Halloween Challenge – Gate

Today’s subject for Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge is gate, and I must admit that I had to dig deep into the photo files to come up with something for this one.  Plenty of doors but not many gates.

A gate leading into the little flower garden at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Two gates leading into the English Walled Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois.

I’m guessing these may have originally been gates although there is now a bench positioned right in front of them. Possibly decorated with Chihuly glass pieces, they were at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St Louis.

A beautiful wrought-iron gate at the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills, Illinois.  For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/10/24/jnws-halloween-challenge-gate/

 

Halloween Challenge – Decorations

Decorations are the theme for the day on Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge. Here are a few that were for sale at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm this month. For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/09/26/jnws-halloween-challenge-2/

Halloween Challenge – Treats

Plenty of treats at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm for Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge today. For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/10/17/jnws-halloween-challenge-treats/

Halloween Challenge – Tricks

Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge today calls for tricks.  Have you ever tried getting a prize from one of these machines?  There’s definitely a trick to it!  The claws never seem to close sufficiently to get a grip on anything.  For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/10/16/jnws-halloween-challenge-tricks/

Halloween Challenge – Vampire/Bat

Jennifer Nichole Wells has picked vampire/bat for her Halloween Challenge today which means that I must just say a word about my all-time favorite movie vampire, Dracula, as played by the charismatic Christopher Lee.  Just hearing his voice made me go weak at the knees!  I remember when I was in my early teens, my mother was horrified to find me engrossed in Bram Stoker’s thrilling novel.  Apparently she thought it wasn’t particularly nice reading material for a young girl but, as I explained to her, it was a classic, as was Christopher’s portrayal of the infamous vampire.

On a lighter note, I found these family-friendly vampires at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm the other day.  For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/09/26/jnws-halloween-challenge-2/

Halloween Challenge – Boo!

Boo!  As in “Surprise!” This isn’t something you see every day at Mickey D’s.  Just right for Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge today.  For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/09/26/jnws-halloween-challenge-2/

Halloween Challenge – Monster

Today is a monster day for Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge!  If size matters, then here are a couple of monsters! A giant Stay-Puft marshmallow man outside the local hardware store and a mechanical monster eating pumpkins at Goebbert’s Farm. For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/09/26/jnws-halloween-challenge-2/

Halloween Challenge – Candy

What are you eating???  Why, Halloween candy of course, grandma.  Wanna see?  For more on Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/09/26/jnws-halloween-challenge-2/

 

Halloween Challenge – Haunted

While the inside of an old house can sometimes feel downright spooky, the outside very often gives an impression of being haunted, which is why I have chosen these images for Jennifer Nichole Wells’ Halloween Challenge today.  I sometimes imagine that if I look at them long enough I’ll see a ghostly face appear at the window.

The Taylor House in Freeport, Illinois.

The Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

The Belvedere Mansion in Galena, Illinois.

The Mathias Ham House in Dubuque, Iowa.

For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/09/26/jnws-halloween-challenge-2/

Halloween Challenge – Spooky

I always get a curiously spooky feeling when I’m walking around the inside of old houses, especially those that are no long inhabited. I can’t help feeling that the spirits of the past are somehow watching me as I stroll around their parlors and bedrooms, creep down the halls and passageways that they once roamed and gaze in wonder at Aunt Maud’s favorite chair or Uncle Herbert’s worm-eaten writing desk. So with that in mind, I picked these images for Jennifer Nichole Well’s third Halloween Challenge this month, which is Spooky.  The first three shots were taken at the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

The next two images were taken at the Taylor House in Freeport, Illinois, home of the Stephenson County Historical Society. I half expected to see a ghostly little girl glide into the room to retrieve her dolly, while I would never have been surprised to see the fire suddenly burst into life in the drawing room. For more on Jennifer’s Halloween Challenge go to https://jennifernicholewells.com/2016/10/02/jnws-halloween-challenge-ghost/