Blog Post
by: Kali Willows
Halloween Happy or Haunting?
Fall is my absolute most favourite time of the year! The
brilliant colours of the leaves as they change, the cool breeze, sipping hot
tea as I sit on the swing under the maple tree and the harvest of adored
butternut squash and everything pumpkin! How does this Canadian Author
celebrate fall? In every way possible.
From a family point of view, we begin with our Canadian Thanksgiving,
complete with stuffed turkey and all the fixings, and a homemade pumpkin pie
with whip cream. Shopping for the anticipated Halloween costumes is always a
blast, but the choices have become so vast, we all have difficulty deciding on
just one.
More festivities carry forward with the happy and gentle
portion of preparing for the beloved Halloween. With young kids who frighten
easily, we indulge in wagon rides through the farm to hand pick pumpkins from a
patch, then we wander through the tall, dry maze of corn stalks (in the daytime
for the kids) and find our way through the labyrinth by answering trivia
questions at every post. Then, we shop in the farmer’s market, sampling every
type of homemade fudge imaginable, even Praline…I kid you not! Hot apple cider
wards off the chills that settle in your bones, then a bond fire to warm
ourselves along with S’mores to finish a perfect family day. Soon, the pumpkin
carving will begin!
As far as adult fun, this author ventured west to visit
friends who create a spectacular haunted forest that screamed spooky complete
with, rattling chains, blood curdling screams, glowing pumpkins, terrifying
props that lash out at you and all the bells and whistles. They terrorize you
with freakish, sadistic clowns jumping out to grab you and bizarre aliens,
topped off with a blazing bond fire in the black of night, as we finally relax with
some awesome rock tunes. I will say, this year’s scare did not improve my
affinity for clowns in the least!
Let’s not forget my highly anticipated stop at Starbucks for
the long coveted Pumpkin Spice Latte, *pause for satisfied sigh.* this author
has had a blast, and we’re only half way through October! In Ontario, we are
fortunate to have so many incredible farms to visit, the selection of pumpkins
to carve is endless and the bounty of harvest and baked goods with hot cider
makes every fall day and adventure to cherish.
The fact that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year means
balancing Trick or Treating with choosing which fantastic costume party to
attend.
So tell us, how do you like to celebrate fall and Halloween?
Canadian living, at it’s best.
Happy Haunting, Happy Reading,
Happy Halloween!
