When you are doing something like a haunted house or, in my case, a clue hunt, decorations demand a bit of thinking. It is wise to plan out things far in advance then visit flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales since you never know what you might find that can be revamped into just what you need to set the mood. While my theme for the clue hunt this year was not creepy and did not take a lot of time, it still needed items that I do not normally keep at the Little Bayou House. Mark took me to thrift stores just about every week and we sifted through mountains of stuff to find just the right things to use. A masquerade ball requires "pretty" things not creepy. So, I went with prettily creepy!
Last night, something was added to my decor without my intentions. A floor lamp stand had been fitted with a hanging, beaded lamp from my daughter's room when she was a teenager. Yep. I still had it. The lamp was needed to bring ambiance to the "parlor". While I did put the lamp in place, I did NOT actually know how nicely the thing would fit. The lamp added a bit of flair to the room but the shadow added the ambiance! Quite by accident, I discovered that the lamp would cast a remarkable shadow into the darkened hallway when positioned in just the right spot! Ohh! Creepy! Or not...I think it is rather pretty!
Shadows are some of those things that can set the mood for any type of Halloween decorations. Shadows flitting across the porch wall and windows bring dread. Shadows in the corners of a room causes the light in the middle of the room to be a bit cozier. Shadows of lamps in the hallway...are just a happy accident!
It is well after midnight and I am exhausted so this will be a short post. Tonight was the first running of the Sixth Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou. It has been a long, hard go getting this hunt together as we have had several setbacks but tonight went off without a hitch. Every prop worked remarkably well! The first team was a group of lovely, young ladies who did extremely well working out all the enigmas that Son and I had set up. At the end, they all claimed that this was the most difficult hunt yet but they each had a delightful time. The best testimony?? They want to come back next year! Tomorrow night will be the second running so time will be short then, too. Have patience, friends, have patience!
My word!!! It looks like several chickens molted in the Little Bayou House! Or maybe we had a massive pillow fight! Or maybe my feather duster broke free and is flying away. Feathers are floating everywhere! Fluffy, black feathers can be found scooting across the floor with each whirl of the ceiling fans. Twirly, black feathers are peeking out from under furniture. Tiny tidbits of black feathers are stuck to the sofa, to clothes and even the old dog. Feathers, feathers, feathers are everywhere! I have been startled more than once, in recent weeks, by a stray feathers wisping along the floor. They sure are reminiscent of mice scurrying underfoot!
I had no idea when I bought the two long, black feather boas that the things would shed so much. With the theme of the Sixth Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou being a masquerade ball, I needed a ballgown. I had the bright idea (with the help of darling daughter) to pattern my costume after a raven. A raven has made its appearance in almost every hunt since its beginning, so it was only logical that I be the raven. That said, a raven needs feathers so my gown has feathers. Two long boas have been stitched along the hem and up the front right side of the gown making it flow nicely. More feathers are to be added to the wrists and the shoulders. I will indeed resemble a bird! The gown has lots of feathers...at least for the moment. As it stands, the boas are molting and are soon to be bald, at this rate. The first clue hunt run is this Friday so I need to gather up all of the loose feathers. What am I saying?? No need to do that as I am sure I will be leaving a trail behind me with every step I take! Fun times on the Bayou!
This being October means that the clue hunt should be in full swing. It is not. Son and I have had far too many interruptions to have everything complete. However, that is ok since I had the foresight (and good sense) to not book any runs until the latter part of the month. The first team is to come this next Friday. We are still not ready...we are pushing the gun on this hunt. The days are spent running around like maniacs trying to finish props, make sure everything works and decorate. It is not an easy task for two people to do something of this magnitude and still lend a helping hand to those in need.
Today was much like every other day for the past couple of weeks. We painted, sawed, hauled, hung, snipped, layered and did a multitude of other weird chores to get things in order. Then, about noon, Darling Daughter sent a message that she was heading to the Little Bayou House. She had an important job to do and today was the day. Sweet Elizabeth was coming to dye my hair in some pretty unusual colors. To go along with my masquerade ballgown, she was intent on dying my hair to match the fabric which just happens to be black...with touches of purple and teal. Yep. The deed is done and now the gray is gone. My hair is black...with touches of purple and teal.
While I am game to try anything, the hair thing has to be one of my gutsiest yet. Always before, she has done it so the top layer is still reasonably "old lady" like. I was able to brush the hair down and none of the odd colors would show. Not this time. Right smack dab in the middle of the newly blackened tresses, there is a large splash of bright purple! Then in the back, teal and purple rule. It is all good, though, and I find that with each look in the mirror, I like it better and better. It is fun!
