Tag Archives: halloween

🎃 The Tale of the Turnip Lantern: Halloween’s Forgotten Glow

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Halloween carved turnips, at Aughnanure Castle near Galway

From Pumpkins to Turnips: A Twisted Root of Tradition

Before pumpkins took center stage on American porches, Halloween lanterns had a much humbler—and eerier—origin. In Ireland and Scotland, folks carved grotesque faces into turnips to ward off evil spirits. These pale, knobby vegetables weren’t just spooky—they were downright creepy, with flickering candles casting shadows through their gnarled flesh.

The tradition stems from the legend of Stingy Jack, a trickster who outwitted the Devil but was doomed to wander the earth with only a carved turnip and a coal ember to light his way. When Irish immigrants brought the tale to America, they found pumpkins—larger, softer, and far easier to carve—and the jack-o’-lantern as we know it was born.

Carving tools available here

Why Turnips Deserve a Comeback

Turnips may not be as photogenic as pumpkins, but they pack a punch of old-world charm. Their ghostly pallor and twisted shapes lend themselves to truly haunting designs. Plus, they’re a nod to Halloween’s folkloric roots—perfect for anyone craving a deeper connection to the holiday’s mystical past.


Want to try it yourself? Choose a large turnip, scoop it out (brace yourself—it’s tougher than a pumpkin!), and carve a face that’s more eerie than cute. Add a tea light, and you’ve got a lantern that looks like it crawled out of a Celtic ghost story.

🛠️ Affiliate Note: Some of the turnip carving tools I mention may be affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely find useful or delightfully quirky for your Halloween crafting adventures.

 

A Rooted Ritual for the Curious Soul

Whether you’re hosting a harvest party or crafting content for your nature-loving audience, the turnip lantern offers a quirky twist on tradition. It’s a tactile, earthy experience—one that invites you to dig into folklore, embrace imperfection, and celebrate Halloween with a wink to the weird.

 

Last Call for Halloween Decor and T-Shirts

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🎃 Things Are Getting Batty at Welcoming Haven!

We’re wrapping up our ghosts and skeletons, but there’s still time to grab your favorite Halloween decor and T-shirts before the season slips away.
Even as Christmas starts to crowd in, candy corn is still on the shelves—and so are a few spooky tees and festive touches to haunt your home in style:

 

Before the Christmas crowd fully elbows its way in, here’s your last call to grab the spooky, silly, and sensational:

  • 👻 Ghostly Night Lights — perfect for chasing away the shadows (and maybe a mischievous cat or two).

  • 🎃 Faux Pumpkins — bright, bold, and blissfully rot-proof. They won’t wrinkle or attract raccoons—your porch is safe and stylish!

 

And don’t forget your furry sidekick! Amazon’s got the best pet costumes for your little goblin, whether they’re channeling a lion, a taco, or a tiny Dracula.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means Welcoming Haven may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. We only share products we truly love and think you will too!

 

The Great Holiday Mix-Up

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🎄🎃 The Great Holiday Mix-Up: Why Is Santa Side-Eyeing My Skeleton?

Deck the Halls… with Cobwebs?

It’s mid-October. The leaves are crisp, the pumpkins are plump, and your neighbor’s yard is a haunted masterpiece. You stroll into your local store for a bag of candy corn and—bam!—you’re greeted by a life-sized animatronic Santa doing the cha-cha next to a fog machine. Somewhere, a confused elf is tangled in fake spiderwebs wondering what went wrong.

Retail Time Travel: Now Featuring Peppermint in October

Retailers seem to operate in a parallel universe where time is a suggestion. Halloween? That was so August. Thanksgiving? Blink and you’ll miss it. Christmas? Oh honey, it’s been here since Labor Day. The moment the back-to-school aisle clears, it’s full throttle into tinsel territory. You came for a witch hat, but left with a snow globe and existential confusion.

Pumpkins with a Side of Peppermint Bark

There’s something deeply unsettling about sipping a pumpkin spice latte while browsing Christmas tree ornaments. It’s like your taste buds are caught in a custody battle between cinnamon and peppermint. One aisle screams “BOO!” while the next whispers “Ho ho ho.” It’s festive whiplash, and we’re all just trying to survive the sleigh ride.

The Real Reason? Retail Shenanigans

Let’s be honest: retailers know we’re suckers for sparkle. They’re banking on our inability to resist a glittery reindeer, even if it’s still 70 degrees and we’re wearing flip-flops. It’s not about logic—it’s about impulse buys and premature nostalgia. And maybe, just maybe, a little joy in the chaos.

 

So next time you see Santa lurking behind a zombie, take a deep breath and embrace the madness. After all, nothing says “holiday spirit” like a skeleton wearing a Santa hat and holding a candy cane.

 

 

A Gothic Cat Tree That’s Drop-Dead Fabulous

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🖤 “Paws of the Crypt”: A Gothic Cat Tree That’s Drop-Dead Fabulous

This Halloween, give your feline familiars a throne worthy of their mysterious majesty. The Heavy Duty Gothic Cat Tree isn’t just a scratching post—it’s a statement piece for cats who rule the night. With blood-red accents and a coffin-shaped bed, it’s the purrfect blend of spooky and stylish.

Whether your cat is a curious vampire or a lounging ghost, this single-tier tree offers spacious comfort and eerie elegance. Designed for large cats who love to sprawl, scratch, and survey their haunted domain, it’s built to last through nine lives and beyond.

Available at Welcominghaven.com Here

🎃 Why Your Cat Will Love It

  • Spacious Coffin Bed: Measuring 23.8 x 16.1 inches, it’s deep enough for dramatic naps and midnight musings.
  • Stable Square Base: At 13.8 x 13.8 inches, the heavy-duty box keeps things grounded—even when your cat’s zoomies go full poltergeist.
  • Elevated Platform: The 19.7-inch rise from base to bed gives your cat the perfect perch to judge mortals from above.
  • Tree Branch Accent: Standing 23.6 inches tall, it adds a whimsical, witchy vibe that’s more Salem than suburban.

Crafted in bold black and red, these Gothic Themed cat trees turns your living room into a haunted haven. It’s not just décor—it’s a lifestyle upgrade for cats with flair. Order Here

Globlazer Heavy Duty Gothic Cat Tree, 72in Large Cat Tower with Coffin Bed, Sturdy Maine Coon Cat Tree for Large Cats 20 lbs+, Medieval Castle Style with 6 Scratching Posts & Hammock, S72, Black & Red

🕸️ Affiliate Disclosure

Heads up, cat lovers! This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that fit the vibe of Around Dusty Roads and make tails wag (or curl mysteriously around a candle).Thanks for supporting Around Dusty Roads and helping keep the storytelling flowing

Want to add a little haunted luxury to your home? This Gothic Cat Tree is more than a Halloween treat—it’s a year-round throne for your furry familiars. Banner and Balboa would approve.

Banner and Balboa – photo credit Deb Neumann

 

 

Where Have We Been?

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Where have we been?

I don’t mean travel. COVID still has us locked down but where have we been the last couple of weeks? Well kitten duty is time consuming. Even with toys Banner is a demanding little bugger! I try to play with him for at least 30 minutes before work every day. If I don’t he is so wound up I can’t get any work done. It took him only about 2 seconds with my back turned to tear into my work laptop. Yup he pulled the F2 key off. I lucked out because I snagged it back from him before he he swallowed it and I don’t use the F2 key. I didn’t even know what it did so other than a white spot I guess there was no real harm done.

We Got Our First Snowfall

It snowed here yesterday and then the temps dropped so we still have snow on the ground today. I read that the Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a snowy , cold winter. Why not?  2020 has thrown everything else at us!  I tried to get Banner interested in watching the snow come down but he had no interest at all, A kitten after my own heart. He’s more interested in the feather trim on my witch hat for Halloween.

 

You need to arch your back a little more , Banner , to get that scary Halloween witch cat look! At least he’s got the tail thing mastered.

New York Wildlife

On a more photography/travel related note I got my New York Wildlife Viewing guide. Hopefully this will help me choose some trips in 2021. I couldn’t just buy the book. The only way to get it was to subscribe to Conservationist Magazine. I’ve gotten one digital issue so far and it was really good. I hope some of my issues will be print because the color photos are gorgeous and the articles weren’t boring at all!

The first thing I checked was Adirondacks and the first place on the list was “The Wild” in Tupper Lake. If you recall my brother and I visited “The Wild” in August. 

From the description in the book it sounds like there is a lot more to it than what we saw. Of course we were there while the pandemic was still in full force so half the exhibits were closed. Once this COVID is all over I’ll have to go back. We might have missed some other things there too because my knees were  really limiting my mobility.  I’m working on possible solutions to improve that too.

Puzzle Update

The Puzzle is still laid out on the table but I picked up the loose pieces and put them in the box.  So far Banner has not tried to eat them but I don’t want to tempt him either. So there’s been no progress to report but no damage from curious kitty either. It’s just waiting for me to get some time to work on it again.