Sunday, October 31, 2021

SAMHAIN

By the sound of the children you knew the calendar day. By their screams you knew what evening it was. You knew it was very late in the year. October. The last day of October, with white bone masks and cut pumpkins and the smell of dropped candle wax.

Ray Bradbury, The October Game




















































































































Video below...


50 comments:

Haunted Eve said...

Glad to see you're back. Actually may be just the "pick me up" I need because right now Mr. Haunted Eve after 24 years of Halloween yard haunt displays is really feeling his age and feels burned out after this Halloween.

Rot said...

Thanks.
Nice to be back.

And I can TOTALLY relate as I was really feeling it this year. Not to mention that my hands look like I dug a grave with them.

MrNightmare said...

10/31/21... The day HE came home!

As always, spectacular display. I love the organic feel with the leaves, stalks, Jacks, and classic Black & Orange overtones.

You were terribly missed. Your blog is an inspiration for all things we love about the high holiday and a daily outlet for me and countless others to venture back to for much needed Halloween. Interesting how we all relate to each other. I too am feeling it as you and Haunted Eve explained.

Rot said...

Thanks. Really really appreciate that.

Tried to do something super traditional this year, and the kids, who typically seem to not even notice my props, really ate the display up this year.

Ragged Grin said...

Good to see you back.

Sincerely hope all is well.

Haunt is breathtaking in many ways. The cans, the reclaimed wood, the coats. Man they look like you pulled them out of a field.
I should let you know I've been planning a basket head one with reclaimed wood for a couple years now...no carrot noses.

Halloween, for many of us I suppose, just wasn't the same. Painful, clearly...as I'm also gonna be sore for a month, getting old stuff sucks. Covid, etc, etc., somehow this blog, your amazing haunt, this makes it feel more real, far better, cathartic in a way.

Couple to recommend, DarkRose Manor, which is incredible this year, as ever and Highbury Cemetery, which I drove past later on Halloween night. Owner Mike seemed very busy so I opted just to wave. Lots of very cool stuff out there this year, good to see the spirit of the season is alive and well, despite what everyone has endured.

🙏

Rot said...

Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

And those two Haunts are definitely on my radar.

Mike C(JASONV123) said...

Welcome back,
I really dig the Haunt pics. Excellent work as usual my freind.

Rot said...

Thanks!

highbury said...

Very glad to see you back and that you haven't skipped a beat! Absolutely stunning work as always, sir.

Wait, Ragged Grin, YOU WHAT!?!?

J said...

Agree with all of the above. My street this year was horribly depressing. There were some trick r treaters shockingly but the block was dark, dull, and depressing. Anyway, glad you are still making Halloween, feel like Halloween should. Lit up the pumpkins and oh that smell. That’s Halloween!!

The Barn Haunt

Rot said...

Thanks, guys!

Rot said...

Barn Haunt's on my list as well. An annual favorite.

Unknown said...

Welcome back...it's like seeing the best preview of the next big "Return of..." movie. Have been checking back to your blog the last couple years hoping to see a glimpse, so glad you've returned with your usual in-depth and surround sound presence. You have been missed.

Unknown said...

YES!!! I was so glad to see new posts on the blog. I know it is not fair for me to have such unrealistic expectations for you, but you have made yourself an inspiration to so many people. So it is with much appreciation, humility, and good humor that I say, "It's about bloody time!"

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Rot said...

Thanks, guys. I really REALLY appreciate it.

Angela said...

So excited to see your work and posts! No one plays with amber light and shadows like you do. I feel like a ToT who found the full candy bar house. Seriously, I shouted with joy at breakfast after Halloween. For so many of us, coming to your blog on Nov 1 is like waking to presents under the tree on Christmas morning. Wishing you all the best, Rot!

Rot said...

Thanks!
That is too kind of you.

Willow Cove said...

An amazing haunt, Rot! Love the stairs/ entry scarecrows. And pics of the stairs- what the kids were met with first. Bravo!

Old Fashion Halloween said...

Magical. So happy to see the beautiful imagery. You were missed and you made up for lost time with so much new material.

Rot said...

Thanks, guys!
Went simple and Traditional this year.

Theo said...

late to the party here...

but THRILLED to have you back and returning with such a sublime display.
the pumpkin-headed creature is a phenomenal piece. it's expression is perfect and the nuances of its pose and the way the supports are hidden makes it feel chillingly real to me. some mythic Halloween spirit turning from the cauldron and rising up on those bent knees.

and I'm LOVING that elements from past years are reappearing here... the tin lanterns from 2017 and the crude fencing spilling out the front walkway onto the street.

its bottled october magic once again.

Rot said...

Thanks, Theo! I really really really appreciate that.
Definitely enjoying recycling the old elements. The tin lanterns seemed to impress anyone who came up for candy. SO they will definitely be an annual event.

Tallulah said...

So glad to see you back! And your work is outstanding.

Rot said...

Thanks!

Halloween Queen said...

Welcome back!
What a great Halloween when I saw you were back, you were truly missed!!
Hope all is well and as usual the yard looks amazing!

Rot said...

Thank you!
I really appreciate that!

Brad said...

Halloween is once again complete! Warm welcome back and I hope all is well in your world.

Rot said...

Thanks, Brad.
I appreciate it.

Mike V. said...

Welcome back Rot. Your presence, posts and photos have been sorely missed. Another incredible display truly representing what the holiday is all about. Glad you are back.

Rot said...

Thanks, Mike!

Mcwthethird said...

The king has returned :)

Thanks Rot - we missed you.

Rot said...

Thanks!

The Gill-Man said...

So, I just decided to pop on here to peruse some old pics....just having some Halloween withdrawals and needing a fix of spookiness...but what do I discover? ALL SORTS OF NEW POSTS!!! Welcome back man!! The past couple years have sucked, both personally and professionally, so I take this as a good omen!

Rot said...

Thanks!

Horror Guy said...

WOW! I just did a double take seeing new posts again! Happy to see you back, Rot!

Rot said...

Thanks, Horror Guy, I really appreciate that.

broevil said...

Merry Christmas to me!!! Glad to see you are back!

Rot said...

haha thanks!

Alex Printz said...

Believe it or not, I've been following you for getting close to 18 years now. So glad to see you've returned. Love the Meyers Mask, is that a Justin Mabry original?

Rot said...

Thanks for hanging in there all that time : ) I appreciate it!

I bought that mask from Cemetery Gate Productions and I'll have to look up the name of it again, as it's been a while. I can't remember if Terry from CGP sculpted his own or if he had others assist like Justin.

Salem and Binx said...

I can't believe I am just now seeing this! New haunt, new posts, and new inspiration! My favorite blogger and haunter is back, and with SUCH awesomeness, no less. I feel like Halloween is finally alive again, so happy you're back, old friend! :)

Rot said...

Hey hey!
I really REALLY appreciate that.
I'm glad to be back, Nina! : )

Addicted to Halloween said...

So here I was, whiling away the work hours with nothing to do, and so Googling for inspiration for projects to get started and lo and behold! My beloved Pumpkinrot is back! I've missed you so much and spent hours Googling and in forums to see if anyone knew if you were okay. I'm serious man, I was really worried. Maybe I get too attached to blog and YouTube personalities, but when someone stops posting, I always worry.

But I am SO glad you're back, and just hate that it took me six months to find out. But at least I can spend time catching up, right?

Again, so happy that you are back!

~Lisa

Rot said...

Hey, Lisa! I really REALLY appreciate that! I'm glad to be back : )

BMan said...

Halloween came early!

I must have checked the site last Halloween minutes before you began posting again and had no idea you were back at it until now!

Now I get to pore over six months of posts and pics.

Glad you’re back. Halloween just wasn’t the same without you.

Rot said...

Thanks! I appreciate that a lot.
Glad to be back and you probably did just miss me!

Back for good though : )

eric said...

Every year as Halloween moves in, I think about the amazing creative talents that motivated me to build. Pumpkinrot has always been among the greatest. Thinking of you, my friend, during this joyous season.

Rot said...

Thanks, man!

Seirra said...

I think it's the 33rd picture down, but if you have it zoomed out small, behind the hanging ghost, the way the shadows in the shed or tunnel are with the 2 lights, makes it look like a giant wolf face! Probably not inentional, but an added bonus and super creepy!

Rot said...

Totally not intentional!