#CountdownToHalloween2026 - Blowmolds, aka the Mosh Pit

Several years ago, when I was acquiring more and more blowmolds, they got delegated over to the part of the yard separated from the rest of the cemetery by the driveway.  

I was just figuring out my lighting situation and they were drowning out the LEDs. 

And every year, I think this will be the easiest part of the whole display, but then I remember the approximate 427 miles of extension cords that need to be figured out....and I want to cuss.

It's a good thing I like them so much. 

The skeleton peeking around the fence isn't technically a blowmold, but he's one of the first things that appears every year! 

I keep thinking that little red house is bigger than it is. 

The ghost in the back is called the Union Rep.  

He was one of the 2 first blowmolds I purchased. 

I still don't understand why the witch only has a C7 light. 

This skeleton in front also only has a C7 bulb.  It's too dim to light him up!

I found that bear on FB Marketplace.  I could have spend $$$$ at this person's house - she had a barn full of stuff from an antique store!  And LOTS of blowmolds. 

I just love the little ghosts.

And of course - here they are at night!

Looking absolutely perfect for Halloween, but I'm not happy about the possibility of rain in the days after (during pack up!)

#CountdownToHalloween2026 - this & that

Here's just some random stuff that don't require their own post.

We stopped at a little farm stand to get our pumpkins.  I think the lady was trying to get rid of them, since she had them marked buy one get one free and the little ones were buy one, get 2 free!

The brown one is the "hot chocolate" variety that I'd never seen before!

Can't wait to carve it to see what the inside looks like. 

The BP gas station near my house has new pumps

This little guy trotted across the screen. 

McDonald's window. 

I didn't know that on Instagram you can put in a topic and they'll show you pages that fall under that category.  I put in cemetery.  I'm getting a lot of pages from New England, which is awesome since they have the coolest headstones with their effigies and elaborate carvings. 

I also learned about "vernacular" headstones, which are basically homemade markers. 

My trees are barely changing color. 

They won't drop their leaves for another couple weeks. 

I've raked in the snow after Thanksgiving before. 

Moon in clouds

Things that make you go hmmmm.

According to Find A Grave - the original headstone was vandalized badly and this is all the gentleman who replaced it could make out from the original.

Macomb Center Cemetery, Macomb MI

Fun fact -

a penny at a grave means a visitor came to pay respects. 

a nickel means the visitor was in bootcamp with the deceased

a dime means the visitor served alongside the deceased

a quarter means the visitor was present when the service member died. 

The skeleton volleyball game doesn't really match the farm vibe as the rest of the yard, but it cracked me up when I thought of it!

I got this shirt from Grunt Style (America's patriotic t-shirt & apparel brand)

I would love to have this framed! 

They call this their Haunted Flag.

front of the shirt

I pass this guy on my way home from work and just simple things like this make me smile! 

Whoops!

First casualty - a day or 2 after I put them out! 

I still love my TSC turkeys! 

This isn't where the eagle ended up in the cemetery, but I had to put him up by the flag! 

And one of the things that fascinate me....

The USS Queen City was a wooden side-wheel gunboat that patrolled navigable rivers during the Civil War, protecting Union supply lines. 

She was sunk by Confederate cavalry forces in 1864 on the White River outside of Little Rock, AR

This means Henry was only 14 at the time...? 

I forget which big cemetery this was, probably Riverside Cemetery, in Kalamazoo MI

The really big cemeteries I usually just find the military sections to explore.  

#CountdownToHalloween2026 - Top Lights

So for the last 3? years, the search & rescue team I volunteer for has been invited to participate in the County First Responders Trunk or Treat!

We have a good time - I personally love seeing all the costumes. 

Michigan State Police, Trooper Bones (no relation to Chuck)

I was informed by the living trooper in attendance that they had looked for a corrections jumpsuit to put on the skeleton but couldn't find one, so that's why he's in a uniform. 

Metamora PD's drone

they'd occasionally blast music from the drone - Ghostbusters & Bad Boys (of course) and even the Top Gun Anthem....?

While we were setting up, Lapeer City FD was decorating their truck and they got called out to a fire, so they didn't bother re-decorating. 

Lapeer County Central Dispatch

Byers Wrecking

Elba Twp FD

E&L Wrecking

Metamora FD

Lapeer County Dive Team

they also had their gear trailer that kids could look in

Lapeer City PD

They also had one of their K9s there

Evidence!

The big skeletons were on each side of the entrance arch. 

I had no idea that conservation officers rode dirt bikes!

Makes sense, tho. 

Conservation / Dept Natural Resources

Chuck had to visit the DNR skeleton!

The EMS people were dressed up like wrestlers

My grandkids got candy from Hulk Hogan.

I missed getting pics from Victim Services since I was chatting with them and trying to get my granddaughter to pick M&Ms from their bowl. 

The Child Advocacy ladies were dressed like Waldo.  

We still found them, tho!

Almont PD

Attica FD

Thankfully we had our brand new tent there, so we were able to attach a side wall.  The lights on the front of the Attica truck were blinding us!