We Three Witches

 

Last year was fun but I wanted to be a little closer to the action this time.  I'm pretty good at sitting very still not making any sound or discernable movement  probably owing to to all those years in church...  So with the aid of some makeup, a wig and an electric blanket I was able to sit for hours on the porch passing for one of Polly's friends.

People around here are fairly used to seeing Polly sitting on the porch and even wave or say hello when they pass by.  Adding another friend or two wouldn't seem terribly out of character.

Since our house has a bridge leading up to the front door there is plenty of time for trick-or-treaters to wonder about the nature of the women on the porch as they make their approach in the dark.  (These photos were taken with a flash so try to imagine the scene in the mostly dark, the cobwebs gently waving in the breeze...  BTW- Its very difficult to make Morning Glories look sinister but I did try!)

 

Just as visitors would get close, staring from one still face to another there is a scream from a motion activated device that goes off at their feet and since there is no movement or reaction from the women its seems pretty certain all three are dummies. 

Assured and bewildered they begin to look around and see they cannot reach the door or bell but spying the basket of candy in Anna's lap, they reach for it in something like relief. 

This is when I leap forward and shout "HEY!  You didn't say, "Trick or Treat!""  The word must have got out because there were cars driving up to visit only my house.  I really scared a group of older kids that kept saying, "I thought you were the fake one!" and "this is the best house ever!"

I live for this stuff!  Unfortunately I think I may have traumatized a little princess for life.  It wasn't that she was close enough to actually see me come to life but her mother and her friend's mother nearly trampled her trying to get off the bridge!  No matter how much I apologized or how much candy I offered she kept screaming and wouldn't come near me.

I love Halloween... I can't wait until next year!

Polly has a sister.. or maybe cousin

I made another life-size doll and it was suggested I name her Anna... get it?  Polly, Anna, Polly-anna? (Thanks Leah!)  I like the name partly because she reminds me of someone I knew with a similar name.

Unfortunately that person is my ex-mother-in-law.  The grey wig is actually from my xmil so I guess its fitting.

I don't like her as much as Polly but what better time for her official debut than Halloween?

Who you callin' Dummy?

Our neighbors have become used to Polly and are now tricking their families and friends.  Occasionally we wheel Polly out on the porch.  Neighbor drive by, honk and wave.

Two little girls visiting across the street shouted from the porch , "Hello, Lady in the Pink!" 

Getting no response they started riding their bikes and repeatedly rode past our house waving and saying hello to Polly.  My husband, thinking this was great fun started turning Polly's head after each pass when they were beyond sight. 

The girls began arguing about whether they had actually seen her head move because "I swear, she was looking the other way before!".  Finally the bravest of the two rode right to the end of the bridge and got off her bike, had a really good look and shivering rode away on her bike muttering under her breath "Dummy, Dummy, Dummy..."

Puget Sound Bead Festival

Polly rode with me on the 900 mile drive from Salt Lake City to Tacoma Washington for a bead show.

I love to travel with Polly.  She never complains or asks "are we there yet?" and if someone farts in the car I can blame it on her and she doesn't protest.
 
Rest stops are fun because people walk by, jump, laugh and then immediately call over their traveling companions. 
At the show she sat patiently in the booth startling passersby.

At the end of the show the entire security staff came over to tell me the first night of the show they were doing a walk through and noticing there was still someone in the booth inquired, "M'aam?  The show is closed now.  Excuse me M'aam, you need to g..."  Suddenly the truth dawns as a thrill of terror sweeps over him and you guessed it. 

"Jose, can you go check outa isle 3?" Another guard is called over and the scene repeats.

Punk and repeat... Punk and repeat...

As a nod to Ashton Kutcher's show, Punk'd and in admiration of his wise appreciation for the "older woman", I bought Polly a little necklace that says, "I love Ashton".

One of the great things about travelling is getting to meet online friends who have followed Polly's adventures.  Here Polly and I pose with Helaine, an online artist friend who stopped by the show to say hello.

And now we wait...

We had a buddy staying with us for the ski season and this is the view from the doorway of his room.  His girlfriend (ahem... extremely jealous girlfriend) was visiting from out of state and we figured we could sort out right away whether or not she has a sense of humor. 

Turns out she did but HE was rather alarmed every time he walked into the room

Australia Day Party 2005

Polly was preparing to party hard at our annual Australia Day Party. 

In a kangaroo costume I made for my Aussie husband she sat overlooking the party with cans and bottles of Foster's and a stuffed joey in her pouch.

Amazingly several people had been at the party for hours before being startled to realize they were standing right underneath her.

Shrimps on the Barbies, one of our Aussie Day Party Traditions: