Friday, May 28, 2010 Crazy Diamond

We've driven by this amazing shrine on our way to the Outer Banks, and finally had to stop. Though there are several graves, it appears to be in memory of Raymond Grady, lost to drowning in 1915, his eighteenth year.
The rainbow with a pot of gold, small church and other careful details are the relics of a family's grief. A sad celebration of a young life.

Friday, April 2, 2010 Shadow Farm in a Box!

In the deepest recesses of the mailbox today stood a small box. The shadows and cobwebs made it difficult to be sure, but I thought for a second that it moved...
It was the prize delivered from Dave the Dead's Shadow Farms Easter Giveaway!!
From the moment you open the box you know it's gonna be good!

After you tear away the roaches, flies, spiders, bats and mice you get to the meat of the matter.
































What a great lift for the day! The characters are exactly as I imagined and the care in packaging really made it like Christmas morning. Thanks a million Dave!!
Check out Dave's Shadow Farm on Etsy!

Saturday, March 27, 2010 The Shadow Farm II: Dave the Dead

One last artery gush for Dave the Dead, before I tourniquet this series.
Sure, check out his sculptures and props; but do yourself a favor and read some of his short stories as well. Like everything else, they are twitchy, in a casually desperate voice.
I recommend warming up with I died yesterday.

I can't close a Dave post without featuring an image of one of his old-school characters: Frau Trauermarsch

Thursday, March 25, 2010 The Shadow Farm

My vow to quietly resent truly talented people has been suspended for this post.
Not very long ago I stumbled upon and was blown away by several yard haunt pieces made by Dave the Dead. While most of us were making props Dave was making art. Since then he has developed the Shadow Farm blog and Etsy shop to showcase a greater variety of his work.

Dave is featuring these beautiful Easter Eggs for his Shadow Farm Easter 2010 Giveaway.


Treat yourself to original art in the spirit of the haunt and visit his blog and shop.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 Revenge of Old House at Kents Store

Fate once again brought us to the Old House at Kents Store. Sadly it remains for sale and its condition worsens. As I walked behind the kitchen (a detached building to the rear of the house) I heard something rustling inside. As if the place wasn't scary enough, a large vulture jumped from inside and perched in the second floor window! I couldn't get a picture before he made his way into a tree.

If you look closely you can see his silhouette crouched in the middle of the photo.

Some shots of a few of the other outbuildings.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 The Coolest Thing

A friend forwarded an email with these photos. This may be the product of the Tombstone Hearse Company, but that's just a guess to try to give some credit.














































Sadly I don't know the details of the service pictured, but a name is not required to appreciate our military.

Friday, January 22, 2010 Bloody Head Friday

A good friend showed me this specimen before soaking. It's a meaty and bloody skull but its tone and texture is compelling.