my sweetie loves halloween. I mean, he is passionate about it. he's gotten a big outside display going now, thanks to friends and family getting good deals on after-halloween sales and giving him halloween decorations for christmas. he sits outside with his cauldron of bite-sized treats waiting for trick-or-treaters to come. though, in our neighborhood there is usually a non-stop parade of kids, so it's practical to sit outside anyway. he goes 'reverse trick-or-treating', which means during a quick lull in kids he will take said cauldron of goodies and go to our neighbors houses to let them have their pick. a few of our adult kids and some friends will sometimes come over to hang out by the fire with us, all because sweetie is such a kid on this day. halloween is a big deal for us!
this year we saw some life-sized (for me, at 4' 11") skeletons at a good enough price and sweetie grabbed one to bring home and call our own! he carried it by it's neck around the store like it was walking by his side, making people smile to watch, and buckled him in the car to go home. I was happy and excited to add to our growing display. (we're gonna need a bigger yard, soon).
sweetie's been stressed out at work and I thought a little intrigue and lightheartedness was in order so I decided to make his coming home time a little brighter by displaying our new purchase in different scenarios, ala "elf on a shelf".
the first day, October 2nd, saw our new skelly, frank, getting rid of some unwanted pounds;
actually, I wasn't sure this was going to be an ongoing thing,
but the reaction I got from this first surprise cemented the idea of doing it all month
on October 3rd frank wanted to read sweetie's fortune;
what sweetie saw when he walked in the front door
a crow friend stopped by to see what cards would be dealt
October 4th had frank helping to take Lucy-pup outside;
but he kept passing out from losing weight from day1, so needed to sit and take a drink of iced tea before sweetie got home;
I think pixel kitty is confused by the whole situation
on October 5th sweetie was home for the weekend. frank wanted to enjoy some fresh air while we took Lucy for a walk;
"I'll just wait here"
he might have fallen asleep by the time we got back to the car.
who could tell- no eyelids... or eyeballs, even!
October 6th was my birthday and sweetie took me to the fair. frank didn't seem to miss us much;
sweetie was back to work on October 7th and frank was cleaned up neat and pretty to welcome him home that night;
I had a load of laundry to do on October 8th, and frank was kind enough to give me a hand. what a nice houseguest!
frank was being a little silly on the 9th. he'd seen pixel kitty hanging out on the cat tree and wanted to see the house from that vantage point;
on Thursday, October 10th frank figured he needed a good scrubbing from all the fur he sat in while on the cat tree;
"hey! a little privacy, please!"
on the 11th I caught him coming out of my bedroom after he woke from a nap;
Saturday, October 12th, frank decided to help sweetie with yard work;
he couldn't stop playing in the pile, though, so not much help was had;
it was D&D night on October 13th, and frank wanted to join in on the fun. sweetie said if frank helped set up he *might* be able to be a guest player;
after a busy weekend frank fell asleep with some light reading on Monday, the 14th;
frank had a mishap on the 15th. he fell down and broke his wrist, poor thing! he took a look at sweeties 3D printer, but found the break is in too bad of a location to be able to fix... frank has a sad;
he's holding his own hand, hoping for a cure to his dilemma
**cries**
sweetie surprised me the next morning, the 16th, when I went to move dear frank, and I couldn't find where his hand had run off to! I figured it would have fallen out of his other hand in the night with pixel kittys rampages (cause "pixel is crazy", said in the manner of the SCRUBS line "hooch is crazy", if you know the tv show). I looked on the floor near where frank was located and couldn't find it, said oh well, and went to move him, only then looking directly at his face;
he must be very hungry by now
to be gnawing his own hand!
saddened by his new lifestyle change with a missing hand (well, not missing anymore, just not attached), frank went to mope. he was soon joined by a pack of alpacas trying to cheer him!
see the cute little alpacas on either shoulder?
on October 17th frank wanted to meet my sweetie at the front door;
no slippers or beverage with him, though
frank decided to check to see if the bathroom sink drain was leaking on Friday the 18th;
even minus a hand, he's still quite handy
another busy Saturday for sweetie and myself. when we got home on the 19th, we interrupted this cozy interlude;
bun-bun assured me frank was a gentle-skele-man
Sunday morning on October 20th was a quiet, relaxed time spent at home, just chilling on the computer with the family;
Monday the 21st was spent with me on the couch. frank kept annoying me by asking what we were going to do that day. he would not let up, even though I told him I wasn't feeling well, so I put him in a time out;
someone pointed out he looks like he's peeing.
guess he was mad at me.
and look at pixel, egging him on!
the next day, October 22nd, frank apologized for being annoying (and then peeing in the corner while in time out), by making me a vegetable pot pie. he's forgiven, the scamp;
"ta-da!"
Wednesday October 23rd and all is well. frank was feeling dapper and tapping his toes to some internal music when sweetie got home that night;
he reminds me of Jimmy Durante
without his famous nose
"ah-cha-cha-cha!"
frank got on the floor to play with the critters on Thursday the 24th;
Lucy wasn't sure she wanted to be friends
even though she likes bones
"really, mommy?"
pixel was ok to give a good sniff
and then frank fell over with the giggles
frank said TGIF on the 25th, and stopped to smell the flowers;
he's been envious of sweeties mustache,
so got out the pretty paper and tape
you may notice he planted his hand.
he said it was to see if he could grow another one
I told him I dont think it works that way,
but he wanted to try
Saturday we did some more preparations for our halloween display, and frank got into the spirit of things;
he hasn't taken off his mustache yet, here.
maybe he thinks its a costume?
on Sunday the 27th, frank was getting pretty anxious to open the candy. not, yet, frank!
he doesnt think we'll have enough candy for kids AND him
stop trying to eat through the bag, frank!
frank's not a patient fellow
October 28th and halloween is getting closer! frank seems to be getting ants in his pants, or something;
frank fit
so frank sat
just like pixel
our crazy cat
frank heard through the grapevine that we're expecting rain on halloween, and he got a little glum;
"please don't rain on our special day"
pixel saw the sadness settle in and tried to comfort poor frank
frank even did a little sun prayer for a favor
Wednesday, October 30th had frank happier, as he heard trick-or-treating would be postponed until Saturday for rain and high wind worries. frank went upstairs to chat with pixel... possibly to plot something. I worry about them telling secrets; you just never know whats next with those two!
"yo, dude, wash your knee!"
it's halloween! sweetie had the day off, so we went shopping and came home with a couple new pets for frank;
I think they like him
pixel wasn't so sure about things, though.
he had a 'fuzz incident' a bit earlier, but I didn't catch photo proof.
he was swatting it, and his tail was HUGE
friday, the day before the big trick-or treat day, and tension was high for frank! he knew he had one big day of the year, and he had to be on point with the scare. I caught him giving a pep talk to some of his co-actors;
"I know you'll all do a great job!"
I caught pixel listening in a little later;
looks like he didn't agree with some of the spooky talk.
either that or he wants to be part of it
sweetie came home with a surprise. when we went shopping for on-sale pets for frank on halloween I got the thought of getting this guy only after we had gotten the chihuahua skeleton, and cracked myself up;
meet "Ferter"
(please tell me you got it, so I'm not over here cracking up by myself)
todays the big day! November 2nd, trick-or-treat day for our town, and sweetie and son #4 had some help putting things together;
frank met Steve the dragon for the first time
frank saw how many parts Steve was in and passed out.
he does that a lot
"you put tab A in slot B? are you sure?"
yay! all together now...
YAY!
"look at me, now I'm a dragon!"
what are you dragging?
"NO! me! I'm a dragon! nevermind"
frank has Steve all tied up for tonight
and even Lucy is pleased with the display
resting time
sweetie still setting up
frank now has a sword and a guard dog at his side
part of the cemetery
pretty!
the night was very busy with tons of happy kids (they were circling the cauldrons, 5-6 deep waiting at times!), lots of neat costumes to see, some pups to give special treats to (the owners were thrilled), and lots of praise to the mastermind behind the amazing display!
sweetie was in his element
frank and the whole cast of characters got a lot of complements
and a few photos were had with them
"bye everyone! thanks for letting me play!"
"now into the trunk I go, until another spooky day"
I hope you enjoyed our tale of frank.
until later,
Jenny