Happy Halloween

First of all, I would like to show you some of my Halloween decoration this year. Of course, it was up during the whole month of October. There is Lara with her pet spider and witchy hat -- well, my witchy hat. However, she can wear it whenever I don't need it.

Then there are the hellhounds guarding my place.

Here's a miniature tombstone which was a gift from Marie from The Play of Light and Shadow. It's the perfect stand for the beautiful Artist Trading Card by Kathleen from Kat's World.

When I saw this friendly bat in a store in late August, I knew it would look great in my living room.

This bat has lived in my home for quite some time now. It likes watching over my place during Halloween season.

Isn't this devilish mouse just spooktacular? It's another goodie from Marie which I won in one of her giveaways last year.

Those bats are on top of my Halloween tree.

What would be Halloween without a spider?

Here's a photo of the glass table in my living room.

Anyway, today is THE day -- Halloween! Of course, I had to dress for the occasion. Black pants, orange shirt, black cardigan, bat pendant, pumpkin earrings, black and orange socks with cat bells, ...

... and a black and orange hair bow I had bought in the USA during one of my journeys.

It was a warm and sunny day -- just perfect for carving pumpkins on the terrace.

Digging into the pumpkins!

This year I carved a traditional jack-o'-lantern and a cat.

I am thrilled the cat turned out so well.

I also love Jack's smile!

Here I am wearing my witchy hat and holding my little ghost.

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.

Have a magical time!

Halloween tree

Pink Saturday goes orange and black this week! Beverly allows Halloween themed posts this Saturday. That's the perfect chance for me to show you my little Halloween tree. It's a vintage Christmas tree that my mom bought as a young woman. I also used it many times as Christmas tree, but over the years, it become more and more shabby -- just perfect to turn it into a Halloween tree. So here's the original green Christmas tree...

... and the same tree again after a heavy dose of black spray paint.

Doesn't it look glorious now with the chain of pumpkin lights?

I just love my little Halloween tree which stands on a coffee table in one corner of my living room.

Here's Mr. Raven whom Marie from The Play of Light and Shadow sent my way last year.

I like the friendly faces of the pumpkins.

The skeleton hands were a gift from Marie, too -- such a great accent on the Halloween tree!

Maybe those pictures inspire you to make your own Halloween tree next year. It's such fun! By the way, tomorrow I will post more photos of my Halloween decorations.

Happy Pink Saturday --
or rather Happy Orange and Black Saturday!

Kirchweih Dult

On the third Sunday in October is Kirchweih, a church consecration festival in Bavaria. A traditional meal is goose. This year I found a sweet goose at the bakery which didn't just look cute but also tasted delicious.

I have often talked about the Auer Dult (or Dult for short) -- here and here and here and here. It's a traditional open air market which takes place on Munich's Mariahilfplatz three times a year. The last market of the year is the Kirchweihdult.

It's always fun to check out the different booths selling the most interesting goods. Here you could buy all kinds of baskets.

Lots of colorful, handmade mugs.

It was a fairytale fall day with a clear blue sky and fluffy clouds.

Those wooden boars are adorable.

A booth selling food items like sauces and the like.

Isn't that bowl just wonderful? All those fish swimming round and round!

More cups.

The Mariahilf Church is the center of the square.

Another booth selling tableware.

The Kartoffelhütte (Potato Hut) sold potato dishes. It looked charming!

Colorful balloons.

Delicious bread.

I love fall with all the colorful leaves.

There are a few vendors selling old stuff like this poster which certainly reminded me of the ones I got to see during biological lessons at school.

I hope you had fun again strolling with me over the fairground.

F is for Fast Squirrel

It's about time to participate in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday again. I missed the letters from A to E, so for me the alphabet starts with F now -- quite creative, isn't it?

Last week I watched some really fast squirrels on Munich's Waldfriedhof (Woodland Cemetery). It's challenging to take a photo of them. In fact, most photos end up looking like this one:

What did I say? Fast quirrel indeed -- I bet it's called Speedy. With some patience I managed to get a decent shot after all.

Isn't Speedy just cute?

Halloween Treats

Last week I received some wonderful Halloween treats in the mail -- I couldn't have been happier! The cute card below was made by Peggy from Peggy's Mixed-Up Art.

I had won Halloween art supplies in Peggy's kits giveaway to celebrate fall. Isn't the bat is gorgeous? It now has a place of honor on my Halloween tree.

Of course, this friendly pumpkin also has a prominent place on my Halloween tree.

I have never seen such cute stickers and fancy Halloween papers around here. Thanks so much, Peggy -- I love all and everything!

My next heartfelt thanks goes Joyce from Octoberfarm. I have been following her blog for quite some time now. She shares not only wonderful photos of the interesting places she visits but also of the delicious meals she cooks. Moreover, she has the cutest dog ever -- Teddy. During the Practial Magic blog event, she offered a special prize to win -- a Book of Shadows. Back then I wrote in reply to her interesting post about the original Practical Magic spellbook:

Hi Jaz,

You have outdone yourself with this magical post! :) It was so neat that we were allowed to take a peek into your spellbook. You are really an inspiration!

Thanks also for the chance to win such a beautiful Book of Shadows. It's a real treasure!

Oh yes, it sure is!

It doesn't just look great -- it feels great when you touch those letters.

A spider protects the book...

... and a cat watches over it.

Joyce also included this lovely witch hat tag which now hangs on my Halloween tree. It smells heavenly -- it reminds me of Christmas. Thanks so much Joyce -- the book has a place of honor in my living room and will be filled with special pictures, spells, and memories.

Do you remember the One World One Heart blog event from the beginning of this year? In my OWOH follow up post, I wrote:

"Last but not least I won a surprise prize by Cara from Cara Makes. Cara still works on putting something together based on three of my favorite things -- the Old West, the color teal, and mystery books. Doesn't that sound just cool? Looking at Cara's Etsy store, I know that I am in for yet another treat."

Yup, that's right -- it was certainly a treat worth being waited for! Cara drew this awesome cover for my very own mystery book.

Inside you find this even more mysterious letter.

A secret pocket revealed a turquoise treasure.

Moreover, Cara included this great wooden postcard of the Alamo. Oh, that brought back great memories of the day I visited the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

Thanks so much, Cara -- I love how much creativity and imagination you put into this very special gift.