The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze 2017

 

As I'm sure you can tell from this blog, this is my favorite time of year. I love everything from the falling leaves, lots of coffee, scarves, and pumpkins....I really love pumpkins. Over the years, I've visited the Historic Hudson Valley Blaze many times. Every year is somehow more magical, and this year will go down as one of my favorites as we got to be part of the jack o'lantern lighting team this past weekend. It was an honor to be a part of the lighting team and I am so grateful for the experience.

 

As expected, I took a lot of photos, so I will let them show you the story of our evening with the pumpkins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see more of my work.

Halloween Tradition...visiting The Blaze

For months, I wait for this night....to wander through this magical world of beautifully carved pumpkins....The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. There are more carved pumpkins than you could ever imagine with carvings so detailed and elaborate it's like escaping into a fairy tale world. I wait for this night, count down the days, and hold my breath as I cross under that amazing lit arch above, into the world of The Blaze.

If you haven't been yet, get tickets now! Trust me, just go.

If you have tickets to go soon, don't worry, this is just a small glimpse into The Blaze. There is so much to see, this blog post would be 100's of photos if I included everything. There are many returning favorite carvings from past years, and many new amazing carvings.

A cake make out of pumpkins...the most perfect way to celebrate 10 years of The Blaze! I have visited several times over the past ten years, and will visit many more times over the next ten.

The scarecrows and the skeleton hands are among my favorite carvings (although I think I have referred to every carving as my favorite, but  really, they are all my favorites). 

The headless horseman...pure awesomeness. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has always been among my favorites. Growing up in the Historic Hudson Valley, we visited Washing Irving's home, spent time at the Old Dutch Church and knew Sleepy Hollow is one of the coolest Halloween towns (what other town has a legend like this?). I love this carving and think it is the perfect addition. 

In a few weeks, after the last night of this year's Blaze, I will post even more photos. 

Check back soon!

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see more of my work.

We've been waiting a while for this....Halloween

We haven't trick or treated on Halloween since 2010. The last two Halloweens we had storms that postponed (2011) and cancelled (2012) Halloween.  As the days got closer, we kept getting more excited that this year Halloween would happen. We had some rain tonight, but rain wasn't going to stop us. 

We went out, we trick or treated, and it was awesome.

I love seeing everyone's decorations---from a giant frankenstein to a guillotine. 

This witch is very popular on my street. The neighbor who puts her up does an awesome Halloween display (that will be a separate blog post).

Yes, they really built a castle on their front lawn.  My town takes Halloween seriously!

Poe the scarecrow.

I was afraid that all our excitement for Halloween, it wouldn't be as awesome as we hoped and imagined...I was wrong, it was even better.

It's magical...visiting the Blaze

There is this magical place filled with thousands of beautifully carved pumpkins. If you live anywhere near New York, and haven't visited the Blaze yet, immediately put it down on your "to do list." Seriously. It is incredible. 

I love the sunflowers. The stack pumpkins on top of each other to carve life size sunflowers. 

As you enter the Blaze, you follow a path that takes you through these magical worlds all created with carved pumpkins. I think I will let the pictures tell you the story of my visit. If you have tickets to go, this is just a little glimpse into the Blaze. There are so many things to see that didn't make it into this post.

I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the magic of the Blaze.