Halloween decorations

Trying Some Three-D

September 22, 2025

Dear Liza,

Looking at all the Halloween decorations for sale in the markets, I got inspired to build an illuminated haunted house. I started with old postcards, junk mail, Mod Podge, and a UHU glue stick.

Using pieces of other projects for templates, I cut a door and windows with an Xacto blade.

When they were cut, I put mullions in the windows and joined four of the five sides together, I wanted to keep it flat to work on, so I didn’t close up the ‘house’. To make the walls stronger, I gave the interior walls a coat of white paper applied with Mod Podge.

I wanted the look of old stones for my exterior walls, so I gave some junk mail a streaky coat of acrylic, then cut them into irregular pieces. While you and I were on our ZOOM call, I used the UHU to apply the stones. They needed a brayer rolled over them to make them stick, because the postcard walls still had some flex.

There is still a lot to do. I will continue tomorrow and show you what I’ve got.

Love,

Grandma Judy

A New Friend for … Halloween?

Dear Liza,

We got a special delivery the other day… a skeleton! Auntie Bridgett has named him Mr. Bones and has randomly assigned him the male gender. But you can bet he’ll be seeing lots of costumes.

Mr. Bones came in pieces, and it took some doing to get him together. But he is 5 feet 6 inches tall, pose-able, sturdy, and has marvelous posture.

Our plans for Mr. Bones are still a little vague, but it is a month and a half until Halloween, so we have lots of time to play.

When Grandpa Nelson got him properly put together and in the rocking chair, Mr. Bones got a nice kitchen towel and Halloween garland kafiya.

And let Halloween begin!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Halloween Spooks in the Neighborhood

Dear Liza,

Our weather has gotten very wet and very cold this week, and the spooks just keep popping up! Every time we head out we see something new.

This house down the street that has always had cutesy-pie goblins must have a new tenant, because the vibe has changed quite a bit.

Or maybe it is the semi-nervous-breakdown our country seems to be having that is showing itself in the ghouls.

You know, like this guy trying to get out of his rut, or these poor souls who can’t find a place to get comfortable.

It is just a few days to Halloween, and I am sure enjoying the season…. Even if the decorations look….um… half dead…

Love,

Grandma Judy

Johnny Franco at Zach’s

Dear Liza,

I love that we have lived in Portland long enough to have favorite places and favorite bands! Last Friday we walked to Grandpa Nelson’s favorite place, Zach’s Hot Dog Shack.

First, we enjoyed the Halloween decorations that are sprouting up all over the neighborhood. This skeleton and his reaper friend seemed spooky but non-threatening. Auntie Bridgett stopped to say hi.

At Zach’s, we got our favorite things. Fries and cider for Grandpa Nelson, tofu Chicago dog and Guinness for me, and tofu Seattle dog for Auntie Bridgett. We enjoyed watching kids and parents play corn hole while the band set up.

Johnny and his “real brother Dom” and their drummer (whose name I still haven’t learned, brought their gear in and set up. One of the many things I like about this group is that their music is perfect for small spaces likes Zach’s patio, not loud or over-amplified. We were just ten feet from the band and very happy.

Johnny says he doesn’t like a lot live music because it is too long and too loud. He likes it ‘quick and quiet’.

The first set was in daylight, and filled with Beatles’ and Three Dig Night cover songs like “Momma Told me not to Come” and “You Can’t do That”, with lots of joking and banter in between.

The sun went down during the break and the mood changed. Cool lighting put a sparkle on the small stage (which is where the Ping Ping table usually is) and the energy got ‘dancier’. Folks were clapping and whooping, with a few dancing just off to the side.

We stayed to the very end, put some money in their bucket and bought a cd. It was a long, long night out for us, but very enjoyable.

Thanks Johnny! Thanks Dom! Thanks Drummer Dude! Thanks Zach!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Halloween in the Sunnyside

Dear Liza,

This yard, with metal cutouts of dragons and Bigfoot on its fence, has been a favorite for while. But now, their fantastical critters are joined by witty headstones. “Hamlet…. not to be” and ”Elphaba… It isn’t easy being green” cracked me up. I admit, I had to look up who Elphaba was. According to the Broadway show WICKED, Elphaba is the given name of the Wicked Witch of the West in ”The Wizard of Oz” stories.

Down the street from the headstones was this entertaining scene. On one side of the yard, several skeletons were working very hard to keep make sure whatever was in a coffin stayed in that coffin.

And on the other side of the yard, two of Hamlet’s Weird Sisters were hard at work, stirring a cauldron. I can imagine that on Halloween night it will be properly lit up and have dry ice bubbling out of the cauldron!

Our house is getting sort of Halloweened up, too. Our biggest decoration, The Assistant, is sitting at the table, wearing a witch’s hat and, of course, a mask. He is enjoying some properly Halloween colored flowers.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Playing with (Voodoo) Dolls

Dear Liza,

I think I am really just a big kid. When things get ugly or stressful, I need to laugh. I need to play.

Years ago, Auntie Bridgett and I made little voodoo dolls to send home with guests at a Halloween party. The leftovers became part of our regular decorations. This year, one got a change in hairstyle and a long red tie to become ….. well…. The Buffoon.

I posted his photo on Facebook and some folks complained that the pins weren’t working! So I am giving The Buffoon some ‘adventures’. Basically, I am playing with my doll….. making things as uncomfortable as possible for him.

Like I did when I was a kid, I looked around the house to see what I could play with. I realized that Halloween images are mostly things that can kill you, so there were lots of options!

Halloween decorations are good, of course. But we also have fearsome yard gnomes.

The Buffoon ( and friend) meet murderous garden gnomes

I am not done yet! I am feeling very crafty, and will tell you more about The Buffoon’s adventures as we approach that special day in early November.

Meanwhile, play, laugh, and vote, vote, vote! We will all get through this.

Love,

Grandma Judy