31 Days of Halloween: Day 26

I'm catching up (slowly)! I really was incredibly busy during October - and not just with Halloween stuff - so it's been quite hard to keep on top of these posts. I'm getting there though.

Today's Tea

Wednesday's tea was Witches Brew from Midnight Imperium! It's got apple, hibiscus, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, stevia and cornflower petals. Have to admit, I'm finding the teas with stevia in them a wee bit too sweet for my tastes. I think I'd prefer the spices on their own.

Today's Story

Wednesday's classic tale of horror was 'A Ghost' by Guy de Maupassant.

Silverweed Road

This week's tram reading was Silverweed Road by Simon Crook... there's a new horror behind every door!

Pumpkin Carving at Crumpsall Park

I had a great time at Wednesday's pumpkin carving with the park ranger in Crumpsall Park. Lots of creative, messy fun... and the squirrels ate like kings afterwards!

Crumpsall Park Story Walk

And then after the pumpkin carving I led the Friends of Crumpsall Park Halloween Story Walk in the park yesterday. It was a lot of fun, and the kids had some great creative ideas!

Let the Right One In

We were at the Royal Exchange on Wednesday evening to see the stage adaptation of Let the Right One In!

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Shane Hawk)

Wednesday's penultimate Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Shane Hawk reading from 'Imitate', which is featured in the new collection, First People's Shared Stories.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 25

Another late post... it really has been a very busy month. At this rate, I'm still going to be posting these into November! I'll keep cracking on though!

Today's Tea

Tuesday's tea was Eye of Newt from Monster Mash Teas. It's a strawberry green tea!

Today's Story

Tuesday's classic tale of horror was 'Sir Edmund Orme' by Henry James.

Bailey’s Wood Story Walk

I had a great time on Tuesday leading the Friends of Bailey's Wood Halloween Story Walk. Such creative ideas from all the participants... who knew mushrooms would help us search for a centaur?

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Jonathan Janz)

Tuesday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Jonathan Janz reading his short story, 'Room for the Night', which features in their new anthology, Close to Midnight. I think this one might have been my favourite!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 24

I have fallen so far behind with these posts! Oops. Let's see if I can't get them all finished by the end of Halloween, eh? I can but try.

Today's Tea

Monday's tea was Witch Forest from Hebridean Tea Store. It's green honeybush, apple, elderberries, raspberry leaves, strawberries and blackcurrants!

Today's Story

Monday's classic tale of horror was 'Rappaccini's Daughter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Pumpkin and Red Pepper Soup

Our primary pumpkin was so big, I managed to get a second soup out of it. This one's Pumpkin and Red Pepper. (We still have secondary and tertiary pumpkins to deal with, of course.)

Vampire Bath Bomb

Halloween bath bomb from Bomb Cosmetics!

Spooky Pasta

A present from my mum. She knows I love a good creepypasta.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Anastasia Garcia)

Monday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Anastasia Garcia, reading her story 'Dark Skies', which features in their Weird Horror Short Stories anthology.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 23

Somehow, I've managed to fall an entire week behind with these posts. I'm also playing catch-up with my Halloween teas and stories, though not with all the other festive stuff I've been doing (and there's been a lot, which might account for why I'm behind with my blog posts!). I will do my best to catch up, but given that it's actually Halloween tomorrow, that might be a tall order.

Today's Tea

Sunday's tea was Black Magic from Artisan Tea. It's a black tea blend with cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, green cardamom, cloves and black pepper (though it's nowhere near as fiery as you might expect).

Today's Story

I've fallen totally behind with my Halloween story-a-day reading but trying to catch up now with the story that should've been last Sunday's classic tale of horror... 'The Open Window' by Saki. Ahhh... I forgot how much I love this one!

Romancing the Gothic Lecture

I attended a really enjoyable and fascinating Romancing the Gothic talk by Dan O'Brien on undertakers in 18th-century satire last Sunday. It was perfect for the season, but also very helpful for my current research.

Halloween Gifts

I got my mum some Samhain soap from The Scottish Soap Witch (black cherry and frankincense), but I forgot to give it to her when we had dinner last Saturday. She popped in on Sunday to get it... and give me a lovely little Halloween cushion she made for me!

Samhain Candle

It was time to light our Samhain candle from Chalice Creations on Sunday night. It's rose, sandalwood and orange, and it's hopefully going to see us through to the big day.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Ramsey Campbell)

Last Sunday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press was Ramsey Campbell, reading an excerpt from his latest novel Fellstones.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 22

Another slightly late post, but there's quite a bit of stuff on this one. Hopefully, I'll finally get back on track with these posts before the big day!

Today's Tea

Saturday's tea was another one from the Rosie Lea Tea gift set... Dragon's Blood. It's a very fruity infusion of elderberry, apple, hibiscus, blackberry leaves, seabuckthorn berry, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry.

Today's Story

Saturday's classic tale of horror was 'The Judge's House' by Bram Stoker.

Halloween Earrings (1)

My first pair of Halloween earrings today were little lowkey ghosts.

Pumpkin and Parsnip Soup

Since Rob did such a good job carving the pumpkin shell, it was only fair that I did something with the flesh. I made a pumpkin, parsnip and red chilli soup with (half of) it!

Halloween Earrings (2)

My second pair of Halloween earrings on Saturday were my silver broomstick-riding witches.

Family Halloween Dinner

We had a lovely Halloween-themed dinner with my mum and dad on Saturday night, including a cheeky red wine and a gorgeous apple cake made by my mum.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Reggie Oliver)

On Saturday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press, Reggie Oliver read from his short story, 'The Black Ship'.