Last look at October

Halloween began with a great brewing of Halloween Tales over at the Renton History Museum. Dorota Rahn (pictured above)  helped conjure up a crowd to come see the free speaker program that I am so fond of over at the museum. Why weren't you there?

Bea and her well known talent of a mother, Naomi Baltuk, regaled a rapt crowd with tales of Halloween at the museum. Storytelling is a craft and form of entertainment that is good for the soul. Get away from that TV and video game when the opportunity presents itself. What a great duo! 

While out on the streets of Renton, some dressed for the holiday - and others, just dressed in the tie dyes that comprise the greater part of their wardrobe. Phyl Carroll is a grandma who dressed as a granny and Richard Stout is a man who loves color, especially the swirly kind.

Halloween can be a great time to experiment with possible new looks and hair colors - like Bill Provin here, who I must say, has a flare for purple. So does Brandy.

 How could I get away without one last fond look at jack o 'lanterns? They should somehow be an acceptable use of a pumpkin all the way up to Thanksgiving.

North Renton as a neighborhood completely rocked - with the Schelgel's Home on Williams Street hosting a Haunted House in their backyard - which was awesome.

Across the street, Halloween craftsmen, Evan and Dave created their own ghoulish destination for the more intrepid trick or treaters.

 

It was a great Halloween season - sigh.

Wanna know why I started to blog again today? I read my horoscope over at Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology and it said - blog. I kid you not. I was gonna try to be lazy a little longer, but I was shamed back into it. Really.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit windows and all

Some folks begin preparing for the holiday by decorating from the outside then in. Ron and Sue Hughes have been having their three bay windows painted for Christmas for the last few years by Mindi Hall. The designs have been pared down to the ones they have come to favor the most over the years and placed in just such a way that the lights from within can help cast a special glow.

Mindi has been painting windows for the past eight years and is getting pretty busy as we approach December. She and her partner were finishing up in Renton and then heading off to Issaquah to do another home. The duo usually paint at two locations a day.

Mindi's window designs can also be seen at Doofer's Bar and Grill and the Noble Saloon here locally. She also designed and painted the mural at Mo's in the Highlands. Mindi travels throughout doing all types of businesses and homes windows and not just during winter. Mindi is painting all year 'round.

I remember growing up in an era when a lot of homes decorated their windows. If you were lucky, someone in the family had a good hand at creating a skillful scene, or you just used some stencils and flocked on a snow scene or two.

Isn't it looking great?

Finishing touches on the carolers.

See how the light from the living room lamp adds to the Nativity design?

Ron Hughes in front of one of his freshly painted windows. The family tree will form a colorful lighted backdrop to this window when it is put up.

Holiday Windows -
they are just such a treat to see. You can call and get your own.

Mindi Hall
(425) 223 - 6732
mindilhall@gmail.com

Happy Birthday to The Picaroon

Happy Birthday greetings from The Picaroon to The Picaroon - you have made it a year, baby!

The Picaroon has it's sun sign in Scorpio, as does the author of said blog, and because of that, we get along famously. Loyal sometimes to a fault, tendency to have a long memory for arcane information that not too many others are likely to be interested in and loves a good book, cup of tea and or coffee and is snap-happy in the photo department to a fault.

You are likely to catch this blog taking walks in the community, smiling at babies and petting dogs. The Picaroon loves color, isn't afraid of the deep and heavy stuff, and occasionally speaks out if the time for such discussions is right. Otherwise, just trying to spread a little local sunshine and cheer will do just fine.

The Picaroon is presently looking for gainful employment, as are too many these days, and would love something part time so as not to get in the way of studious endeavors (gotta learn that Photo Shop!) and community efforts. This could include being a Renton barrista (good coffee hand here), cleaning nearby homes, rearing children for a few hours or giving Reiki/and or creative and intuitive pep talks (a real strength). The Picaroon is also a dab hand at decoration, redecorating (think homes, offices, retail windows) and repair work of the fiber kind (clothing, etc.) It goes without saying that I could take photos at a gathering for you and of course, who hasn't waited tables or poured beer.Speaks Mandarin Chinese and has done marketing and led tours.
Most obvious - can help you begin to blog and use social media.

Respectful and fairminded folk need only respond,
as we are all equals in this daily struggle on planet earth.

ladypicaroon at gmail dot com

Make no "bones" about it, Halloween is on

One more house to go and get your "spook" on this coming Halloween. Yet another house on Williams between 3rd and 4th in North Renton that deserves your attention.

Many of the decorations are handmade by those that reside within this house turned cemetery. Ever year adds a a new layer of fun.

Bring the kids by for some coffin chilling action as the graveyard becomes "alive" just in time for the holiday.

Congrats to Dave and Evan for bringing their best game to the yard art for Halloween.

Presdidential aspirations begin at home - in Renton

When do our dreams begin? Where do we work out our aspirations to become the next president of the United States? How about at Talbot Hill Elementary School running for president? Olivia Davis ran a hard campaign. She had a website, she had signs and face painting. She had her proud Mom and brother out waving signs in her support the day of elections. Olivia's platform - Because she cares. Election results - stay tuned until tomorrow.

This news just in from Olivia's campaign headquarters:

Local reporters were on scene today to cover the election at Talbot Hill
Elementary School. It appears as if Presidential Candidate, Olivia Davis,
has quite a bit of support. Candidate Davis was upbeat in her assessment of
the election, stating that "I think it went great". Results from the
election will be tomorrow.

Autumn

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
as I have seen in one autumnal face

Autumn quote by John Donne

Our Museum is growing - wanna come play?

Renton History Museum is making a plan - incorporating new ideas, heading in new directions and taking on a whole new identity. You wanna come along and have a stake in what our present and future generations will see and say about our town's legacy? A little like "Killroy was Here", but more defined.

The museum has hired a professional planning firm, Gyroscope, Inc., to help with charting out a course for the museum for the next 15 years. This is not a "one size fits all" approach to consulting, but collaborating with a team of super creative consultants that want to work out specific options to fit our town's needs.

Please come and be a part of a hands on Informational Meeting on Thursday, October 22nd from 7 - 9pm and weigh in with your thoughts and ideas. The consulting firm will be sharing with us the research they have done on Renton, showing similar museums in other areas that are doing things that might be of interest, and some visual exercises will make the meeting more interactively dynamic and fun. Elizabeth Stewart, Director of Renton History Museum, promises that it will be a "cool process".

Consider this your chance to be a part of history making. Adding in your voice, your view for those present and future audiences of Renton history. YOU are the special spice that is needed to make this gathering a go.

What I might also remind you, is that this is a great way to come and see the museum if you have never taken the opportunity before. Don't be shy - no one will mind if it's your first time. Come take a peek at what has come before you on the hallowed grounds of Renton.

Renton History Museum
Informational Meeting with Gyroscope Inc and YOU

October 22, Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
235 Mill Ave. South, Renton WA 98057
425.255.2330 info@rentonhistory.org

Located one block south of the Renton Public Library
Parking available in the public lot behind the museum

Make Art in Renton at the Uptown Glassworks - for free

Uptown Glassworks in the DTR is hosting a free class to teach you how to blow glass - it's called Make Art in Renton. Iif you ever wondered if you would rock at this, now is your chance to work with the molten lavalike stuff that comes out of the glory hole - glass. As I write this - there were only 4 spots left in this rare opportunity on this Sunday, Oct. 18th. The times were 12 noon, 2:30, 4:00 and 4:30 - and there is a maximum of two people per time slot.

This is certainly a way to wet your glass blowing whistle, as a half an hour will surely not give you more than a glimpse in to this wonderful art. But what a great way to spend a portion of your weekend, while the winds cool us down and the temperatures continue to drop. Let me tell you, the glasswork's studio is always warm.

Renton is unique for having such a place to shop, let alone learn this ageless craft. Drop by regardless - they always have something new to show.
Uptown Glassworks
230 Main Ave. South
Renton WA 98057
(425) 228 - 1849

Jones Park gets a dose of Fall

Everywhere the new coating of fall colors begins to be worn. Here, Jones Park on Wells Street begins to get a new change of "leaf".

Storytime and squirrels

Storytime at the Renton Public Library is on - and Mira Schlegel is proudly sporting her storytime badge today. Ms. Lynar reported on this library happening over at her blog right here, and I just was loving the synchronicity of the squirrel theme over here at The Picaroon. Today's stories centered around this furry creature, much to all the kids delight and of course, to mine.

This squirrel visited my window ledge (the window that was open and without a screen, mind you) just this week. The ceramic squirrel was a gift because of the antics I got up to this past March with yet another squirrel.....

as seen here. Fall and it's attendant silliness is most certainly here folks. Make way for the bluster which is Autumn.