Happy Halloween!

This year Dia de Los Muertos overlapped with Halloween as my costume selection. I was inspired by a television special about a Day of the Dead celebration in Los Angeles. Specifically, I wanted to do the face. I wasn't really sure what the rest of the costume would consist of, I had a vague idea of maybe all black and white, until this morning when it all came together perfectly. I couldn't have been happier with my costume. I got tons of attention and comments from others about it too. It was really fun. And interesting how, as the day and night wore on, I started to sink into my new persona and see the world in a different way.

Hubby, Lisa, and I took Joli to Susanville's Uptown Halloween celebration. They close off the Main Street and the business owners and employees dress up and provide trick-or-treating for the kids. There is music, pet and kid costume contests, and of course lots and lots of kids and parents, most everyone in costume. We haven't gone in a number of years, since William has been too old to want to bother for awhile, and it was fun to get to mingle and mix with everyone we know in town and enjoy all the fantastic costumes. Of course the kids look so cute but it also delights me to see how many adults dress up. We have so few opportunities to "let our hair down" in our culture. I think this shows what a strong need there is for theater and play and magic in people's lives. I took a lot of photos of costumes (always with permission) but I don't want to presume to put photos of other people's kids up on my blog. Lots of creative folks out there though.



Of course we took plenty of photos of our little ladybug. She's usually happy to smile for the camera but there was so much to see and do - grammy, look! Go over there!


She was happiest when we let her crawl about on her own. Independent little critter. Just after this photo was taken, she actually took a number of steps by herself. She took her first steps on Friday but today she went twice as far, in part because I think she thought she was still holding on to her mommy's hand. She's really on the cusp of "getting it" - just in time to show her daddy when she sees him again in a couple of days after a whole month apart! She's learned quite a few new tricks while she's been here so she'll have lots to show off for him.

Lisa put together a change of costume at the last minute this year as well. She borrowed my Winter Witch hat and made it her own style. I think she makes a cute punky witch!




People weren't the only ones in costume. Can these two hairless chihuahuas be any cuter? (In an ugly cute way) The one in the shades was very calm but the little "skunk" one was shaking and clearly hoping it would all be over soon.

There were a lot of pet owners there with their animals in costume. Mostly dogs, small dogs. I had no idea there were so many small dogs in this town! But there was also a rabbit dressed as a witch. We originally planned on taking Rosie in her flying monkey wings but at the last minute we decided we'd have our hands full with Joli. Maybe next year.



It's not every day that you see a vampire dance troupe perform. In daylight. Hmmmm. They must have used extra sunblock beforehand.



And where there are vampires, "Bubba" can't be far away. (only Sookie Stackhouse readers will understand that last bit.)



William had football practice and couldn't join us for the Uptown activities, but a couple of his buddies came by afterwards, dressed him up, and off they went to show off their macho costumes to friends and neighbors.



Eventually it was time to come home, get into our jammies, and enjoy our pumpkins and some spooky television shows before it was time for bed. This is my pumpkin. It was such a perfectly shaped pumpkin I thought it needed a very traditional grin on its face. Joli is grinning because she learned to climb into this chair and every time she does it she thinks she's getting away with something she's not supposed to do!

Here are Lisa and Joli's pumpkins. Lisa worked on them for hours last night.

It was a lovely day, full of fun and friends, a few frights, and ......oh, yeah, CANDY! Let's not forget candy. There was definitely candy involved. But as you can see, it was a long and tiring day. We even tuckered out the witch's dog.


I hope you all had a Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain! 'Night.

If you're not too tired, there are a few more outdoor spooks for you over on Laume's Studio. And if you need more baby photos, check out Lisa's Halloween post on Creative Slave.