Happy All Hallows' Eve

Last year after Hurricane Sandy blew through my little island, I spent most of that week in the library at the end of my street. It was the only place I could get in contact with the outside world. At home, I was one of the very lucky ones with power and heat, but no connectivity. There was no mobile service in the whole area either. The library became my refuge. They had free hot coffee and cookies, and they had wi-fi. After several days, one of the employees gave me this gorgeous fairy tale pumpkin she had grown out back. It became the centerpiece of my kitchen for months. With its really tough skin, it lasted well into March when I put it outside for hungry critters to enjoy.

Fall Has Fell

Boo!

These photos are from The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze in the Hudson Valley near Tarrytown and the area of Washington Irving's famous story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The Van Cortlandt Manor is the host of the Blaze, with hot cider and hot chocolate to keep you warm on a chilly autum night. It is also presented as the home of the party at the beginning of the story before Ichabod Crane sets out into the woods- a fitting setting for giving any visitor the creeps.

You can meander through the grounds where there are magnificent displays for Halloween all made out of illuminated pumpkins. Several carvers also compete in a contest that tests their skills. My favorite part was a section close to the water that is roped off. It is a long, darkened dirt road that heads into the woods. If you stand still and listen carefully, you can hear the galloping footsteps of the headless horesman as he rides off into the night.