After Halloween is a holiday in our family. This year we kept saying we really did not need anything, but we went out anyway and could not resist the 50-80 percent of sales that were going on. We hit Halloween City first, then Spirit Halloween, and finally Jo Annes, Michaels, and Walmart.

This year was certainly different as there was many empty shelves in many of the stores as they were having a hard time getting inventory in. Because of this we did not expect much to be left after Halloween but we got lucky because we shopped in a city outside of the suburbs where the population was a little light.

Continue reading “After Halloween Sale 2021” →

Great weather for this years trick or treat, it was overcast all day but it never really rained until about 8pm which is the official trick or treat end time. This year we put out a couple animated figures since it was not windy either. The skeleton prop Grim went over very well with some kids staying on the porch to listen to its clever sayings.

James, Dad, and Mom rotated duties handing out candy and we had a ton of kids show up. Everyone had fun, lots of great costumes were worn, and we are looking forward to next years trick or treat as we figure nature owes us a couple good weather days in a row.
Continue reading “Trick or Treat 2021” →

Since we had the pandemic last year, it had been two years since we had any guests at our house (outside of plumbers and roofers) but that came to an end October 9th as our 11th Halloween party took place.

James had college classes this day so he did not show up till 4:30 from Wayne County Community College, but once their he became the “balloon guy” filling up helium balloons for all the kids.
Once again, the most popular item was the magic mirror (this was our third time using it) and guests got to take home a souvenir picture of themselves.

Since many of the guests were St. Albert Alumni, we also had St. Albert pics and the new book available in the garage for pickup.

A great time was had by all and it appears we will be having at least one more Halloween party next year.
Continue reading “2021 Halloween Party” →

The Haunted Garage Sale was held at the Dearborn civic center next to the library on Michigan Avenue. James could not attend because he was in Saturday classes at Wayne County Community College but Dad went and picked up a few things.

Perhaps the neatest display was the apothecary display of various witches potions and spells all in bottles that looked like they were hundreds of years old when in fact they were probably only a few days old.

The event was well attended but still seemed not as busy as it used to be, perhaps its the pandemic or perhaps its just that the new venue is so much bigger than the other auditoriums.

Continue reading “Haunted Garage Sale 2021” →

Driving around we found that a Halloween store was open so we took a quick visit to see what was new. Their display this year featured an assembly line that was maintained by the skeletons. It was pretty cool. We bought a couple small items but the store assured us that there would be much more in stock in the near future. We think this might be the earliest one of the Halloween stores opened as it is not even September yet.

Anyhow it was a fun way to spend a hot summer day. Continue reading “First Halloween Store Opens 2021” →

We visited Novi (second time in two days as the Wounded Warrior fund raiser was the day before) for their Halloween convention. All sorts of celebrities were there signing autographs, most of them we did not know but it was nice to see fun they were generating. We ended up getting several items including a Zombie Girl prop for our upcoming Halloween party in October.

The event was held at the Sheraton on 8 mile in the Farmington/Novi area and was a great break in the action for the family who had not been able to go to events like this the past year due to the pandemic. Continue reading “Novi Halloween Convention 2021” →

Halloween during a pandemic is a little different. We wore gloves and poured candy directly from the bag into a big bowl and placed the bowl on a small table right between the two halves of the front yard. James then set up a chair for himself six feet behind the table with the candy and as the trick or treaters approached James would instruct them to take one or two candies from the bowl. It was a sort of self serve trick or treat. The turnout was very good and probably 100 kids at least came by and received candy during what we hope will be the last year of the pandemic.

Continue reading “Halloween 2020” →

James’ tenth Halloween party came during the pandemic and rather than trying to have only a handful of people at a time, we decided not to have anyone over but have a virtual event that we would record.

While the virtual party was all video, we made sure to take plenty of pictures before, during, and after the virtual party.

We also had a great spread of food to enjoy this day, just like we do when we have a live party.

Continue reading “2020 Halloween Party (Virtual)” →

The wait is over and despite the pandemic two Spirit Halloween stores opened near us so we stopped by to see what was new. Without a doubt the inventory was low as they only had about 25% of their inventory in but it was still fun and we purchased a hat, a hanging banner, a couple styrofoam tombstones, and a pennywise mat which looks like pennywise is looking up at you through a sewer grate.

We look forward to when they have all their inventory in but we were very impressed with the scenery they have put up already especially the large flaming things which were (unfortunately) not for sale.

Continue reading “First Halloween Store Opens 2020” →