Go to Sleep, Darlings...
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields
It covers them snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, Go to Sleep, Darlings, till the summer comes again.” Lewis Carroll
Inspired by an old flick from 1931, 'Dracula', starring without a doubt the best Dracula ever, Bela Lugosi. I have always loved his line about his pet wolves so I thought why not make 3 little scary cats afraid of Dracula and his furry kids.
' A Mostly, Ghostly Night ' is a Halloween painting done in acrylic & ink on a wood slice and features a clowder of three ghostly cats, Ghost, Spooks, and Boo @ The Castle By the Sea. When Ghost, Spooks, and Boo are invited out to the Castle for the October Halloween Ball their plans quickly change when they realize just who lives in the Castle by The Sea. ***** ~ They could hear a strange and haunting melody carried across the sea only soon realizing the music was the sound of howling wolves and they knew that only one could be their keeper, Count Dracula.
And so, they sat on the mooring posts wondering if wolves and the vampire hunted Ghost Cats.
And when I went to paint the driftwood mooring post for 'Ghost' the cat, I remembered a scene from my very favorite Ghost Movie, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" 1947. If you have seen the movie you know the scene I am referring to but if not, it is where 'Lucia's' daughter, 'Anna' played by Natalie Wood writes her name on the driftwood log.
It is my name, after all, Anna.
How could I not? Purrfect! I hope you like the painting and of course Bat. Happy Halloween ~ 🐺🐺🐺 🎃 👀 A Mostly, Ghostly Night 🐺🐺🐺 🎃 👀
Does Music inspire you? It does for me. I have always loved the instrumental piece by Santo & Johnny, "SLEEP WALK",one of my favourites.
I love many things like cats and dogs , music, art and stories and much more.
I once again was inspired by a song or should I say by an instrumental piece to create art and inspired by a place I once used to call home a very long time ago.
There really does exist a place called Wychwood across the Ottawa river on the Quebec side at Aylmer, Quebec. And so, I painted "SLEEP WALK".
SLEEP WALK
It snowed all day. It was a very deep and frosty snow. All of Wychwood was under a twinkling blanket of snow; a purrrfect night to tuck in early to bed for a good night's sleep but Genova , the witch couldn't sleep.
She was in an old cottage in the woods , with candlelight reflected in the large parlour room window; by her side, her 3 ghosts ; Ghost, Spooks and Boo. The view of the front lawn was an enchanting site, all sparkling and glittery, just like a Christmas postcard only it was just October.
Oh, my, I'm so tired but I can't sleep! said Genova. Lying on the sofa she reached for the knob on the radio and turned the dial to on, suddenly over the waves there was the song that always sent Genova to a far, far away place.“Sleep Walk”. Genova closed her eyes and drifted to the land of nod. Ghost, a big fluffy white cat, the biggest of the three cats became drowsy to the sound of the still guitar and soon he too was sound asleep. As for the other two cats, Spooks was transfixed to the window, something had caught his attention. It was Boo he was watching,once again sleep walking .......outdoors!
Spooks wondered just how long it would be before Boo would wake from the chilly air and realize he was not inside the house.
A summer night in October arrived last Tuesday night, unexpected and without the bugs. It was like summer had never left with a temperature of 27.3 degrees on October 9thand as the day passed slowly into evening the balmy air wooed us to go for an evening ride on the Triumph. I think summer was teasing or maybe October was just playing a game of masquerade but no matter who was creating the night magic we weren't about to miss it.
There was no plan, we just escaped into the night.
Riding along the Rideau River up to Merrickville was like life had passed into a dream and I joked with Stan how the night ride made me think for a moment I was riding with Micheal Knight, The Knight Rider. Earlier in the day Stan had gotten another needle in the eye so I didn't think he was up for a ride but I was wrong and we took a shot in the dark ride with one headlight and one good eye : ) Without question the ride turned out to be the best ever taken on the Triumph, for both of us! The night was filled with magic, mystery and haunting intrigue.
But all good things eventually come to an end and when I thought the ride was over when Stan turned off hwy 43 and was heading back home he completely and unexpectedly caught me off guard, slowed down, veered off the darkened Burritts Rapids' road and turned up Cemetery Hill.
He turned the engine off and in the quiet and still cemetery he asked me to pick three tombstones.The shadowy granite, almost lost in the total darkness of the quiet grounds enclosed around me making it hard to distinguish the cold stone from the dark black veil of the evening. I found myself a little scared but so elevated in my curiosity in continuing to seek and find some lovely tombs hoping they would reveal some hidden secret. The game was on, the two old folks were having fun.
Stan followed me around the graveyard ,the breeze among the branches of the encircling wood sighed but I heard nothin more but the snapping of a few pics and then he spoke: “Ok, I think this should do it. Let's go home and see what we got” But what I discovered I noticed even before I got home , actually it was the only stone of the four I picked that I was able to read the words.
On the tall spire shaped monument the inscription read “An Officer and a Gentleman” , very strange and spooky I thought because what I read was related to the night's events. Us playing a game like two juveniles with no restraints, young again. We were the perfect age tonight to enjoy a summer's night in October hopefully will never forget. The perfect age like Richard Gere had said in a quote I read on Instagram . Oh and by the way if you don't get the connection, Richard Gere was the officer in An Officer and a Gentleman” : ) and below is his quote........
“I am old but I am forever young at heart.We are always the same age inside. Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, you can only live it once. Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many!”
I know this story really sounds made up but I never set foot in that cemetery before October,9th/2018. Wow, should I dare say someone from beyond reached out and left this for me to ponder on?
“The lovers have grown old and grey” forever young at heart remain❤️ Well, taking that ride with Knight Rider on an October summer night was a thrill; I forgot just how old I was!
I just discovered a great video on youtube for Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte. So many good actors in this movie, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havillande, Joseph Cotton, Agnes Moorehead,Bruce Dern,Victor Buono, Cecil Callaway, the list goes on.
Magnificent Old Hollywood, those were the days of Golden Classics ❣️
I have an affection for animate spiders, especially this black one I made, Charlotte. I named her Charlotte after the spider in Charlotte's Web.
I think she fits in perfectly in this homage to a great horror movie I adore, Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis and Olivia De Havillande.
Every time I take a glance at the golden hand with Charlotte the spider she takes me back to 1964.
Oh, how I love the past!
If you have seen this great movie then you'll get the significance of the hand 😉
Oh, and look what I found at Sally Ann in Kemptville....
'Bette Davis, Larger Then Life', she certainly was and one of my Very Favourite actors.
OCTOBER SPIRITS LINGER IN MY ROOM ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR ....
"WHEN WITCHES GO RIDING, AND BLACK CATS ARE SEEN,
THE MOON LAUGHS AND WHISPERS ,
TIS NEAR HALLOWEEN"!
AND IF THE SPIRIT IS WILLING WHICH MINE CERTAINLY IS, AUTUMN IS A PERFECT TIME TO SIT BY THE HEARTH WITH DELICIOUS TREATS AND SOME LOVELY SPIRITS IN A GLASS TO RID OF YOUR SHIVERING CHILLS WHILE WATCHING GHOSTS ON T.V.
ONE VERY LOVELY SPIRIT I LOVE IS CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA AND IF YOU COULD HAVE A NON-ADDITIVE VODKA, WHAT VODKA WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA WITHOUT QUESTION ....PURE VODKA LESS THE LEMONENE (USED IN BUG EXTERMINENTS) AND GLYCERIDE (USED IN ANTIFREEZE) FOUND IN OTHER VODKAS.
CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA WAS AWARDED GOLD IN RUSSIA..BEST TASTING OUT OF 400👀👀👁👁👀🍸 OTHER SPIRITS!
DAN AYKROYD AND JOHN ALEXANDER, THE ARTISTS WHO COLLABERATED IN THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA HAVE CREATED A FINE SPIRIT AND THE MOST RECENT ADDITION TO THEIR CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA LINE IS THE "AURORA" . A BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL SKULL BOTTLE IN AN IRRIDESCENT FINISH THAT MIMICKS THE AURORA.
A PERFECT SPIRIT, CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA "AURORA" IS A DRY, CRISP, SWEET VANILLA TASTING VODKA. ITS NAME SAKE COMMENORATES THE AURORA BOREALIS AND AURORA AUSTRALIS.
THE AURORA BOREALIS ( NORTHERN LIGHTS) AND AURORA AUSTRALIS ( SOUTHERN LIGHTS) ARE THE RESULT OF ELECTRONS COLLIDING WITH THE UPPER REACHES OF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. ( PROTONS CAUSE FAINT AND DIFFUSE AURORA, USUALLY NOT EASILY VISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE. )"
PICTURE COURTESY OF
WWW.SWPC.NOAA.GOV/PHENOMENA/AURORA
IT'S OTHERWORLDLY, MYSTICAL AND SPOOKY AND LUCKY ME HUBBY SURPRISED ME WITH ANOTHER CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA FOR MY COLLECTION ( WE ALREADY HAVE TWO UNOPENED)WE ARE KEEPING THEM FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS I.E. RETIREMENT ETC.
WITCHES
AND GHOSTLY WHITE CATS
WIRY SPIDERS
AND SPARKLING WEBS
PUMPKINS
AND OLD HAUNTED TREES
WHEN YOU ENTER INSIDE THIS SPOOKY ROOM YOU KNOW THE OCTOBER SPIRITS HAVE CHECKED IN 👀
SPIDER TABLE RUNNER I BOUGHT AT HOMESENSE
THE DIAMOND CRYSTAL VOTIVE CANDLE HOLDERS ARE FROM PARYLITE BUT I GOT THEM FROM THE LOCAL THRIFT STORE. I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR ORIGINAL GOLD STANDS BUT I KNEW ONE DAY I WOULD FIND THEM A NEW HOME. WHEN I FOUND THIS HAUNTED TREE AT A GARAGE SALE MISSING IT'S TEA LITE HOLDERS I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD USE IN THEIR PLACE. I AM STILL MISSING A COUPLE TEA LITE HOLDERS.
MINIATURE PUMPKIN I MADE FROM VINTAGE FABRIC AND A REAL PUMPKIN STEM
LOOK CLOSER AND YOU WILL NOTICE THE CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA MINIATURES ON THE CABINET...EMPTY OF COURSE!
MORE SPIRITS HUBBY BOUGHT ... KILLIBINBIN SCAREDY CAT AND LA CUVEE MYTHIQUE
I ALWAYS LOVED THE MOVIE "SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES AND SO I BOUGHT A GLASS CLOCHE FOR MY CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA. I LOVE THE LOOK OF THE PROFESSOR'S ATTIC LAB WITH ALL OF THE SPECIMENS AND CLOCHE GLASS JARS. I MUST COLLECT SOME MORE GLASS DOMES OF VARYING SIZES SINCE I HAVE MANY MORE SPECIMENS TO DISPLAY : )
I FOUND THE COOL SPIRIT BOOK BOTTLE AT AN ANTIQUE STORE . IT READS "HANDBOOK OF GAY SPIRITS , BY PROF. AL. KOHOL, UNABRIDGED DELIGHT".
I LEFT IT BEHIND WHEN I FIRST SAW IT AND RETURNED THE VERY NEXT DAY TO BUY IT WHEN I THOUGHT HOW COOL IT WOULD LOOK NEXT TO MY CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA BOTTLE!!!
NOTICE THE BLACK VINTAGE GLASS JUG NEXT TO THE AURORA VODKA CRYSTAL HEAD SKULL? IT HAS A NAME WRITTEN ON IT , MAYBE IT BELONGS TO THE CRYSTAL HEAD IN THE DIORAMA?
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE COLORS IS TEAL AND THIS GLASS BALL GOES BEAUTIFULLY WITH THE VINTAGE SPIRIT BOTTLE, GLASSES AND GLASS MOSAIC VASE.
OH, CAN'T FORGET ELLIOTT , MY WHITE GLASS GHOST CAT
ISN'T SHE LOVELY?
I BOUGHT HER AT CANADIAN TIRE A FEW YEARS BACK AND DRESSED HER IN A VINTAGE BLACK VELVET DRESS AND BLACK VELVET HAT
MY VINTAGE DOLL "LILY MUNSTER" AND A $1 SKULL I BOUGHT AT A GARAGE SALE. THE SKULL DID HAVE A BODY BUT I'M AFRAID HE WAS BEYOND REPAIR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIS SKULL SO I GOT MY HUSBAND TO SAW HIS HEAD OFF.
MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL EMBELLISH HIM WITH CRYSTALS AND PEARLS AND MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE ONE- EYED WILLY
I'M SURE HE WILL NO DOUBT STAND OUT WHEN I PLACE HIM WITH THE CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA COLLECTION WE HAVE.
PUMPKIN CANDLESTICKS, A BLACK PIANO AND FRED ASTAIRE
I ADORE THIS PIANO, A BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM MY HUSBAND. I THINK HE ALWAYS FANCIED A MUSICAL GIRL WHO COULD PLAY THE PIANO AND THOUGHT MAYBE HE COULD ADD THAT TOO TO HIS BUCKET LIST : )
I DID START OFF GOOD TEACHING MYSELF SOME BACH TUNES BUT AFTER A WHILE I WAS DRIVING EVERYBODY CRAZY BY PLAYING IN REPEAT I STOPPED. I MUST GET BACK TO LEARNING SOME TUNES AND WHO KNOWS SOME OF MY BELOVED MUSICAL SPIRITS LIKE VIC MIZZY, BACH, BERNARD HERRMANN, GLENN GOULD, MIGHT JUST DROP IN AND GUIDE ME IN A FEW LESSONS J. AFTER ALL IT IS A SPIRIT ROOM, RIGHT?
A DREAM OF MINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO LIVE IN A GOTHIC CHURCH BUT I GUESS FOR NOW I'LL HAVE TO SETTLE WITH AN ORIGINAL PAINTING OF A GORGEOUS CHURCH WHICH FOR SOME REASON REMINDS ME OF "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE"
WITCH BOOTS CANDLE VOTIVES I BOUGHT AT HOMESENSE WITH A COOL VINTAGE POISON VESSEL PENDENT I BOUGHT AT SAINT VINCENT IN AYLMER , QUEBEC.
THE BOOTS SIT ON AN OLD BOOK OF PROPER NAMES
"THE CENTURY CYCLOPEDIA OF NAMES" FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1889.
I HAVE THE 1914 VERSION
THE SPIRIT ROOM 2016
MORE MINIATURE CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA BOTTLES
DIAMONDS, STARS AND MOON ?
COULD BE THE MOON,
CERTAINLY NOT A CRYSTAL BALL BUT CLOSE
.... ON MY VINTAGE HAUNTINGS LIST
WATCHING AND WAITING FOR THE OCTOBER SPIRITS TO ARRIVE
"IN BOTH THE ORIGINAL COMICS AND THE LIVE - ACTION MOVIES,SPLINTER IS THE PET RAT OF A NINJA NAMED HAMATO YOSHI IN JAPAN. INTELLIGENT FOR HIS SPECIES,SPLINTER IS ABLE TO LEARN NINJUTSU ART BY MIMICKING HIS MASTER'S MOVEMENTS WHILE HE PRACTICED." WIKIPEDIA.ORG
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, MY PET RAT , SPLINTER (HANDMADE OF PAPER MACHE ORIGINAL ~ ARTIST UNKNOWN )
IS ALSO A VERY ACCOMPLISHED VIOLINIST.
I FOUND HIM AT SALLY ANN.
I SUSPECT FRED MIGHT DROP IN IF HE HEARS MUSIC PLAYING . ….. LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE
