Something new ???

What's new this year?  Working on anything new?  Are you building anything?

Well there, inquisitive mortal,  perhaps the answer to those oft-asked questions can be found in this riddle:

I am not alive, nor dead
I might pull you if I am fed
I've lost some of my hair
From that last big scare
Please free me from this tack
At the fourth ring I'll come running back
What's new this year?  Working on anything new?  Are you building anything? Well there, inquisitive mortal,  perhaps the answer to th...
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Gary, Larry and Harry..

From Left to Right:  Harry, Gary and Larry

A moment of silence for Gary, Larry and Harry.  All three of them caught an ultimately fatal case of storage-itis.  Their joint last will and testament prescribed being snapped into two pieces and deposited into a refuse bin, individually, over the course of 3 weeks.  Their eyeballs are to be preserved in a jar for posterity.  Their departure will make way for newer and more easily stored creations.  The family of the deceased humbly requests you to contribute to your favorite Zombie Awareness charitable organization.

Gary the Groundskeeper 2003-2015
Larry the Lawyer 2009-2015
Harry the HVAC Repairman 2009-2015
From Left to Right:  Harry, Gary and Larry A moment of silence for Gary, Larry and Harry.  All three of them caught an ultimately fatal...
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Halloween 2014 Video Tour

Here's a video tour.
Here's a video tour.
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2014 - Night Photos

Here's the night pictures for 2014!
Here's the night pictures for 2014!
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Halloween 2014 is a wrap!

Thanks to all you Trick or Treaters that came to see our display.  Super cool parents too - some even in costume!  The day started off windy but thankfully died down in the evening.  Check back soon for pictures.
Thanks to all you Trick or Treaters that came to see our display.  Super cool parents too - some even in costume!  The day started off win...
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Graveyard Sign Part 2


Finished off the graveyard sign.  To hold it upright, I sank a 2' long 4" PVC pipe into the ground.  The sign post slips into the pipe.  I notched the sign posts at the intersection by making several straight cuts and chiseling out the waste.  The ends of the cross post were distressed and sanded.  Finally the whole thing got a coat of stain.
Finished off the graveyard sign.  To hold it upright, I sank a 2' long 4" PVC pipe into the ground.  The sign post slips into the...
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Weather Watch 2014


Weather is looking good for Halloween!
Weather is looking good for Halloween!
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Graveyard Sign Part 1

First part of the sign is complete.  I had some 1x12 pine boards lay lying around that I joined together with some 1x2s on the back.  The letters were printed on paper, cut out as stencils and then painted on using a foam brush.  Some sanding and distressing followed by some wood stain to complete the look.
First part of the sign is complete.  I had some 1x12 pine boards lay lying around that I joined together with some 1x2s on the back.  The le...
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It begins.

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Monster in a Coffin - Part II

Wrapped up the Monster in a Coffin prop.  Ended up using the 12 volt line from an old computer power supply.  I was going to make a wooden cam wheel to attach to the wiper motor shaft but ended up using two L-brackets with lock washers.  Seems to work great!  Here's some pics and a video of it in action.
Wrapped up the Monster in a Coffin prop.  Ended up using the 12 volt line from an old computer power supply.  I was going to make a wooden c...
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New Project: Monster in a Coffin

I've been thinking about doing a Monster in a Box prop for sometime.  With a bunch of scrap wood laying around I've put together a toe pincher coffin.  Intentionally, there are several holes and cracks between the pieces of wood to add an aged vintage to it.  Inside the coffin will be a fog machine, some  lighting and a windshield wiper motor powering a wooden cam to raise and drop the lid on hinges.
I've been thinking about doing a Monster in a Box prop for sometime.  With a bunch of scrap wood laying around I've put together ...
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New Project: Graveyard Sign

I had an idea the other day to build a sign for the haunt.  I'm thinking 4x4s for the post and cross beam and some 1x4s for the sign.  Either a noose rope or some chain to hold the sign to the post.  I have an empty water meter hole on the corner of the lot that should be suitable to insert the post into and secure it from tipping over.  I'll run an extension cord to the sign to power a flicker bulb fixture.

Sign Concept
I had an idea the other day to build a sign for the haunt.  I'm thinking 4x4s for the post and cross beam and some 1x4s for the sign.  E...
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2013 - Night Photos

Here's the night pictures!
Here's the night pictures!
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Halloween 2013 is a wrap!


What an awesome night.  I think we had just over 100 Trick or Treaters but word of mouth travels fast (had a few veterans come visit from the last place) so I don't expect the numbers will stay low.  The timer on the 'big' fog machine decided it didn't want to work anymore so I conjured the inner McGyver and scotch taped the 'manual' button into the 'on' position.  On the costume front, I saw a lot of witches, princesses and super heros this year.  I'll post up pictures as soon as possible but for now here's one of my favorite shots of the evening, the shadow of the hearse was a happy accident.
What an awesome night.  I think we had just over 100 Trick or Treaters but word of mouth travels fast (had a few veterans come visit fr...
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All Systems Go!

The weather has changed for the better.  Minimal wind.  Should be a great night!
The weather has changed for the better.  Minimal wind.  Should be a great night!
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