The Front Porch
January 28th, 2009 by John Wolfe
While the yard display contains my handmade mache creations, the front porch is an eclectic blend of untouched, store bought Halloween items. It hasn’t changed much in the last few years, aside from the two overhead additions of Spirit Halloween Store flicker-flame lights. I’ve been thinking about creating some Monster Mud props to display on the porch, but some of the trick-or-treaters can be a little too hands on. So, store bought items will probably be front porch decor for Halloween ’09 as well.
I host the entire haunt over at my parents’ house and without their help (along with my grandmother, cousin and uncle in ’08) it would be extremely difficult to pull it all off. The Season of Shadows Yard Haunt goes up on Halloween morning and comes down by midnight on Halloween eve. The skull in this photo was another Spirit Store purchase, way back in ’96. I spritzed it with a little glow in the dark spray. The spray shows up nicely under the black lights (another feature the kids really love).
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January 28th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
So how big is your storage area for everything Halloween?
I have never done anything like that before but it’s fun to approach a home that does. I’m lucky to get a Christmas tree finished before Christmas eve and then I think I’m the last one to get it to the street for pick up. I’m laughing as I type this because it’s very true. Consequently, nobody will ever see lights hanging off my home because they would be there all year long.
No, I take that back because I wouldn’t have put them up to begin with because they would hang there for the whole year. lol
January 29th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
So good to hear from you again! I’ve been meaning to send you an email. Technically, I don’t have one single storage area. My stuff is all over the place. There’s a little bit in a lot of different houses.
I do try and keep a few of my groundbreakers within close reach, as I like to use them for models on future designs. They provide me with a “blueprint” for creating new ones.
I see a lot of people leaving their Christmas lights up all year. Funny, but I never see anyone do that with Halloween decorations. Of course, there’s no one (to the best of my knowledge) that goes as far as I do with a yard haunt in my neck of the woods. I should try leaving tombstones in the yard for 365 days straight.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Woah, THAT’S the entry way to your folks house??? Yikes! It’s so dark and creepy and one of those halls that looks harmless enough and before ya know it, someone, or something, jumps out at the trick-or-treater and scares them silly. No offense John, but even as a friend, I wouldn’t trust you if you told me it was safe to walk up to the door….nope, not during Halloween time. I know you and how much you love the thrill is scarying, especially to an older friend who you know would scream like a little girl if you did
Lastly, the glow in the dark paint on the skull was very much needed. Yes, it’s spooky lookin on it’s own but the “eye orgasm” that takes place upon seeing such amazing insane colors in the dark like that really adds that extra juice
Like your t-shirt, that thing in the dark takes on a whole new life of it’s own. Same with the skull. I REALLY can’t wait for your HHR video to be uploaded someday. (foot tapping) I know you have tons going on but I think we’ve all been waiting for months to see what you put together in that video. John, come on man, how much longer are you going to make us wait and beg you? 
All My Best, As Always, Goldie~*~
January 30th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Thanks, Goldie. The entry is primarily my mom’s area of decorating. I’m so appreciative she takes the time to help out, because I usually don’t have an opportunity to work on much outside of the yard display. And, like I was saying in the post, my uncle and cousin helped a lot last year. I carved three pumpkins in the early AM hours of Halloween day and they finished the other five for me in the afternoon. It’s truly a family affair and I’m grateful for that.
Glad you like the skull. The two on the walls (opposite one another – they can be seen in the topic pic) and the one over the door are old school 90′s Spirit Store stuff. The first time I ever came across Spirit Halloween was in ’95 and I’ve been going almost ever year since.
I’m not sure on the Haunter’s Reality videos. I know it’s been a while, but it may still be a while longer. As soon as the weather warms a little more, it’s time to start working on props.