The Key To Your Creativity

Happy New Year!! Yeah, I'm 13 days late, it's okay.
So I've been collecting antique keys for a few years now wanting to re-do my entry way from floral to a key theme. This is the first of my projects.


I bought a shadow box many years ago that had some artificial hydrangeas inside. I got these really cheap (like $5 each on a clearance sale).


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First step was to open the front and remove the flowers.



Then I found this really great old book (printed 1910) so the pages were a perfect aged look. I ripped out pages with numbers that are important to our family (birth dates, anniversaries, etc) and glued the pages to the inside of the box.



Next I tied a lovely piece of ribbon around the top of the key and glued them in place.



Reattached the front glass panel and waaa laa...instant decor makeover!

Pennsylvania: Not Just The Zombie Capital Anymore....

There is a great group on FB called "What Makes Your State Great" who is responding to the DC-40's 50 Days of Prayer:

"In response to the DC-40’s 50 Days of Prayer to change our Secular Nation into a Christian One, we have chosen to ask the residents of each of the 50 states of the SECULAR United States of America to post an answer to the question: “What Makes Your State Great?” Each of these dates precedes the DC-40’s Day of Prayer, and will give those of us who wish to think positive thoughts, say our own form of prayers and good wishes over that state the next day, the opportunity to prepare."

Here is my contribution to the great state of Pennsylvania! They say write about what you know, and what I know is horror!

Firstly, we all know that Pittsburgh is the official zombie capital of the world! Mostly credited to the fact the George Romero used Western Pa as a back-drop for the infamous 1968 classic "Night of the Living Dead"

In 2008, World Zombie Day was created and coordinated by the "It's Alive Show" in Pittsburgh, PA. With calls for Zombie Walks all across the globe, close to 32 cities worldwide reported over 7,500 zombies as participating in World Zombie Day on October 26th. The ittsburgh Zombie Walk brought in more than one ton of food to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. (See you can be undead and still have feelings of compassion)
Me and my gals look forward to the annual trip to the city in our finest zombie apparel. It's a bloody good time!









Another classic in the horror genre, and possibly my all-time favorite movie "The Silence of the Lambs" was also filmed here in the 'Burgh. Actually a scene in the film was filmed right here in our little hometown. I can remember friends and family going to the open casting call for extras and each and every day I kick myself for being too "busy" to attend.



Next we are off to the setting of "The Mothman Prophecies"
which was filmed here primarily because of the awesome bridge we have in Kittanning, Pa. I remember fondly when they were taping and I buckled my oldest (who was just a wee one then) into her stroller and off we went. Yes, I was, not so kindly, asked to remove myself from where I was standing on the street. I'm not even a big Richard Gere fan, but it was pretty neat to have him in our little town. Everyone was abuzz with sightings and information.
And....if the bridge ever looked familiar again it was probably because they used our town once more in filming "My Bloody Valentine 3-D". For this filming I did see my fair share of filming equipment, crews, and down town action! It was quite exciting to see our little town featured on the big screen once again. (Now you need to go rent those 2 flicks and compare the bridge scenes!)



So that's why I love living here in Western Pennsylvaina! Well, that's one of the reasons why! I would be kicked out of the yinzers club if I didn't mention a few other attractions (that are not horror related) such as the 6X Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers! (hell yeah), the infamous Primanti Bros Sandwich Shops, the amazing health care facilities at UPMC, the breath taking landscapes along the various rolling hills and the opportunity to see all 4 seasons as they come and go. It has been joked about, but honestly, I have had my furnace running in the morning and had to have my central air kicked on by afternoon. (Which brings us to another horror story, UTILITY BILLS!)

Thank you for taking the time to see Pennsylvania from my point of view!

American Gothic Makeover

And on with the Halloween decor...
Sometimes I don't want to take down everything on the walls to give a room a Halloween tingle, so I shift the theme of what I already have up.
One of the new projects this year was some plates that I have in the hallway, which is usually done in a shoe decor.




I made a template the size of the center of the plates and then cut orange scrap booking paper to be a background for each.




Then I Googled "American Gothic" and found some really cool interpretations of the creeped out farm couple.



Using the template, cut each image to size, then laminate the photos with the orange paper behind. I like the laminating because they can be used for more than one year, but that isn't necessary.



Cut out the images and tape to the center of each plate and there ya go...instant decor!!

Temporary Art

For me, one of the most beautiful things about autumn is the spider webs. On a damp, cool morning the yard is filled with these beautiful pieces of art...so much work for something that wasn't there yesterday and won't be there tomorrow. Although I m not a fan of the creepy 8-legged ones, how can you not appreciate the amazing creations...

I Stumbled Upon White Trash...

So, FaceBook suggested a friend for me and of course I had to go in and look at her photos and see if I knew her. What I found there has left me speechless!

Yes, this really is a friend of a friend and no, I didn't edit the photo.

The couch is really in the yard of the trailer court, the young lady really doesn't have any teeth and the dog is really taking a shit in the background.....

Nothin' Says Carbs Like Straight Up Fried Bread Dough

My friends joke that rather than a vegetarian I am a carbetarian. I wish I could find a candle scented like fresh baked bread, that would so rock! So, for a snack the other day I decided to make some fried Italian bread squares. Yum!

True Blood Season 4 Finale Review

I tossed and turned last night after watching the season finale...so many unanswered questions...so many disappointments...so many triumphs...so many problems caused by "fuck'in Sookie"

The YEAH:
The first "yeah" is that the episode played out on Halloween (my favorite) or as some call it "Samhain". Pronounced (sow-een not sam-hain, btw). The day that the veil between the worlds is the thinnest. Yeah for All-Hallows Eve!

The death of Nan Flanagan! Not only was I glad to see the bitch go...the style and grace in which Eric and Bill pulled this off left me breathless! Remember, they are NOT puppies!




If nothing else I will celebrate the long-awaited death of Debbie Pelt. That girl has been nothing but were-trouble since the day we first met her. Although I do feel a bit bad for the little tramp. I mean always having to compete with Sookie for attention from Alcide? Of course, what werewolf could ever compete with a fairy vagina? And seeing as how I'm not a big fan of Alcide or Sookie, perhaps those two should hook up for a bit. She could sit on her front porch rocking those fuzzy little shifter grand-babies, sippin' on some sweet tea and remembering the good 'ole days of swatting off vampire lovers. Although I say I am not a big fan of Alcide, I could not resist a shot of him with no shirt on....can you blame a gal?





Could it be? Could Tara really be dead? There I said it. I am not a fan of the whiny, miserable, always including herself in the trouble Tara. Although I seriously doubt this will be the death of Miss Annoying. I think if I had a choice I would prefer to see her ripped apart by the lovely vampire Pam. And that's all I really want to say about that.



Now that Sookie has ditched Eric & Bill (for the time being, anyhow) I think it is time to put these two to work together. Sounds like the authority has some plans in store for our bloody heroes and I think they work wonderfully together as a team. Yes, I'm sure they will both still be longing for her fairy vagina (sorry, I had to use it again) but let's focus more on the relationship between the guys for a while. They bounce humor and dread off each other so well. Yeah for vampire buddies!!!





The BOO:

My first complaint is that there was not enough viking vampire in this episode. I will admit it...I am an Eric junkie.



Now on to more serious matters. The death of Jesus has me very upset. I gasped when the knife plunged into his chest and I hoped with all my hope that he would survive. Sadly, this was not the case. Yes, I realize that he is a ghost and there is a possibility of him remaining on the show as a spirit who talks to his medium boyfriend Lafayette, but that just won't be the same. I loved the two of them together. They were the peanut butter to the jelly, the salt to the pepper, the reason to the rhyme. Sigh...



The return of Rene? Really? I wasn't sure if this should go in the "boo" category or the "wtf" category. I'm hoping that putting it in the "boo" will categorize it under scary, as in Halloween, as in that will be the only time we have to see him again. Yes, I realize that this is opening up a story plot on the past of Terry Bellefleur, but why do we have to drag Rene into it? And anyhow, I'm sure the military buddy who appeared will hold lots of juicy tid-bits. But wait, did't Terry say he thought he was already dead? Hmmmmm.....But speaking of Terry, I think this guy's got some potential! I say he would be a hottie vampire and he could hook-up with Pam! Yeah, that's it!



Another disappointment is that Sam Merlotte has kinda made me sleepy lately. You'd think with losing his brother, dating a new shifter gal, Luna, winning over her daughter, Emma, and being a part of her x-husband's (a were-wolf pack leader)death we would be all wrapped up in his world. But sadly, no. Besides the growling over his shoulder, and that could lead to bigger things I suppose. I'm hoping for good things for Mr. Merlotte next season. Perhaps marriage and having to control the were-ways of his new step-daughter??? Ugh, were-wolf pre-teens.... But a word to the wise Sam, it seems that Maxine Fortenberry wants you to be part of her dysfunctional family and you need to stop that before it gets started. Just sayin'.




The UNANSWERED:


Really? Russell Edgington has escaped? I like this! I am already anxious to see what kind of trouble he will be up to. I bet he is really, really pissed off, huh?



Now we are all still waiting to see what Andy's roll in the hay with the fairy was all about...I will admit my curiosity has been peaked.

I don't know if I'm intrigued about the return of Steve Newlin. Should I be? Is he really a vamp? (remember it is Halloween)

The WTF:
Jason and Jess...wtf? Sure I know he has her blood in him and all, but really? As I see it, if you are doing your best friends gal (or recently x-gal) you probably shouldn't be doing it on your living room couch. I mean hello...what if Hoyt came over to talk and looked in the window, or just walked in! Wasn't Hoyt living with Jason in the previous episode? And a little advice for Miss Jessica..you think sex is fun with humans maybe you should try it with another vamp. Perhaps this will open up a whole new world for ya. As for Hoyt, I think Miss Summer should discover her evil side and cook up some naughty biscuits and those two should give it a try.



And leaving us with the image of Pam crying her tears of blood. C'mon now. That's not the Pam we love. She's one of my favorite characters and, in my opinion, has some of the best lines in the show. I will admit that I loved her rant before she broke down "I'm so over Sookie and her precious fairy vagina, and her unbelievably stupid name! Fuck Sookie!" And my favorite "A gash in a sundress." My hope with this is that Pam will cry herself out and then go into a fit of rage! Let's see her kick some ass! (see fore mentioned attack on Tara request please, never mind what Bill said)



I'm not a fan of the casting of Fiona Shaw as Marnie Stonebrook. Never was. For me she didn't portray the "mystery" of the character. But, that aside, I thought her exit from the show was less than climatic. Now don't get me wrong, last week rocked! When Eric thrust his hand through Roy's chest and sipped from the heart valve...priceless! But not so much for the finale. Firstly, how the fuck did she get Eric & Bill wrapped in silver and chained in silver on a pile of wood? I will admit I chuckled when Gran reached down LaFayette's throat and pulled the bitch out.
Somehow, I don't think we have heard the last of this character. But honestly, I'm not excited about her return. (yawn)



See ya next season!