Outbuildings, September 22, 2020 (Source: Geo Davis)
Autumn equinox is upon us again. Better than daylight savings time, right? Equal day and equal night. A perfect easterly sunrise and a perfect westerly sunset.
So many thresholds. August-to-September. Labor Day. First frost. First hard frost. Autumn equinox. Halloween. Daylight savings time. Thanksgiving…
Autumn is a season of thresholds. And among the many metaphorical doorsills and gateways, tomorrow seems especially significant since it’s a *real*, transition, like first frost, not an invented human centric ritual. A celestial no less!
At the time it looked as if his gruesome pumpkin (at left in photo above) would win uncontested. But my haste inspired a fierce 11th hour contest from Pam who carved up a sinister Jack-o’-lantern (at right in photo above and in video below) that is especially eye-catching after dark.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cka_dH6Azuw/
So, just when you thought Halloween was safely behind you, when you hoped spooky and haunted would give way to joyful gratitude and Thanksgiving, when you wished the season of tricks and treats would surender to the steady crescendo toward Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I’m backsliding briefly to the height of Halloween haunting with a Jack-o’-lantern post mortem.
Pam’s Jack-o’-lantern (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
With two cleverly crafted Halloween Jack-o’-lanterns contending for 1st place, I knew I needed another judge to assist me. Fortunately Susan was quick to volunteer and quick to judge.
Best Jack-o’-lantern 2022
And the winner is… Both!
No, Susan didn’t deem the contest a tie. She awarded Hroth’s Jack-o’-lantern (closeup below) the daytime win and Pam’s Jack-o’-lantern the nighttime win. So there you have it. Straddling the light/dark divide, Susan has awarded both winners!
Hroth’s Jack-o’-lantern (Photo: Hroth Ottosen)
In closing, it is worth noting that Hroth further embellished his Jack-o’-lantern after sending me the photograph this weekend. Perhaps he was feeling a little heat?
Our friend, carpenter, 2022 Rosslyn rehab team leader, and creative-but-maudlin jack-o’-lantern designer, Hroth Ottosen, channeled his theatrical genius for the win with this Covid safe “hatchet head”. Pretty spooky, right?
Hope you are having a safe and happy Halloween weekend. Don’t let this spooky jack-o’-lantern spoil your Halloween vibes!
Halloween Haiku
Halloo, hatchet head, too-too cool jack-o’-lantern, warty but sporty.
