually represent a small fraction of the various sets of dishes which have come to me over the years. My mom gave these to me; they're a setting for eight of the old Franciscan "Sea Sculptures" design. I have to say, they really are my favorites, and one of these fine years, I'll get four more settings.


Now, contrary to popular belief, I do not have a staff of servants working for me, though I really, really should. Also contrary to what people may think, I actually do like baking and many "Susy Homemaker" type tasks. I just don't bake often because I'm no longer able to burn it off like I did when I was twenty! But here's proof that I do bake:

Yes, those are heart-shaped cakes. I borrowed the pans from my neighbor. I did cheat and use a box mix, though.


I do have to admit my frustration with baking cakes, though. No matter how I brush off crumbs, some still end up in the frosting! Oh, well. It tastes the same, right? And as a haunter with the "it'll look fine in the dark" mentality, it doesn't have to be perfect. It turned out fine, anyway. 

Mr. ShellHawk is a vanilla frosting fan, so that's what I used.

I had picked up some imported prosciutto (which is basically an Italian smoked ham, sliced thin) and sliced it, then wrapped the pieces around chunks of sliced pears.

Just as Mr. ShellHawk came home from work, I added some water crackers and a small jar of caviar (an extravagance and total impulse buy from Trader Joe's) to the plate. Mr. ShellHawk loves his caviar, so he was delighted to come home and find it, and prosciutto, and a lemon drop martini made fresh with lemons from our backyard, with raspberry sugar on the rim of the glass.

A happy Mr. ShellHawk with his new toy.

The sauce, bubbling away in its
yummy creamy goodness!

Next: dinner. Mr. ShellHawk had requested one of his favorite "treat" dishes. I say it's a treat because it's made with heavy cream and pasta, so the calorie count is best left to the imagination. It's Pappardelle in Lemon Cream Sauce with Asparagus and Smoked Salmon. Tip: when you're buying the asparagus, look for the thinnest you can find. Thin asparagus is more tender and has more flavor that the thicker kind, which can get tough and stringy. If you don't like salmon, leave it out. The dish tastes just fine without it.

Mr. ShellHawk, in the
throes of culinary ecstasy.

I had a bottle of champagne chilled and ready to go, and after dinner, I added a little extra something.


A friend of mine had turned me on to wild hibiscus flowers in syrup. They're edible! Did you know that?


Normally, I would add it to the cheaper champagne you can get in giant bottles at Costco, but after a glass or two of the champagne without it, I decided to cave in to decadence and add a flower and a little syrup to it. It gives a lightly sweet, almost raspberry flavor to the champagne (which is why you put it in the cheap stuff, so it covers some of the flavor!)

The other fun thing about adding hibiscus flowers to champagne is that we haunters get to spook up our bevvy a bit: the hibiscus flowers are nearly black, and they add this weird Cthulu-like element to the drink! Pretty cool, huh?

After dinner, we cleaned up and prepped for dessert, which was (of course) the yellow cake with Hagen Daas Vanilla Bean ice cream. Mr. ShellHawk presented me with my card and gift, which was a 90-minute massage! Woo-hoo!


We both agreed that this was the best Valentine's Day we'd had together.

Wicked Wheel

Image via Park Benches and Book Ends Blog

I splurged and got myself a copy of Midnight Syndicate's latest album, Carnival Arcane.


It immediately brings to mind one of my very favorite rainy-day films, Something Wicked This Way Comes. Close your eyes and you can hear it: the crunch of autumn leaves in the field where the carnival lies waiting. Breathe deeply, and you can smell it: the odor of popcorn and cotton candy and things less identifiable yet slightly disturbing to the lizard brain, which float on the crisp breeze. Listen to the music, the sound of calliope and tuba, floats on the air, too, dragging you along, almost, almost unwilling. And your feet must follow. They must always follow.


Yes, a tasty and creepy offering from this dark and delightful group. Happy Valentine's to me, and to us all.

Thanks to the Tambu Lounge!

As strange as it may seem, I don't know everything. Crazy, right? Rest assured, it's true. For instance, I knew nothing of the existence of the Tambu Lounge, even though I love me a good Tiki Bar!


What's even more embarrassing, if that's even the correct word, is that the Tambu Lounge knows about me. More specifically, the Tambu Lounge knows about Hauntcast, and even went so far as to do a really nice post about the show. It was really surprising, especially considering that the blog, though it does post about Hallowe'en from time to time, is not specifically a Hallowe'en blog!


The Lounge was even kind enough to mention the Paypal "Bill Me Later" option, which allows you to pay off your subscription in installments of $16.66 per month, and as long as you pay it in six months or less, it's interest free. Of course, at six months and one day, the interest accrued hits all at once, but most people can afford the option and can pay before the six months is up.


In any case, my thanks go out to the Tambu Lounge for spreading the word. I am not worthy!

New Hauntcast Updates!

Even more vendors have come forward to offer their support, which will practically pay you to subscribe to Hauntcast. Please take a minute to watch the full video so you have the most up-to-date info!

As if all that wasn't enough, the Mitchells have offered a copy of "How to Haunt Your House, Book Three" (Check it out via my Amazon sidebar on the right) and the Davises have thrown in some goodies, too. Victor the Undertaker of Haunted Hot Sauce (GREAT review of his hot sauces on Fearnet) has offered some of his fantastic hand made hot sauces, and the list just keeps growing!
Sorry to repeat myself, but I really am floored by all the support the vendors are throwing behind getting this show back. If you can, please take the time to spread the word about this, post the banners on your blog and put them in your signatures on the forums. These discounts and prizes are absolutely off the hook!

Home Haunter DVD Collection

Have you submitted, yet? The deadline has been extended until the 18th, so if you thought you were too late, head over to the Home Haunter DVD Collection site and submit your video or slideshow. They're short of their 100 video goal, so they're even accommodating slightly longer videos. Please submit, because the collection is something to see!

Vintage Hallowe'en Pin-Ups

I just love the pin-up girl era. There was a certain sweetness and fun wrapped up in each photo, and of course, the women photographed were beautiful and graceful. Throw Hallowe'en in, and it's the perfect photo op.

Via The Selvedge Yard

Via The Musings and Adventures of a Pinup Mama

Via Sean F McGuire on Tumblr

Updates-Hauntcast Magazine? Maybe

Hi, All. There are some new Hauntcast updates I feel compelled to share, because things are really looking better and better.


I realize some of you are sort of put off by all the Hauntcast stuff that's been going on, so I apologize to those who are in that camp. It'll all blow over soon, one way or the other, and things will go back to whatever passes for normal around here.


First up: Resurrect Hauntcast banners. Gary B and Dminor were kind enough to make banners for folks to put in their signatures, on their blogs, etc. If you feel moved to do so, go right ahead. Just link it to the Hauntcast Subscribe page.

There's a new sidebar banner available, too.

Grimlock has stepped forward and volunteered to create Hauntcast, The Magazine, with prop how-tos, horror reviews, and other yummilicious haunted goodness in old-school papery magazine form. Here's the latest updated list of discounts, plus the word is that if our goal is met, there will be a raffle, prizes listed below. 

Can Hauntcast be resurrected? Can you re-animate the Scream Team? There is a fan based movement underway to bring Hauntcast back from the nether-realm. This is the last and only chance for Hauntcast to live again. If 250 fans subscribe for $100 Hauntcast will be back on the air in April. That’s less than a movie ticket once a month. The haunt industries best vendors have stepped up to donate thousands of dollars worth of discounts as well as spooktacular prizes if 250 subscriptions are reached by 3/8/12.

Juneau Studios ~
Save $50 of their DVDs. You pay $19.99, retail price $69.99.
Receive a $250 certificate for any order of $1150 and save 60% on freight orders.

DC Props ~
15% off his amazing props and mechanisms *except sale items, not valid September and October.

Fright Theatre ~
15% off all product *except sale items, not valid September or October

Dark Imaginings ~
20% off our changing portraits, $75 off custom changing portraits, as well as other discounts on our other products and services (graphic design, web design, video effects, etc).

Mini Spot Light ~
15% off all lights

Necrotic Creations ~
15% off their entire product line

Monkey Basic ~
20% off all software

Vox Noctis Voiceovers ~
$50 off any custom made voice over.

ShellHawk's Creations ~
15% her amazing hand-made pottery and FREE shipping.

DBGgraphix ~
50% OFF a logo or poster design for their haunts.

Woodloom Custom Tombstones -
10% off

Ghosts of Olde Towne Petersburg will be starting up with the very first haunted walking tours on selected nights in April.  Hauntcast fans can purchase 50% off admission tickets. That offer is good for the entire 2012 season.

Total Terror! Haunted Attraction - 50% off admission price by purchasing tickets online.

Hauntcast the Magazine –
Get a free subscription to Hauntcast the magazine.

If we reach our goal will will be raffling off prizes Such as:
DC Props – Spitter mechanism
Juneau Studios – (10) $70 DVDs
Fright Theatre – Prop
Mini Spot Lights – LED lights
Necrotic Creations – $100 cameo
Woodloom – $55 Celtic Tombstone
Terra – Handmade tombstone of choice
Vox Noctis – $100 dollar coupon
Dark Imaginings – $49.95 value 11×14 changing portrait. You can pick the portrait.If the 11×14 is too large for them then they can choose a smaller version (5×7 or 8×10). The winner will have to pay the shipping fee, though, which is $10.

and more to come!

THIS JUST IN: The Undertaker just offered an across the board 20% discount to all Hauntcast subscibers on his Haunted Hot Sauce, the only hot sauce that comes in its own, hand-made cedar coffin! 


AND: a new raffle prize from Juneau Studios:

Yes, the Lizzy Borden Mirror, a $2500 value. Two feet tall by fifteen inches wide, it comes with four DVDs: Blood Writing, Clown Changing Portrait, Poltergeist Portrait and Lizzie Borden. Each subscriber has not one, but two chances at winning this amazing prize!


As if that were not enough, Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios has officially offered to do the prop segment to complete the Scream Team and take on the prop guy's red shirt. Brave man!


With all the discounts and offers, your subscription more than pays for itself. And if we, by chance, hit 350 subscribers, the cost of the subscription goes down to $75, and the difference will be refunded to everyone.


Lastly, Chris Baker's last word on this whole thing on YouTube.

If you are one of those people who loves to get your monthly dose of haunting via podcast, you'll know that the Hallowe'en and haunt podcasting field is starting to look pretty desolate these days. Rue Morgue is officially gone, unfortunately, and RFR is unable to consistently produce shows due to health issues. Hauntcast has the experience and the passion to bring you the best season, yet, or, die forever. Whatever.


Lastly, a random picture I took at my local Hallmark store while searching for Valentine's joy for Mr. ShellHawk. If you actually read down this far, you deserve it!

I posted it to my Facebook page, addressed to all trolls and haters. I'm still working on that whole "refraining from commenting thing." It's not really a comment though, right? It's just a sign.

Off Topic

Picture via Funny or Die

Before the horrid t.v. show, there was the blog, "Shit My Dad Says." Let me tell you, the content was laugh out loud funny at least 98% of the time. Here is an old curmudgeon, telling it like it is, stripping away bullshit and political correctness and giving a piece of his mind. He saw things with a certain clarity that seems to be out of favor, these days, since the trend seems to be that more people are concerned with being perceived as part of the collective and as inoffensive as possible. Of course, in my view, people are more likely to be offended because some folks are just looking for something to offend them!


So a little while back, I was reading a post that his son put up, called "Why Internet Commentors Will Eventually End the World." Take a minute to read the article before you finish this post. I've got the link set so that it will open up in a new window.


What the old guy said, in a nutshell, is that anyone can say anything on the internet without any consequences. People my age who were brought up with Miss Manners or Emily Post or just a good crack in the back of the head when we said rude things or were disrespectful to others are now either dinosaurs, or part of the current problem of "trolls," because rude or downright nasty things that we would never dream of saying to another human being in person can be said in writing on the internet with no repercussions. Adults say things online that if said in person, would get them a quick trip to the emergency room.


I have fallen into this trap a time or two myself, I'm sorry to say, sometimes unintentionally, but rude is still rude, no matter how you slice it. Just because you can say something, never means you should say something, after all.


The generations coming after us have taken over the internet and have used it as a venue to bully other people. It's spread into the gaming community, too. Sometimes Mr. ShellHawk plays XBox Live, and will leave the volume on so I can hear what the other players are saying. The language I hear coming out of the mouths of boys who aren't old enough to shave is really shocking to me, and the bullying is un-freaking-believable! Of course, their parents should be severely reprimanded for allowing them to play rated "M" games live with adults, but that's a rant for another day.


The point of this particular rant is that over the past few days, I've seen a lot of nasty comments around the web. Again, I've made a few myself (I blame my mother's training. She is a total social retard and says the most horrifying, nasty things at the drop of a hat.), and justify it by telling myself I'm defending myself, but again, justifications in themselves are pretty weak, regardless of what you're justifying.


Even so, I find myself wondering, "Whatever happened to 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?'" I did practice that with a few people who really are trolls, but I noticed that all accomplishes is to allow them to shove harder, feel more powerful and free to up the ante on rude, nasty, untrue and illogical statements. The sad thing is, there are always a number of people, also malcontents, who will chime in and say, "Yeah! You're totally right!" And the nasty-fest escalates without benefit of the intervention of truth or sanity.


Again, the old man has it right.


Meanwhile, people who are positive and sane will say nothing at all. I guess they've been bullied enough or, more likely, they don't want to involve themselves in junior-high-school-type arguments. Honestly, when you look back at the things that were important enough to fight about in junior high, were any of them actually significant? Like world peace, ending starvation in America or saving whales? Probably not. It was probably as petty as some of the things I've seen recently.


In any case, just to be the trend-setter that I've always been, I'm going to make an effort to check myself before I comment on a hater's post, or just not comment at all. That seems the best route to take.


Although, sometimes a good "F**K YOU AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON, YOU CRAZY JERK!" would undoubtedly feel better and lower my blood pressure.


Just sayin'.

First Prop of 2012

One of the neighborhood boys loves my Hallowe'en display so much, he plays in the graveyard every year. Last year, I asked if he'd mind if I made a tape dummy of him, and he jumped at the chance. It was so great to see his eyes just shining and happy as he stalked around in it before I cut it off him!


Now, with any luck, I'll start feeling well enough to start putting the new prop together. In case you hadn't already guessed, it's going to be "Sam" from Trick 'R Treat.


I know some of you have already made this prop. Any suggestions on what form to use for the head? Styrofoam ball or--?