Timber

We have a small forest area behind our barn, with some very tall, thin and old pine trees.. I love this little forest area. It's not only nice to look at and give you that living-close-to-nature-on the-country-side-feel, but also give us a bit protection from the autumn- and winter storms.

That's till the old trees started to fall over, in the very same storms. We had a number of trees falling last year, including a massive, tall and healthy one, tearing down a couple of thinner ones. We started out this year, with two trees falling. Like tiny tooth picks in the wind. It was just pure luck, that prevented any of them from hitting our 73' Oldsmobile Toronado, or our veteran camper for that matter.. We've been talking about chopping a few of the weaker trees, for some time now. But never got around to it. After severeal nights of poor sleep, with the storm howling around the corner. Watching the trees getting thrown forth and back, in the strong wind. Even having one more falling over. My love decided to take matters, in his own hands. As soon as we got home from work that day, he ran out there with the chainsaw and started chopping like a mad man on a mission. 

I could hear the noise from the chainsaw running, in our small forest. It went on for a while, before it suddenly got quiet. Soon after my love standing in the kitchen, with wild eyes and a pitch voice. "Didn't you hear me?" "I need help"... Oh-Oooooh. I wasn't sure what to expect, but from the look on his face I knew it wasn't good. As I walked out in the dark, winter evening, my suspiscions got confirmed. This huge pine tree, was leaning slightly to one side. But of course the wrong side. Towards our car tent and our winter car. Which just to make matters worse, we couldn't get started at the moment. No way we would be able to move the car. And no way the tree was going to fall any other way, than where it already was heading.. Total disaster waiting to happend! Tree was going down. And it did. With a bang. A load bang, may I add. On top of the car tent and the winter car.. And over the road that pass by our house! Oh my.. I probably looked like the lady in the Scream painting, by Munch as I was standing there with my mouth open. Forced to watch, as a useless bistander. As I ran over, I got a quick look at the damages. The tent got a bad dent and was flat like a pancake on one side. Our winter car miracelously survived, only with a tiny mark in the roof (Volvo 240. Solid cars. Not for no reason we call them tractors here). But that wasn't all. A big part of the tree, was blocking half of the road. I ran up the steep hill, towards the road. Had a quick look on both sides. Before I leaned over and like a female Hulk, grabbed the big tree top and pulled it over the fence to safety.

Later my love admitted, it was the first time he chopped a tree. Ya well, there's always a first. At least three of them went in the right direction..

Just an other day on the countryside, gotta love country living. What joy. What a thrill!

The winter sun, seen through our little land of forest..

Winter Moods

Winter moods at the mansion.. Frost clouds gathering at the bottom of the valley, over the big lake. Reaching snakelike arms, through the trees and the old forest, surrounding it. The ususal happy bird trills, that can be heard has now vanished. Just an occational magpie piercing the air, with a hoarse cry.. It's something very beautiful and peaceful, about a white, crispy, winter landscape. So quiet and serene. A time for everything to hybernate, rest and sleep this cold time of the year away...

From a morning I was out with Bessy.. Over the night a crispy, white frost layer, had been created and covered the landscape...

White winter berries, with a thin layer of frost crystals..

The sun fighting through the thick winter fog.. Since we live close to a big lake, we get a bit of fog here in the cold part of the year.

One of my autumn plants, sleeping the winter away..

Leftovers from Halloween.. The wooden crosses from our tiny church yard, resting in peace.

Remedy for The Cold

Finally feeling better again! *Yay* Hard to explain, but I went on the annual Christmas party at work and seems that it made wonders, to my sick, cold ridden body. Not sure if it was all the yummi food, the alcohol (plenty of wine and beer), or the fact that I had silly good time, that made wonders for the system. Neither do I care. It worked. I expected to feel worse then ever, when I woke up the next morning. Instead my cough was almost gone and on Sunday I felt even better. It feel like I went from 0-100 in a night. Hurray!! So long you bitch of a cold, hope to stay well for a while now.

You been to any fun Christmas parties yet, or maybe have some coming up soon?

Wish you all a wonderful Tuesday!

Christmas Coming Up

What to say? Time flies.. It's exactly 3 weeks till Christmas. Last weekend, as 1. December was closing in. I eagerly carried up the boxes, filled with Christmas decoration, from the basement. I'm a bit like a kid when it comes to this and it's just as exciting every year! It's like rediscovering a forgotten treasure, as I pull my old friends out of the boxes. I always start out with a few things, then gradually add on as Christmas is closing in. Wrapped in several warm layers of clothes, I totally ignored my flu and stumbled out into the cold, to get our lightchains up. All in the traditional norwegian warm white color, that I prefer. I try to go for a vintage Christmas style. So no ding dong, crazy colors going on at the mansion..

It's insane what a difference a few lightchains, in trees and bushes can make! Suddenly the outdoors space seems so much warmer and inviting. Something that is much needed! By this time of the year, it feels like we are surrounded by darkness 24/7. It's dark when we leave for work and dark by the time we get home..

We also had a light snowfall, over the last couple of days. Coming down like a light drizzle, of powdered sugar. Covering the garden and landscape, in a thin, white coat of beautiful snow crystals..

It definitely starts to look a bit like Christmas..

Beautiful snow capture, found online..

Sick again..

Just spent a few more days and a weekend being sick. Not sure if it was a strong cold, or the flu. Either way, I spent most of the time stretching on the sofa, under my blankie. With a soar throat and runny nose, hugging my tea mug.. This time it was bad enough to keep me home from work. Not too often I get that sick, but if I do it's usually around this time of the year, or early spring. Seem like "everyone" has a soar throat, runny nose and headache nowadays.. Hope that was the last round of evil germs, for the year.

Wish you all a wonderful day!

Sweet Friday

It's way too early and I just sat down behind my desk at work, with my first cup of coffee. But honestly can't wait to fly out of here, to weekend and freedom at the end of the day. I'm probably not the only one feeling the same. At least not judging from my facebook- and instagram timeline.. Lots of happy faces. It's something about the expectations that weekend always bring.. Anything and everything can happend. Right? Or nothing, if you prefer that. A couple of days rest, can be just as sweet.

Gotta run out and find a fun, little gift today. After a couple of laidback weekends, I'll be visiting my cousin, for a family gathering/her son's birthday. I'm fortunate enough to have a really lovely family, so it will be a treat to see them all again. Not that we are "perfect", or a role model family or anything. But they are perfect to me. Love them all, with their little quirks and everything..

What is your plans, if you have any?

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!!

TGIF.... Yaaaaaay!!!

Tea Time..

Not much going on here, the last few days.. We have some kind of stomack flue, that's being passed around at work. I've been struck, but not bad enough to stay home from work. So far this week, most of my evenings has been spent on the sofa, under the warm blanket.  Drinking tea and watching Downton Abbey, with cute, little kitty all bundled up in my arms. Quite nice to be able, to just wind down and do nothing. But wish I felt a bit better. Hopefully it will be gone by weekend. Or maybe a glass of red will cure it.

I've also spent some time doing some research, for our trip to the US next spring. Looking at places to stay, things to do, places to see..  It's still on the early stage, but slowly coming together... Oooo getting butterflies in my tummy, when I think about it. Can't wait!

Batwings is my favourite blend, what is yours?

Get your very own arsenic tea cup and saucer, at Chase and Scout Design on Etsy.

Fancy an ogre toe to go with your tea?

Absolutely love this mug..

And this one too!



A fine sign, for your Witches Tea Room



A withces tea party..

Left Overs

Saturday I started the big clean up in the Dead Sailors Inn, after our pirate party. It's very nice to be able to close the door to the mess, when the party is over. With a vague plan to clean it up later. Sometime, at some point. Some other day. Not so nice anymore, when that day arrives. Nothing in there is like good wine, that gets better as time goes by. On the contrary.

Armed with several plastic bags, kitchen paper and Jif spray, I went into the hazard zone. After opening the big barn door, hitting the light switch and letting my eyes adjust to the poor light, from the door and a couple of lamps. The sight of last weeks fun hit me, like a sad smack in the face. Tonns of empty bottles, shot glasses, wine- and champagne glasses, all with sticky, squishy left overs on the bottom. Stinking ashtrays, with old sigarette buds falling over the edges. Broken glass, wine corks, bottle tops. A sweater in a corner, scarf, a chinese parasoll. And a bit on the wild side: nipple pasties and a pile of corsets.. We. *Eeehm* I, were going to "dance burlesque", instructed by my burlesque dancing friend. one of those great ideas, that usually forms at the late side of a party. But decided not to, in a moment of clearness.. Thank Godzilla!

Every item being a reminder, of something that happened that night. A bit of giggeling and "Ooooh's", as I went through it all. Almost like re-living the whole party, just on fast forward.

Oh, and of all odd things, the strangest must be; a shoe heel! So if someone is missing

 a shoe heel, please contact the gobblin at the information desk.

Must clean with style..

Information desk goblin..

Downton Abbey

Friday evening came and went.. A whole bottle of red, was consumed while watching the first episodes of Downton Abbey. I was told I'd probably like this serie, that person was totally right! I love the English costume drama series and movies. I think the english are just brilliant in this genre. Everything is so well made and thought through, down to the smallest details.. And I'm such a sucker for anything old, I love drooling over all the wonderful clothes and surroundings.

My first impression of Downton Abbey is really good. Great cast, wonderful costumes and settings, plot is good, lovely characters, not boring. I already have a few favourite characters. Love it! Will probably see some more episodes of it tonight. Wondering what's going to happend next.. That's ususally a good sign.

Best of all, it's been aired for a while. So I have 5 whole seasons to indulge in, with a season 6 coming up! I might be the last person on the planet watching this serie, as I've heard of it for a while now. I don't know why I haven't checked it out before now. How ever, if you haven't seen it yet and like english costume dramas, I really reccommend this serie. It's so well made and the plot is good, so far. Give it a go!

"A chronicle of the lives of the Crawley family and their servants, beginning in the years leading up to World War I."

New Layout

Confused? It's still Scary Mary's. I just thought it was way over due with some change, after having the same blog template for about 5 years now.. My old layout wouldn't let me adjust the width, so I could blow the images up. Problem solved! I also love my new wicked forest background and color cheme. Hope you all like it.

I'll be working a bit more with it the layout and header, over the next few days. Bare with me..

Friday Bliss

Finally Friday, people.. Best day of the week, has finally arrived. We woke up to light snowfall this morning. Cold and dark. And it's dark by the time we get home too.. Doesn't exactly invite to any outdoors activity. Can't wait to get home to the mansion, wiggle my butt way down in the corner of the sofa, with a big glass of red. With no other plan, than finding something nice to watch on my computer. An excellent plan, if you ask me.

Yesterday I managed to rescue some last summer flowers, for winter storage in the basement. Kind of last moment, with the cold that has been lingering in the air the last, few days. Saturday I will be digging up the very last plants, that won't survive our norwegian winter. That will also be the end of any garden work for this year. Winter has indeed arrived..



Would love to have an old bench like this, in our garden..

A glass of red, in front of the fire place.. No better winter activity!

Drunken Sailors

I'm back after some days of much needed rest, after the Halloween party.. Everything turned out really great, we had an awsome time! It's such a good feeling to gather friends to something like this. Seeing that everything turns out as planned and that everyone is enjoying themself. I think a good party can leave you with a real boost of energy and good wibes. This one surely did!

We had the Dead Sailors Inn full of tipsy and more or less drunken sailors, pirates, one mermaid, a demon, and a banana (!). The banana claimed she was sailors food and that we was more than welcome to take a bite. She handed out flyers with information to the sailors. Saying that bananas is good for scurvy and winter depressions. In case you wonder, she was still intact at the end of the night. I think all the Halloween candy we had strategically placed around the bar. might have saved her from a gloomy, ghastly death lol.

It was a wet evening, with rain showers that came and went. But it was warm. Turned out we didn't have to worry about the heat at all. We were so worried that people would freeze, so we went out and bought an extra heater that runs on gas. Instead it got really warm. So warm that our mermaid friend running around in her bra, thought it was just perfect. Me in my padded, chinese jacket and wool socks on the other hand..

Our very good buddy, Kim Lia. Gave us a hell of a concert and rocked the bar big time!! It was so awsome to have live music in our saloon. We have been talking and dreaming about it for a while now. Finally the dream got realized.. The best feeling! We're so greatful that Kim wanted to play for us. As my love put it: The best birthday and Halloween party ever!! Big words coming from an american.

I've added a few photos from the night..

More obscure photos, will be added in a later post!

Me as pirate Ching Shih, with my pirate friend..

 

Kim rocking the joint

 

Ching Shih, Miss Mermaid and Banana Lady...

Happy belated Haunted Halloween

Hope you all had a wonderful spooky Halloween last night? Mine was spent doing some last shopping, for the birthday Halloween party tonight. Also some last adjustments at the Dead Sailors Inn. Believe it or not, still a couple more things to do. Think we could be doing this fulltime! Then we'll hopefully be all set by the time our dead guests arrive.. Can't wait to scare the living crap out of them! Mooooahhahahahahha....

 

 

Cold Beer and Music

*Yay* We got the electricity back on in the barn. Thank Godzilla for that! It would have been a very dark and horrific Halloween without. A night to remember. Sitting there in the light of our trillion candles, listening to the sighs and whispers of the wind, around the corners and the trees, hearing eerie footsteps from upstairs.

On the other hand, it could have been fitting I guess.. But, we like some music and heat. And cold beer is nice to have too. I like old, but some modern inventions are great to have.

How to Survive a Horror Movie

Man Crates is a new online company, that has the most creative gifts for men I've heard of in a while. They ship a wood crate to the fellow you want to surprise, filled with all sorts of manly goodies of your choice. Where the receiver has to open it with a crowbar at arrival! Could also work for a girlfriend. Sounds pretty cool to me. They even have a zombie preparedness crate, which would be right up my alley..

Man Crate gave me this awsome challenge, to make a post about what I would bring, to survive a horror movie! A challenge that shouldn't be too hard, for someone who love scary movies. I'm probably not the only one, that think people in scary movies act pretty ridiculous and annoying sometimes. It's like they almost have some kind of inner death wish, doing everything opposite of what they should. As I think they should, anyways. Trying to guide them around, from my safe place under the blanket in the sofa. Often with a huge popcorn bowl, placed in my lap. Reminding myself, there probably wouldn't be any movie, if they didn't act brainless and totally dumb. It's half of the thrill I guess. If you wathced a fair ammount of horror movies. You should know, there's things to do and not to do. Like a few very obvious ones..

• DO NOT enter the haunted woods at night. Especially not on a full moon night. Monsterous howling, or whispering voices of any sort. should also give you a clue something's not right.
• DO NOT go into the scary, abandoned country house, in the middle of the storm, in the haunted woods.. Especially if you heard a scream from inside.
• If you for some reason have to enter the house. DO NOT throw on a loud "HELLO, anybody home??" As you open the squeaking door.
• NEVER go check out creepy, veird noises. And never ever alone.
• If you spot a monster, DO NOT stumble around in circles, screaming and waving your flashlight around, so the monster can see exactly where you are.
• DO NOT hide in the creepy, old closet, in the upstairs bedroom. Or under the bed, for that matter. Bad places for hiding, get you killed.
• DO NOT by any circumstances attempt to go down in the basement. Bad shit always happends in the basement. Don't forget, that's where the veirdo got all the dead bodies stocked up.. And most of the time it's haunted.

Lets pretend for one moment, that I found myself in this very scary, shitty and highly deadly situation... There's certain things I would like to have.

1. Holy Water. Can be used on any supernatural creature. It burns and can buy you some precious time.
2. Salt. To protect against supernatural creatures. For making safe circles for yourself, trapping and to burn old remains of evil ghosts. Don't forget to burn their personal items.
3. Zippo Lighter. Always have a lighter that works. To kill and destroy.
4. Silver Bullets and a Gun. To kill and wound supernatural creatures.
5. Rope with a Hook. A long rope is a super item to bring. Either it is for climbing, or tying up bloodthirsty phsycos with. Be sure to know your scout knots. Just remember, this will not work for the supernatural creatures.
6. A Pocket Bible. With religious verses, that sends your monsters right back to pergatory. Exactly where they belong.
7. Hiking Shoes, or leather boots. Be sure to have good shoes, so you can run like Forest Gump and to protect against sharp objects, no high heels or flip flops.
8. Samuray Sword. Like the chic in Walking Dead has. Perfect for slaying anything evil, coming your way..
9. A Big sharp Knife. An excellent tool, for making booby traps and wooden stakes, poking, stabbing, also good for close kills.
10. An Ax. For the very same reasons.
11. Camuflage Net and Bear traps. Great items for catching bad guys in.
12. Black Bodysuit. To hide in the dark.
13. Night Vision Goggles. To see any danger lurking in the dark, before they see you.
14. A working Flashlight. Sometimes you do need a little light, to see what you are doing.
15. Strong Work Gloves. To keep you from cutting yourself and spilling blood all over the place. When handling sharp objects, broken glass etc.
16. A couple of Grenades. For massive destruction. 
17. GPS. To find the right way out of there.
18. A Motorcycle, with a full gas tank. To get you fast out and away. Through narrow passages and even out of the haunted woods.
19. A Military Veichle, at a strategic point. Loaded with first aid, food, water, a phone and warm clothes. To get you safe and sound home, away from all this madness.
20. Having a friend waiting in that military veichle, would be even better. Someone you can trust.

Last, but not least.. Don't trust that any strangers, cops, or officials, will get you out of this sticky situation. They'll just end up dead and so will you, if you entrust them with your life. You're alone on this one. Trust yourself and your instincts. Also, don't attempt to make a phone call. Phones and mobiles never work in horror movies and just let the bad guy know where you're at. You can be sure you'll get a text, just at the wrong time..

From the movie The Descent

Lights Out

It's been a very busy weekend, preparing for our monster ball. We made a couple more monsters, got the last props in and a few little details in place.. Also purchased a couple of horrifickly fun Halloween props. Couldn't help ourselves when we found a banjo playing Skeleton and a sweet creepy talking doll, with no eyes and cracked skull. As the man in the shop said "isn't it adorable?"

Only a few more red led lights and batteries on the shopping list.. We use red bicicle led lights, to light up and add a touch of spookiness to our installations. They are inexpensive and it gives it that extra, little eerie feel. Can't have enough of those. Also we might have to get a few more grave lanterns, for our graveyard.

We had some fun testing out the creepiness, in the Dead Sailors Inn on Saturday. Besides, we had to try the music list. Had the whole circus going, with all the trillion candles, oil lamps, jack'o lanterns, Halloween lights and light chains blinking. Only four small days left till Halloween!! I'm so ready. Like my love put it, as we were sitting there with our beer; Wish it was tomorrow!

Apparantly he spoke too soon, or maybe the barn ghost heard us. As we were sitting there, all happy and oh so ready for Halloween. A buzzing sound from the heaters and the music blured out with a muffed sound. The power was gone. Possibly the worst thing that could happend, one week away from Halloween! Needing power for our heaters, stereo and the mini concert we'll be having. A buddy will be playing for us. Really not a good timing, if things like that ever has a good timing. On top of that, we found out that our stereo had burned out. No more stereo. Dead. No hope of any resurrection there. Have to look for a new one.. A bit of bad luck there. Crossing fingers that bestest Miss Lindy Lee and hubby, has a stereo we can borrow for the night.

An electrician will be coming today. Hopefully he'll be able to find out what's wrong, with the electricity in our barn. On the positive side, it was REALLY spooky in there, with only candles and oil lamps lighting the bar.. O and I swear I could hear footsteps from the top floor, when I was out there alone the other day. Talking about creepy.

Costume Coming Together..

I'm so happy to say, that my costume is coming together! I tried everything on yesterday, with the makeup. I'm very pleased and thrilled to see my idea coming to life. Just a couple of small details left and I'm ready for the monster ball, at Dead Sailors Inn.. Most of the items I already had, looking through my wardrobe. Other items I found in a variety of shops down town. Maybe the coolest prop, I found in an antique shop out where we live.. An old fake, gun that someone made, out of wood and a steel pipe. With really nice details of mother of pearl on the shaft. So excited now that it's getting closer...



Love this print of The flying Dutchman

Macabre Carpenter

We haven't been too busy making new props this year, as we decided to reuse most of what we already have.. But some new things is slowly being added, to our collection of horror. I really wanted a coffin for a graveyard this year and eagerly babbled, waved my arms and sent links of what I thought would look cool, in our little graveyard.. Sometimes this eager babbeling of mine, seems to find it's way into his brain. I'm now the happy owner of a huge standing coffin, thanks to my macabre carpenter! It will be standing by the doorway, outside the saloon. Not sure yet, if it will house a scary monster, or if we should make it as a "photo booth". Where our guests can take their photo in the coffin..

"I want a coffin" I said.. And baby made a coffin.

Halloween Harvest

We've been growing pumpkins for the first time this year.. Been so excited to see how they would turn out! Finally one is getting ready. Wasn't sure what to expect, when they would get ready, or how big they would get. But they have exceeded every expectation so far. Looks like we'll have one big and two smaller pumpkins, to carve. Think we'll just let them grow as much as possible, before we harvest.. Hoping hubby will make pumkin pai of the inside! *Yumyum*

Winter is coming..

Yesterday the first snow came.. Big, wet snowflakes, falling down from a grey and heavy sky. Which left a thin, white blanket, spread over the autumn colored trees and fields. Very pretty and long time since, but always a bit of a surprise every year. I'm not quite sure if I'm ready for winter yet. My feet sure wasn't. I was still in my thin, cotton, summer sneakers.. I can ensure you, cold and wet feet in the snow, isn't the best way to start the day. On the bright side, I found some nice new winter boots for my freezing feet. Some that I've been drooling at, through the shop window for some time now. Finally I got the excuse I needed to buy them! *Hah*

As always, when the snowfall come this early. A voice back in my head, reminds me how not so good this is for Halloween and all our props. *Sigh* Why does winter always have to come and mess things up? If it could stay away, just a liiiiittle bit longer. It would all be good. Don't get me wrong, it's nice with some snow. Just not on Halloween! Please, please, pleeease stay away a couple more weeks...