Hobby Thread - October 3, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) is feeling spooky and decided on a Halloween hobbying theme for this Hobby Thread.

Halloween hobbying?! Yes! Tell me more!

[Top photo: Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Village]

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Fall is a big time for hobbying. Halloween is a big time for hobbying.

Crafting, decorating, carving, costumes, pumpkin patches, and more. Now that we're in October, are you busy hobbying for the fall? Are you working on Halloween projects? If not, why not!? Get planning and building and crafting!

Are you planning fall outings? If not, why not?! Get planning and traveling!

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What are you hobbying?

The theme may not be your favorite but give it a chance before you judge and bail out. Any adjacent hobbying is in scope, so jump in with your interests, stories and questions.

In any event, the thread is not limited to to the theme. Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome. Even if the theme does not speak to you, you might learn something or be entertained. If not, offer something else relating to hobbying. If all of that fails, just check in and say hello.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Leave politics and religion to threads elsewhere (unless your hobby is building or restoring churches). Pants? Nope. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

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Part I.

Part II.

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This isn't the gardening thread but I couldn't resist a pumpkin video titled "I Tried Growing a Giant Pumpkin Using a Chicken"

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Bandsaw Halloween hobbying:

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Splat.

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Won't let me embed but click to see a home made pumpkin chunkin trebuchet.

Seems like the kind of thing a dinosaur needs, right?

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Walt knows hand tools:

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Interesting scale model project:

This channel is going to be in an upcoming Wednesday ONT as a niche YouTube channel feature for reasons, so stay tuned.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a fall scenic drives theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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Reminder: if you put links in the comments, use a URL shortener and describe what you're linking to. Failing to do either or both makes you barrel-eligible. Don't make people click to find out what you're linking.

Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Or just email to say hello. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Just decor for the season indoor and outdoor. No crafts.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 03, 2026 05:30 PM (1Ff7Z)

2 We have ceramic pumpkins. They need painting about every 5 years.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 03, 2026 05:31 PM (RORbl)

3 We have inflatable pumpkins. They go back in the box every year.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 05:34 PM (MWfyi)

4 Welcome Hobbiests
Well if you remember my mentioning to make a medallion for my cartridge box for my musket I tried today. Some good things, first the air dry clay held up. Also was worried I didn't have enough plumbing solder, I have plenty. But the details didn't come out well. Unperturbed have started a simpler on, a single flamed grenade, more appropriate for 1812 anyway.

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 05:36 PM (Ia/+0)

5 Evenin', hobby folk! It's raining here and I hope the partly-outdoor event Linda wants to drag me to is canceled or postponed. I hate to drive in that area in the dry, let alone with street flooding possible in those low-lying areas.

Hallowe'en? Miss Linda keeps saying October is black cat Stirling's month. I say, "Yes, and so are the other eleven."

I haven't decorated for H'ween, or worn a costume for that matter, in many years. This year the big day is a Saturday. I imagine there will be quite a bit of partying around the country.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:38 PM (wzUl9)

6
We don't decorate for Hallowen.

Last year we bought lots of candy from the dollar store and dumped it all in a big bin and put up a sign that said take what you want or take it all. Most candy gets tossed anyways so why spend big bucks.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 05:38 PM (/QHx4)

7 Good topic and timely. We looked across the street at our neighbor's house. They have a HUGE skeleton supposedly coming up from the ground as if rising from the grave. You can sure tell who has young kids on this street. It wouldn't surprise me if it glows in the dark. (Too soon to tell.) This family decorates for each season and it is fun to see but the skeleton was a surprise.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 05:39 PM (yTvNw)

8 As to accord with my expression "Nothing is as easy as it looks like it's going to be", the replacement of the RV toilet today went well until I turned on the water to test it and found the pressure accumulator tank had rusted thru, thereby spraying water everywhere under the sink.

I knew it was going too easy. Something was bound to happen.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 05:40 PM (MWfyi)

9 The guy down the street has one of those giant skeleton riding in the back of an old pickup truck.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 05:41 PM (MWfyi)

10 Also as have some air dry clay left over, thinking of some scenery, bridge or bildings. I made fortifications out of quick set spackle.

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 05:41 PM (Ia/+0)

11 Pipe smokers: I ordered a new Zippo pipe lighter, a brushed-brass "armor" model, and it arrived this week. Works great, as does my old one from 2021. I also ordered some more Burlier Morning Pipe from Ken Byron Ventures in TN, and for some mini-cigarillos from another online vendor. I was hoping the BMP would get here today, but I doubt it will.

The last order had free shipping with a promo code, but that means it takes 8-12 business days to get here. I'll be lucky if I see it by next Saturday.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:42 PM (wzUl9)

12 I haven't done more than hand candies to the kiddies for Halloween, and the number of kiddies has dropped precipitously over the last decade. I think last year there were maybe 5 visits to my door.
As for pumpkins, I haven't carved one in years...they go mushy and moldy too fast, so only carved the day of.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 05:42 PM (l3cgK)

13 We're so far off the road, anyone coming up here unannounced, get met with the shotgun.

Unless it's a van with FedEx, UPS, Amazon or USPS.

Or, if I'm feeling charitable, the kids.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 03, 2026 05:43 PM (RORbl)

14 Hey Skip did you see somebody used AI to break one of Napoleon's codes he used for writing letters?

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 05:43 PM (MWfyi)

15 Back when I lived in the CA bay area, there was a scuba shop in Monterey that sponsored an underwater pumpkin carving contest each October. The rules were that you could only use your dive knife and you couldn't puncture the pumpkin until you were below the surface. My dive buddy and I wanted to try it but never got around to it.

Posted by: Oddbob at October 03, 2026 05:43 PM (vTZFs)

16 What a magnificent pumpkin village! Thanks, T Rex!

Folks sure do some fascinating things with gourds.

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at October 03, 2026 05:43 PM (D/6p1)

17 Calvin and Hobbes.

Pure bottled-lightning genius. I love that I have the entire catalog in a hardbound set. I am looking at it right now.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Sounding the Carnyx at October 03, 2026 05:43 PM (0aYVJ)

18 Afternoon, Horde...how goes it?

My only hobby right now is continuing my ongoing adventures in Middle-Earth in Lord of the Rings Online.

I finally caught up with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf in time to watch Gandalf's confrontation with King Theoden in Edoras.

Now Theoden has led his men off to Helm's Deep while I stay behind and prepare his folk for their journey to Dunharrow.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (FZ29D)

19 "Folks sure do some fascinating things with gourds."

Come on out and we will show you a thing or two!

Posted by: The Sex Toy Workshop at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (MWfyi)

20 17 Calvin and Hobbes.

Pure bottled-lightning genius. I love that I have the entire catalog in a hardbound set. I am looking at it right now.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Sounding the Carnyx at October 03, 2026 05:43 PM (0aYVJ)

I bought that and "The Far Side" books as gifts for friends many years ago...never thought of buying it for myself...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (l3cgK)

21 There is a big house on St. Charles Avenue in the university district that makes a major production of Halloween every year. Oct. 1 the display goes up, occupying their large front yard and attracting pedestrians galore, and Nov. 1 it's gone. It features the usual trappings such as skeletons, tombstones, bats, and witches; but each item has a label on it, often funny or satirical, mentioning local or national celebrities. I need to drive over there one day this month and take a few pics. Then I can give examples of the homeowners' clever wit.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:46 PM (wzUl9)

22 Heh, I missed last week's scenic thread because I was up in the mountains off Co-6. We did Loveland pass and saw beautiful mountain views, golden aspen, rain and rainbows.

Posted by: Lizzy at October 03, 2026 05:46 PM (rOKnE)

23 fd saw a post on the forum I go to, but also was mentioned on one of the Napoleonic podcasts I listen to.

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 05:46 PM (Ia/+0)

24 19 "Folks sure do some fascinating things with gourds."

Come on out and we will show you a thing or two!

Posted by: The Sex Toy Workshop at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (MWfyi)

We know how to wear gourds.

Posted by: Natives of New Guinea at October 03, 2026 05:46 PM (l3cgK)

25 Where I live the kids don't bother with going around to peoples' doors, and that's good. You have to be careful opening the door even in daylight, let alone at night.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:48 PM (wzUl9)

26 Here's a link to an article about deciphering one of his letters:

tinyurl.com/3dy8etkf

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 05:49 PM (MWfyi)

27 I bought that and "The Far Side" books as gifts for friends many years ago...never thought of buying it for myself...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (l3cgK)
----
They are both totally worth it!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026 05:49 PM (FZ29D)

28 There is a big house on St. Charles Avenue in the university district that makes a major production of Halloween every year. Oct. 1 the display goes up, occupying their large front yard and attracting pedestrians galore, and Nov. 1 it's gone. It features the usual trappings such as skeletons, tombstones, bats, and witches; but each item has a label on it, often funny or satirical, mentioning local or national celebrities. I need to drive over there one day this month and take a few pics. Then I can give examples of the homeowners' clever wit.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:46 PM (wzUl9)
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We have a "Haunted Mine" at the university where I work. It's a charitable event where people bring canned goods, pay a small fee, and get to go through our experimental mine that's dressed up for Halloween. I hear it's really quite cool (I've never gone.)

A lot of the local fraternities have similar events.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026 05:52 PM (FZ29D)

29 I haven't decorated for H'ween, or worn a costume for that matter, in many years. This year the big day is a Saturday. I imagine there will be quite a bit of partying around the country.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:38 PM (wzUl9)

I haven't either, but until the kid is finished with that kind of stuff, I might stop decorating outdoors and handing out candy. Not too many kids around anymore anyway.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 03, 2026 05:53 PM (1Ff7Z)

30
In two weeks Hubby and I will be celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary. Some days we look at each other and try to figure how that happened.

Time passes fast. Celebrate what you want to.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 05:53 PM (/QHx4)

31 > bought that and "The Far Side" books as gifts for friends many years ago...never thought of buying it for myself...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)
----------
The "Calvin and Hobbs" 3 book set is totally worth it.

I still sit in our den during the winter and go through them at my leisure.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 03, 2026 05:53 PM (RORbl)

32 I bought that and "The Far Side" books as gifts for friends many years ago...never thought of buying it for myself...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (l3cgK)
----
They are both totally worth it!
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026 05:49 PM (FZ29D)

I also have the Bloom County set. Berke Breathed walked a line; Doonesbury or not. He mostly did a great job, but not always. Opus will always be my favorite comic strip character ever.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026 05:54 PM (0aYVJ)

33 For the whittlers and wood carvers. I came across a fairly new YT channel called "Pocket Woodcraft". These are rather short videos, usually under 10 minutes, of whittling simple figures from 1" x 1" basswood using just a knife and sometimes a small gouge to provide simple textures. No talking, just the sound of the knife and the wood. (I think that's called ASMR.) These are demonstrations, not tutorials, and assume you know basic knife cuts, safety and how to maintain the blade. The whittler wears a kevlar glove for protection. I'm finding them very informative and restful. In keeping with today's theme, a recent video was 'carving a scared little ghost'. One inch square basswood sticks are very cheap and easy to find. It's an inexpensive way to get started in the hobby.

Doug Linker has another carving channel on YT that I enjoy. He also has a series of videos using 1" x 1" sticks of various lengths. His videos are 'talkies' and he provides more advice but take the same relaxed approach.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 05:54 PM (yTvNw)

34 I bought that and "The Far Side" books as gifts for friends many years ago...never thought of buying it for myself...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 05:44 PM (l3cgK)
----
They are both totally worth it!
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026 05:49 PM (FZ29D)

I also have the Bloom County set. Berke Breathed walked a line; Doonesbury or not. He mostly did a great job, but not always. Opus will always be my favorite comic strip character ever.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026 05:54 PM (0aYVJ)
---
Yep. Got those, too. Also the Outland collection.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026 05:55 PM (FZ29D)

35 We have a "Haunted Mine" at the university where I work. It's a charitable event where people bring canned goods, pay a small fee, and get to go through our experimental mine that's dressed up for Halloween. I hear it's really quite cool (I've never gone.)

A lot of the local fraternities have similar events.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 03, 2026

***
The "Haunted Houses" I used to hear about here are either gone or I'm just not up to date on them. The king of them is, or was, one called The Mortuary. It's located near actual cemeteries -- and in fact the building used to house a real funeral home itself; I attended the service for a friend's father there in about '72.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:55 PM (wzUl9)

36 I also have the Bloom County set. Berke Breathed walked a line; Doonesbury or not. He mostly did a great job, but not always. Opus will always be my favorite comic strip character ever.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026

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When the TV series Soap was new, I didn't "get it." Not until years later, watching it in syndication, did I see: It was a comic strip! If you replaced Burt with a penguin, not much would have changed in the dialog!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:57 PM (wzUl9)

37 On topic as a hobby, I'm working on getting an Alliance for the Horde set up in No Man's Sky. The star system is now called Ace of Spades Headquarters and has appropriately theme named planets with the base of Camp Corsicana on the planet Infinite MoMee. I'm considering calling the alliance "Rons and Ettes Together" if that many characters are allowed, but am open to suggestions.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 03, 2026 05:58 PM (lFFaq)

38 You need to experience…a nice morning drive.

Posted by: Richard S, Foster at October 03, 2026 05:59 PM (6jna9)

39 The "Haunted Houses" I used to hear about here are either gone or I'm just not up to date on them.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 05:55 PM (wzUl9)

There are a couple in my area. They take a section of a mall parking lot every year. It looks like a company runs them as a business, not a group thing like a school or social service would.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 03, 2026 06:00 PM (1Ff7Z)

40 My skill set as an artist does not include being able to draw the same person the same way every time. I would be a terrible cartoonist.

Editor: Wait, is this Walt or Jenny?

Me: Gimme that! I'll work on it!

Editor: You have 90 minutes.

Me: Gets in car, goes to bar.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026 06:00 PM (0aYVJ)

41 Nothing for Halloween. It has meant nothing for decades now.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 03, 2026 06:01 PM (6jna9)

42 Fed amusement haunted houses around hete

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 06:01 PM (Ia/+0)

43 Nice gourds.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 03, 2026 06:02 PM (wpRMV)

44

My favorite thing about Halloween is carving pumpkins.
So many cool designs.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 06:02 PM (/QHx4)

45 Heh, I missed last week's scenic thread because I was up in the mountains off Co-6. We did Loveland pass and saw beautiful mountain views, golden aspen, rain and rainbows.
Posted by: Lizzy at October 03, 2026

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Is that the U.S. Route 6 I wrote about last week? The 'Net says there was a CO 6 from Grand Junction to the Kansas border, overlapping with U.S. 50, but not any longer.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:02 PM (wzUl9)

46 I also have the Bloom County set. Berke Breathed walked a line; Doonesbury or not. He mostly did a great job, but not always. Opus will always be my favorite comic strip character ever.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026 05:54 PM (0aYVJ)

Bloom County was alright. Breathed took himself WAY too seriously though.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 03, 2026 06:03 PM (6jna9)

47 Howdy Horde!

Posted by: TRex - fall hobbying dino at October 03, 2026 06:03 PM (XfIK1)

48 The betterHalf decided pumpkins don't make it in the desert. We have a selection of 5gal propane tanks spray painted to resemble Jacko lanterns. She uses spot lights no candles! to light them.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 03, 2026 06:05 PM (NnhvP)

49 Bloom County was alright. Breathed took himself WAY too seriously though.
Posted by: Cow Demon at October 03, 2026

***
His style is immediately recognizable. The "Jasmine" cartoons visible at the end of the movie Secondhand Lions were obviously his.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:05 PM (wzUl9)

50 "Interesting scale model project:"

This YouTube video is coming up as a black rectangle for me using Firefox.

Had to right click on it, >This Frame >Open Frame in New Tab to get it open.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:07 PM (6ydKt)

51 Bloom County was alright. Breathed took himself WAY too seriously though.
Posted by: Cow Demon at October 03, 2026 06:03 PM (6jna9)

One of the cool side things about Secondhand Lions is that Berke Breathed did the artwork for the comic strip. Wonderful work.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026 06:07 PM (0aYVJ)

52 ...and then the page refreshed and it showed up.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:07 PM (6ydKt)

53 There are a few amusement haunted houses around here

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 06:09 PM (Ia/+0)

54
One of the cool side things about Secondhand Lions is that Berke Breathed did the artwork for the comic strip. Wonderful work.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026

***
It's a terrific movie; I need to get it out of the library soon.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:10 PM (wzUl9)

55 Would have been better to put a mini charge in the battleship and blow it up.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 03, 2026 06:11 PM (2UA/a)

56 Bandsaw Halloween hobbying

Just looking at the thumbnail.....

The ghosts and the mummy are clever.

The witch on the right looks like Buffy the Vampire Slayer got her from behind. But I guess if the broom was mounted down lower, "she'd" look like "she" was happy to see me.

Posted by: mikeski at October 03, 2026 06:11 PM (VHUov)

57 Re: "A great fall drive..." from "browndog says woof" comment.

I believe that would be a great drive.
When I had to go to Buffalo the one time I rode through Pennsylvania and upstate New York for a long time, and that was some of the most beautiful rolling hills and manicured farms I'd ever seen.

I bet that entire area looks gorgeous in autumn.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:11 PM (6ydKt)

58 I bet that entire area looks gorgeous in autumn.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026

***
"Kraft caramel apples --
They're the most in the fall!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:13 PM (wzUl9)

59 "Interesting scale model project:"
This YouTube video is coming up as a black rectangle for me using Firefox.
Had to right click on it, >This Frame >Open Frame in New Tab to get it open.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

...and then the page refreshed and it showed up.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

I notice that once in a while when one of the posts here has a bunch of youtube embeds. (this thread, the music thread, sometimes a cafe thread.....)

Seems like youtube throttles the data sometimes. Like they're fighting off AI spiders or download apps or something.

Posted by: mikeski at October 03, 2026 06:14 PM (VHUov)

60
Dentists love candied apples, lol.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 06:14 PM (/QHx4)

61 See, that's the thing about autumn where I live. We don't have any. Summer heat and humidity drags on into November or December; January and February are about as cool as autumn should be; and then we're back to the same warm slime on our skins in March.

It's really hard to get amped about Halloween when the pumpkins are sitting there sweating like everybody else.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:15 PM (wzUl9)

62 6
We don't decorate for Hallowen.

Last year we bought lots of candy from the dollar store and dumped it all in a big bin and put up a sign that said take what you want or take it all. Most candy gets tossed anyways so why spend big bucks.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 05:38 PM (/QHx4)

Kids stopped showing up here on Halloween several years back. I don't even bother buying candy anymore because I don't want to eat a 1 pound bag of candy myself.

There aren't as many kids in the neighborhood as there used to be, but they must go to parties hosted by some parents, schools, or churches is all I can come up with.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:16 PM (6ydKt)

63 Hobby connected if you like, use, or collect pocket knives, especially Swiss Army knives. There are a number of YT videos dealing with unexpected uses for each SAK feature. The best one I've seen so far dealt with uses for that odd hook on the back of some models. There's the usual ones like carrying items tied with string or tightening shoe laces. The video shows some very surprising ones like getting snarled knots out of rope or as a support for a cell phone or small e-reader.

I've had an Explorer model SAK for in my pocket for decades. I use it just about every day. Videos such as these are like finding something new in an old friend. I don't 'collect' Swiss Army Knives but I seem to accumulate them.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 06:16 PM (yTvNw)

64 I notice that once in a while when one of the posts here has a bunch of youtube embeds. (this thread, the music thread, sometimes a cafe thread.....)

Seems like youtube throttles the data sometimes. Like they're fighting off AI spiders or download apps or something.

Posted by: mikeski at October 03, 2026 06:14 PM (VHUov)

YouTube has been playing havoc on my forked version of Firefox, Waterfox, since that last software update.

YouTube takes forever to load, and then if its on a playlist it will sit there and reload the video over and over.

Brave browser loads it all up in seconds.

It could be my AdBlocker extensions in Waterfox that's throwing YouTube for a loop sometimes and it doesn't want to load all the embeds.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:19 PM (6ydKt)

65 Many around here have stopped house to house trick or treating, sad reality to me

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 06:19 PM (Ia/+0)

66 It's a terrific movie; I need to get it out of the library soon.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:10 PM (wzUl9)

My wife loves this movie. We raised sons. Not a surprise that I love her so much.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wearing a Bill the Cat T-shirt at October 03, 2026 06:20 PM (0aYVJ)

67 "Kraft caramel apples --
They're the most in the fall!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:13 PM (wzUl9)

https://youtu.be/2K725cHZuLo

I used to love getting those caramel apples at the local fair here that comes to town every year around Halloween.

Also....cotton candy, which I haven't had in decades.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:21 PM (6ydKt)

68 It's really hard to get amped about Halloween when the pumpkins are sitting there sweating like everybody else.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:15 PM (wzUl9)

It's a crap shoot here every year whether it's going to be warm or cool by the end of October.

Some years you're still wearing shorts, and some you have to get out the sweater.

It always cooler than July, though, so I don't complain one bit.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:24 PM (6ydKt)

69 By end of month it will be cool

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 06:25 PM (Ia/+0)

70 We've been in our home long enough to go through cycles in the neighborhood: young families with kids to mostly older folks and back to having young families around again. Sadly, very few trick or treaters any more. They all seem to go to school sponsored things or similar, so we don't decorate for Halloween now. Too bad. I miss the kids, especially the really little ones and the look on the faces when this huge guy answered the door. (It also took away my excuses to have bags of candy at hand. Sigh!)

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 06:26 PM (yTvNw)

71 Also....cotton candy, which I haven't had in decades.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026 06:21 PM (6ydKt)

Didn't an ONT link to a few vids of adults telling their little kids they needed to wash the cotton candy before eating it? Made quite a few kids cry. Yup, that's real funny. Hyuk.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 03, 2026 06:26 PM (1Ff7Z)

72 Checking in to the hobby thread. I've been busy Saturday afternoons, with yard work, mostly, so I haven't been around much.

Most of my hobby activity lately has been on personal programming projects. So, it's been a kind of a busman's holiday.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at October 03, 2026 06:27 PM (VmDLh)

73 I have a second cousin who lives next door to Damariscotta ME. The first time I visited him and the wife was around Memorial Day one year. They had an old school parade and it was something from the 1950s. It was quite refreshing when one lives in a diverse and multicultural cesspool of third worlders.

Posted by: TxAnn at October 03, 2026 06:27 PM (SjAWL)

74 https://youtu.be/2K725cHZuLo

I used to love getting those caramel apples at the local fair here that comes to town every year around Halloween.

Also....cotton candy, which I haven't had in decades.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 03, 2026

***
That's the jingle I remember!

TV Guide used to have a insert every week with recipes of the season. "Fall" sounded great, but of course we here didn't have any fall weather to go along with it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:28 PM (wzUl9)

75 On topic as a hobby, I'm working on getting an Alliance for the Horde set up in No Man's Sky. The star system is now called Ace of Spades Headquarters and has appropriately theme named planets with the base of Camp Corsicana on the planet Infinite MoMee. I'm considering calling the alliance "Rons and Ettes Together" if that many characters are allowed, but am open to suggestions.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 03, 2026 05:58 PM

I've played some "No Man's Sky." I might want to join. Just FYI, my Lady lost your contact information.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at October 03, 2026 06:31 PM (VmDLh)

76 We get Halloween candy every year but never have trick or treaters and it's a good thing because all the candy is gone by Halloween.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 06:31 PM (MWfyi)

77 Gee. All this talk of Halloween candy. Now I'm tempted to buy some M & Ms tomorrow at the store. . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:32 PM (wzUl9)

78 54 ... Oh yeah!! Another fan of Second Hand Lions, one of my favorite 'fun' films with just the right amount of poignant moments for balance.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 06:33 PM (yTvNw)

79 Speaking of Halloween decor, there's a place down thataways (waves vaguely southeast) that has a ginormous spider in their front yard.

I don't like spiders.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at October 03, 2026 06:33 PM (VmDLh)

80 However, when I was small, pre-Daylight Saving Time, darkness fell around 6 or so in October. So at the least it *felt* a little like a change of season.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:34 PM (wzUl9)

81 Oh yeah!! Another fan of Second Hand Lions, one of my favorite 'fun' films with just the right amount of poignant moments for balance.
Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026

***
It's on my (very short) list of films I would change nothing about, which includes Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and You've Got Mail.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 03, 2026 06:35 PM (wzUl9)

82 Damned political texts are starting to pour in...just blocked more than 6 numbers...
Does that count as a hobby?

Posted by: Natives of New Guinea at October 03, 2026 06:37 PM (l3cgK)

83 According to the stores around here, Halloween decoration time started in mid-August. They're working on Christmas now.

In hobby news, I ripped out over a minute from the latest animation project when I realized I was just repeating myself.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 03, 2026 06:38 PM (CHHv1)

84 Off penis-gourd-wearing sock

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 06:38 PM (l3cgK)

85 The only hobby that i'm doing at this moment is knitting myself a sweater in a lovely heathered orange. Patagonia yarn from Juniper Moon. I have made some other things, and will make others, but that's the only one currently.
I did some painting of some unfinished hanging bats from Michael's, painted them black and then did some orange splatters.
Next up is a costume element for my youngest. He has a store bought knights' costume, and i'll make him a little St George's tabard. Oldest is going as a dragon.

Posted by: Funsize at October 03, 2026 06:41 PM (2rTQ7)

86 No pumpkin post is complete without a pumpkin chunkin mention..

https://youtu.be/hWffSEaw6WY

This might be the original, held in Delaware:

https://youtu.be/dmSyrGsqmg8

Posted by: Joe Kidd at October 03, 2026 06:41 PM (08OqX)

87 According to the stores around here, Halloween decoration time started in mid-August. They're working on Christmas now.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 03, 2026 06:38 PM (CHHv1)

Once "Back to School" is over, the Halloween stuff comes out, and a week later, "Here Comes Santa Clause."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 03, 2026 06:41 PM (1Ff7Z)

88 11 ... "I also ordered some more Burlier Morning Pipe from Ken Byron Ventures in TN"

Hi Wolfus, I really enjoyed Ken's BMP. Once I use up my supply of Sutliff Burley (now discontinued, dammit), I'll order some BMP. I should try some Stokkebye 702 burley and compare them.

BTW, I've used a Zippo pipe lighter for years. They never fail, even in the wind.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 06:41 PM (yTvNw)

89 Joe Kidd I never went, but a long past co-worker did often, his brother lived near it

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 06:42 PM (Ia/+0)

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