Our Homegrown Halloween

It's rather unlikely that Halloween would be one of my favorite annual celebrations.

For starters, I don't particularly like the dark or things that go "bump" in the night. Scary movies terrify me (I usually end of throwing my popcorn)! I try to limit the amount of sugar and processed foods my children eat, so hoarding vast amounts of candy doesn't really jive with my nutritional philosophies. I really don't like dressing up in costume. Black and orange are my least favorite colors, and I have absolutely no patience for rude trick-or-treaters.

But wait--don't label me a bah-humbug just yet--because despite all of my moaning and groaning, there happen to be two reasons I actually really enjoy Halloween.
They are: A) my son, and B) my daughter.

My three-year-old and five-year-old are truly, madly, deeply in love with Halloween. Beginning November 1st, they spend 364 days planning their perfect costumes, and on the 365th day, they revel in trick-or-treat delight. As I observe them bounding up and down our avenue's narrow sidewalks, squealing with glee, my heart melts.


Here they are in this year's costumes: Mario (obvious), and our cat, Winston (not so obvious unless you know our cat... and then you know that she looks JUST like him)! The fleece cat costume was lovingly hand-made by my mother; Mario arrived by UPS courtesy of Costume Express. I guess when you're a full-time working mom, some things just have to go by the wayside. Regardless, my son was thrilled beyond words with his polyester, made-in-China ensemble.

Despite my misgivings about his outfit, I decided that this year I was going to spin Halloween my way by adding a little "Pocket Square Farm Flair!" Inspired by pumpkins we grew in our garden, I decorated our "farm" table with a length of burlap and a runner-sized cut of a modern/autumn cotton print.

Kitchen chairs were carried out to the front lawn. The vintage iron seat at the head of the table is one of my favorite yard sale treasures. I bought it for $3, and would you believe the woman selling it actually tried to talk me down to $2?


Roses from my recent "fall flush" rested casually in antique glass vases.



Candlelight flickered through assorted Mason and jam jars, casting a gentle, warm glow as the sun began to set. All of these decorations were items I happened to have on hand, although I did pot some fresh pansies just for the occasion. I love fall flowers punctuated with mini-pumpkins (I admit that these smaller ones I did not grow... maybe next year)!

Bales of straw, handed down from a good friend, lined our stone path. This set the stage for trick-or-treaters (and kept them away from our designated dining area). We had no idea, as we arranged them on the lawn, how fun it would be to all sit together on the bales of straw after dinner. Suddenly, passing out the traditional Halloween loot and visiting with neighbors had a whole new down-on-the-farm feel... smack dab in the middle of the city.

I think we may just have a new family tradition!