Halloween.

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"Where there is no imagination there is no Horror." - Arthur Conan Doyle

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Halloween is not something we regularly participate in but there is always candy on hand for the neighbourhood kids who come around in costume.

Our old house in Tampa is in a very quiet, lovely neighbourhood and there are literally hundreds of kids in all kinds of fancy outfits out in the street.

Halloween doughnut, yum.

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After being here for 2 years the joy of doughnuts is a recent discovery. Americans love them, and they make them so well. There is a doughnut shop on my way to the new place, it's not a chain store but a little kind of home made place and they make the best doughy treats, it's so tempting. They even have drive through, perhaps a little treat on my way home from gym? Sadly, I don't think so.

Spooky yard decorations.

We drove to our old house (technically still ours until Monday), last night for a Halloween party with some of our neighbours. We got to eat the best kebabs ever, the host is a butcher, and had a great time with all the kids coming up in costume. Someone even brought the local celebrity, Harley a Pekanese dog who likes to wear costumes. He had on a pair of 'doggles' and a little biker helmet with studs in it. He also has a little specialty dog motorbike that he actually rides around.

All animals are cuter when wearing costumes... Fact.

I was in love instantly. As much as I love big dogs and plan to own some former military German Shepherds. Lately I have met so many adorable little dogs that I wonder if the new farm will end up with a motley crue of mutts, big and small. In Beedog outfits perhaps?

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Cuteness

From ghoulies and ghosties

And long-leggedy beasties

And things that go bump in the night,

Good Lord, deliver us!"

Scottish prayer

Halloween is such a fun filled event, a whole lot 'o' spooky fun. It was very enjoyable watching all the paranormal ghost hunter programs flooding TV for the past few days.

"Behind every man now alive stand 30 ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living."

Arthur C. Clarke, in 2001: A Space Odyssey

Whether ghosts are real or not, getting scared by hearing the stories is such an excitement. I have had a couple of experiences of my own that defy logical explanation and lead me to believe that ghosts are indeed all around us.

Beedog picture taken from beedogs.com

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Tim Tams in Tampa.

I learnt today that Tim Tams are available at selected Target Stores in the USA, what a pleasant surprise.

Target ran a promotion for 3 months starting last year where they sold the chocolatey Aussie delights. Thinking it had finished, I did not go near Target since that promotion ended, no need really, well until my discovery today that is.

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The Tim Tams are packaged as Pepperidge Farm, but I believe they are imported from Arnott's in Australia and just put in the Pepperidge Farm wrappings, perhaps because Americans are familiar with that brand and not Arnotts? Not sure why and don't really care what is written on the front. Inside they are 100% Aussie Tim Tams.
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Today I was there looking for Peeps to send to Australia and then they caught my eye - Tim Tams were sitting on the shelf calling my name, like chocolate sirens.

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Perhaps Australia's favourite biscuit (cookie in the US), has sold well enough to become a permanent fixture in the grocery isles at Target. Let's hope so. Whenever I feel homesick I have a Tim Tam and everything is well again.

The store was also full of Halloween decorations. It is such a huge thing here. From pumpkin shaped plastic buckets to carry candy in, to Jack 0' Lantern salt and pepper shakers and ghosts galore.

Spooky Table decorations. What do people do with this for the rest of the year? It must take up a lot of storage space. Looks like a whole lot of extra clutter to me, but I really admire those who can make the effort.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins, They are everywhere in the stores right now.

Something to put all that candy in.

Creepy cookie jars.

Costumes for kids, costumes for dogs, costumes for everyone. They even had little hats for cats. I was tempted to buy the Jester hat for Runty and the Rooster for Romeo, but I pictured them clawing my face off in a nasty domestic pet gone wild incident so thought better of it.

Perhaps this canine is doing time for viciously mauling an owner who forced it to wear a costume?

Saucy! It's so wrong but it's adorable.

Seeing the Christmas decorations out was such a shock, how the year has hurtled by.

Like a magpie I do love seeing a bit of sparkle. These glass baubles were enormous. I guess everything is bigger and better in the USA. Perhaps I could fashion these into a lovely pair of earrings? Perhaps not.

What a surprising adventure to visit Target and see so much colour and the myriad of decorations of a seasonal sort. As much as I love all the bright, shiny things, I am way too lazy and hate clutter far too much to produce anything more than a tree at Christmas time.

Thank you Target. Now if you could begin stocking Mint Slice biscuits I would love you forever and might even open one of those Target credit cards just to keep me in a never ending supply of the delectable comestibles. ;)









Mind the gap.