I hope you have some fun today. And remember to taste test the candy before giving an out.
Happy Halloween!
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I hope you have some fun today. And remember to taste test the candy before giving an out.
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LOL! I will remember to turn off the lights and to eat my own purchase of Halloween candy! I may watch a Halloween movie, or maybe not.
Happy Halloween! The stew is nearly ready. 
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I am sad this Halloween. This is the first year that I can remember when we did not have one single trick or treater. Not one! I remember years past almost running out of candy when we had like five of those giant Costco bags. Kid after kid - continuous waves coming to our door. We had lights all over the trees, decorations everywhere, a dozen carved pumpkins, spooky music played through the boom boxes we hauled downstairs and put int he windows.
And this year - not a single kid.
I'm thinking that some of this is that our neighborhood is getting older. Younger people - the kind that have kids - just cannot afford to buy a house any more, so they're just not around us. It is a bit devastating to me thinking about this. I felt genuine sadness for our giant fanged rat sitting there on the front porch, arms outstretched in menace, and not a single person coming to visit him. And it's not even a real living rat. But I'm still sad for it. The pumpkins sat there with their little tea candles flickering in the undisturbed darkness.
I nibbled a few of the excess Twix and Reeces Cups we now have sitting around, and they just don't taste good to me anymore. And the Hershey's bars? - the ones that are about 3/4" by 1/2" "fun sized" now - they were tasteless.
Halloween was a complete bust. I am depressed.
And this year - not a single kid.
I'm thinking that some of this is that our neighborhood is getting older. Younger people - the kind that have kids - just cannot afford to buy a house any more, so they're just not around us. It is a bit devastating to me thinking about this. I felt genuine sadness for our giant fanged rat sitting there on the front porch, arms outstretched in menace, and not a single person coming to visit him. And it's not even a real living rat. But I'm still sad for it. The pumpkins sat there with their little tea candles flickering in the undisturbed darkness.
I nibbled a few of the excess Twix and Reeces Cups we now have sitting around, and they just don't taste good to me anymore. And the Hershey's bars? - the ones that are about 3/4" by 1/2" "fun sized" now - they were tasteless.
Halloween was a complete bust. I am depressed.
All that happened/Changed in 1 Year...?!? 
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We feel a little like that also- its been dwindling here for a few years, but last night, no one out. I sort of knew, and donated all the decorations (mannequins etc we would dress up), costumes and the lovely ticket booth for a scary clown and the coffin my husband made to a nearby town to use for their celebrations. I couldn't decorate inside because of the two crazy kittens. We used to go as trick or treating around a country 'block', and the older generations used to love seeing people visit. Years ago a neighbour would gather his kids and their cousins into a van and adults and children would call, and when they got to us we'd have treats and cocktail sausages, and we'd all be dressed up too. Then they'd take my children up to their grannies for a bonfire party.Miss those days. But Happy Halloween to you all also!
The weather here played a big part in the turnout: 72 with a light breeze. Absolutely perfect! We had around 40 groups stop by and almost ran out of candy.
After things settled down here, we visited a friend a few miles away. They must have had well over 100 kids - the whole street was packed! It's the busiest I've seen it in years. To be fair, parents often drive their kids to great neighborhoods so they weren't all from that immediate area.
Haertig's right that it's extremely difficult for a young individual or family to be able to afford a house these days. That certainly could be a reason some areas aren't seeing young families anymore.
After things settled down here, we visited a friend a few miles away. They must have had well over 100 kids - the whole street was packed! It's the busiest I've seen it in years. To be fair, parents often drive their kids to great neighborhoods so they weren't all from that immediate area.
Haertig's right that it's extremely difficult for a young individual or family to be able to afford a house these days. That certainly could be a reason some areas aren't seeing young families anymore.
No, it's been dwindling in spurts up and down for a few years.
But this was the first year for absolutely zero visitors. Last year we had, oh I don't remember exactly, maybe eight or ten groups of between 4 and 6 kids each? Far fewer than in "the old days", but still enough to let us know that we weren't living in a barren wasteland devoid of fellow humans. I have been expecting continuing fewer trick or treaters as the years go on, but this was a complete jump off the cliff to zero. Our weather was fine.
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I think that it was Amish who said that her granddaughter didn't have school today. This was something that I had suggested for many years, for there to be no school the day after Halloween. Children are exhausted and for some, left to eat all the candy they want to. It is one of those days when teachers want parents to deal with what they created with their children. It is the nightmare after Halloween.
The day after Halloween - a nightmare for teachers, but yippee! - it's half-price candy day for everyone else!
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@Haertig - don't let it get you down. The nature of the holiday is changing. Here it's "trunk or treat" or just in certain areas. Like we have an upscale neighborhood called "Arroyo Vista." Some of the homes are over the top with decor - like 2 story skeletons! Literally several thousand people, probably every kid in town. We drove through about 6:30, there's no street lights. I spent most of my drive trying not to squash any goblins with the truck. LOL
But I noticed there were a lot less homes decorated, and the very biggest display was not there and the house barricaded with yellow tape and a big sign saying, "Sorry no decor this year." I don't know if something happened (death, moved) or they just ran out of steam. I think people might just be tired of buying $400 worth of candy.
Ours was the only home on our street with lights and decor. But we get no trick or treaters. Partly because our hood is hard to reach, on a hillside, and about 1/3rd of the homes are gated and walled. Not good for kids walking at night.
Anyway, it's just the nature of things, holidays evolve, I guess. Don't feel bad.
But I noticed there were a lot less homes decorated, and the very biggest display was not there and the house barricaded with yellow tape and a big sign saying, "Sorry no decor this year." I don't know if something happened (death, moved) or they just ran out of steam. I think people might just be tired of buying $400 worth of candy.
Ours was the only home on our street with lights and decor. But we get no trick or treaters. Partly because our hood is hard to reach, on a hillside, and about 1/3rd of the homes are gated and walled. Not good for kids walking at night.
Anyway, it's just the nature of things, holidays evolve, I guess. Don't feel bad.
So, are you 'unlucky' like me and have to eat all the candy that wasn't handed out?
We all congregate at the neighbor's place across the street so the kids only have to make 1 stop.
All the adults get to drink, listen to music, and gossip.
We usually have 30-40 kids...It rained all evening, and we only had 4-6 this year.
