Halloween in the Ozarks - Part 3

"Do you have an old cemetery in town, off the beaten path...the creepier the better?" - Mulder, The X-Files


In this third and final installment of my "Halloween in the Ozarks" report, I take you to two cemeteries I visited in Springfield, MO: Maple Park and Hazelwood Cemetery.


I've been photographing cemeteries since 1995 when I first visited the above-ground tombs of New Orleans. From the smallest towns in the Southern U.S. to the largest cities in Eastern Europe, I am fascinated by "Cities of the Dead" and always discover something I've never seen at each one I visit. Each graveyard has at least one unique tombstone design or material I've never seen before.


I took these photos in Springfield on a gorgeous fall day. The temperature was cool and perfect, and there was a light breeze blowing. I usually take my cemetery photos in black and white or sepia tone, but the spectacular fall foliage of the trees demanded that these be taken in color.


Click here to view all the cemetery photos I took that day.


And if you want to view all my cemetery photos taken throughout the years, visit this page!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween in the Ozarks - Part 2

Springfield, Missouri, a town of about 400,000 (and home to several good friends of mine) sits atop a plateau of the largest mountain range in the country - the Ozark Mountains. Downtown Springfield is one of my favorite areas to explore when I go visit. It has charming restaurants, coffee houses, theaters, and shops.


Downtown Springfield has much to offer the Halloween enthusiast. Here are some photos I took of downtown stores and attractions that will be of interest to my fellow Halloween travelistas!:


Posters were on display advertising the production of EVIL DEAD: The Musical at the downtown Vandivort Center. I wish I could have stayed in town long enough to attend a performance!




The Good Girl Art Gallery and store displayed spooky and beautiful items in its windows:

The Hotel of Terror, I am told, is an annual Springfield tradition...



...as is the downtown Halloween Pub Crawl:



Just minutes from the heart of downtown Springfield, however, is where I hit the Halloween shopper's jackpot! Betsy's Hallmark store at 2934 E. Sunshine had the most spooky-licious window displays and Halloween offerings I encountered on my road trip.



Manager Debbie Kirk was kind and helpful, and explained that they were "getting low" on Halloween merchandise, although you couldn't tell by the inventory on display!



I walked away with the Department 56 Witch Leg lamp in the window (I couldn't resist):



Betsy's has all you need for perfect Hallloween party planning:



A fashionable witch greets you at the window as you enter:



...And one last shot:


I took the photo above on a stop in Branson, Missouri on my way home when I stopped for lunch. This shot is from Dick's 5 and 10 - a Branson landmark. It was chock-full of shoppers getting into the Halloween spirit!

Next up: Springfield Cemeteries!

Halloween in the Ozarks - Part 1

On Thursday, October 15, 2009 I hopped into the Batmobile (my black Miata) and headed north!


I was headed for Springfield, Missouri for the 2009 Springfield Halloween party. This year's theme was "Wild West". Set in the fictional town of "Fairplain", the party took place inside and outside a barn at the Virginia Rose Bed & Breakfast.


It was a chilly night, but guests were undaunted by the cold temperatures, showing up donned in fabulous 19th century costumes. Curtis, the bartender, served hot cider and root beer floats, Milo G. Fountainbleaun (Snake Oil Salesman) hawked his homemade elixir to gullible townspeople, and saloon girls and cowboys tried their hands (and stomachs) at the ring toss and Pie-eating contest.
Above are a few photos from the party, as well as a collection here. I will also have portraits from the party posted soon!



Next year's theme is "Monsters!" Check out the web site and get your tickets for next year now!:

www.springfieldhalloween.com

~My Halloween & Vine 2009 by Dani~

The show was worth the effort it takes to switch coasts for 4 days.
The artist's were dreamy.
The work stellar.
Petaluma, left me smitten.
****



Here are some pics from Dani's Halloween & Vine 2009
in Petaluma, California!


My first Flight to California (from NJ) just for Halloween & Vine!!



Got into San Francisco and met up with my Halloween & Vine roomie Wendy!




Long Line but everyone files in so quickly at "Go Time" that I didn't feel like I missed a thing!




Hard to judge so here is a pic taken by Jorge of HohoHalloween of the lineup!


Busy, Busy, Busy H&V floor!



Monkey-Cats Studio is sooo dreamy!



Which way do I go, now...which way do I go?




Edgar & Edgar Booth has something for every Halloween lover!



Me with Jorge of HoHoHalloween!



Look at this lil clip of Jorges table-YUM!




Some of the amazing William Bezek's offerings!
~found this & below pic online~

I was able to scoop up one of these!!
William was kind enough to help me choose the right face for me!
We chose the far right middle one with eyes looking upward!


But I did miss out on this basket of goodies ;(



See here is my 1st William Bezek goody next to my 1st Arbutus Hunter piece!




Look at Wendy's Vergie Lightfoot original (Left)
and my Scott Smith Original 2 sided ornament on the right!
The one side has the ticked off kitty!!



And the other side I have named "stoner" the Pumpkin!
The best part is this 2 sided ornie is squeezable with a squeaker in the center!




And look at Bat Boy! I am sooo smitten with him!
By Kerry of PaperMoon!




Here is everything in a lil photo shoot that Wendy & I scored at Halloween & Vine!



AND here is every last bit of Halloweenery we bought while in Petaluma!



Why did we buy from local Petaluma shops too you may be asking?

Here are a few windows displays that explain it all!


Marisa's (Halloween) Fantasia


Another Window of Marisa's



Paper White


ILeoni




Let's just say that security checkpoints were very interesting and that TSA agents looked at my carry on bag for 20+ minutes! Now, you know I was SOO NOT "checking" my H&V goodies. Those pieces were carry-ons the whole way baby!