When it comes to Halloween, y’all, I’m a kid at heart. I always go trick-or-treatin’ with my grandson Jack at my good friend Donna’s house because she lives in a neighborhood filled with kids. On Halloween, her neighborhood is totally devoted to the children but the adults are there having a good time, too. It’s the one time of the year that all the neighbors get out on the street. They walk the neighborhood, catch up, visit and just enjoy the fellowship—in costumes, of course.

I don’t take myself too seriously, so I usually think up a harebrained outfit to give folks a good laugh—like the year I went as a stick of butter and Michael went as bread. Even when my boys were little, I can remember making their daddy and me pumpkin costumes that I filled full of balloons. We were totally round. We wore black leotards and I even made us a little pumpkin hat with a stem on it. Their daddy and me had more fun wearing those outfits, but trying to get into the car was another story.

I also get a kick scaring the wits outta people. I remember one Halloween in particular that I dressed up like a witch, painted my face green and sat out on the porch, stirring a cauldron full of dry ice. They say I sound like a witch when I’m laughing, so when the kids would come up the steps, I’d go, “Hee, hee, hee, hee, heeeeeee! Come up my little precious!” I had so much fun scaring ‘em.

Now, don’t even think of scarin’ me back. One time, when the boys were teenagers, we tried to watch that movie “Halloween,” but it scared the livin’ daylights out of us. I remember being in the kitchen with the boys—they were standing behind me—and we would watch the TV reflect in the window ‘cause we couldn’t look directly at it. And when that Jason character jumped out of nowhere, we’d all run and scream. We never could get that movie watched.

I grew up with Hitchcock films—movies that were suspenseful rather than just plain gory. So this year, I’m taking a page out of “The Birds” and decorating my house with black birds and birdcages draped with cobwebs. Ladybird, my macaw, looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, but I know my girlfriends will get a kick out my nod to the films from our time. Keeping with the theme, I’ll serve up my delicious Lattice-Top Blackberry Blackbird Pie, complete with a blackbird sitting on top. Even that creepy little thing isn’t enough to keep y’all from diggin’ in.

You see, Halloween is for everyone. It’s a time to make memories that you’ll always treasure, like how Jack’s eyes get as big as saucers when he sees what I’m wearing. This year, I’m doing it up big and going as a princess. I already have my outfit—it’s orange, representin’ Halloween—and it’s got a full skirt. It’s just so beautiful. And Michael is going to go as my Prince Charming. Jack will still be surprised, but this time it’ll be because his Grandmomma looks downright beautiful.

Halloween favorites!
Wicked Candy Bar Cupcakes
Moldy Guacamole with Creepy Critters
Hairy Eyeballs
Crispy Rice Candy Corn Treats
Witch’s Brew
Goulish Eyes
Mini Mummies
Goober Haystacks