Is it too early...

Scene from last year's party

...to start decorating for Halloween?

Not in this house! First of all I am a fanatic when it comes to changing the house for the seasons. Every bird and nest must be carefully packed up until next spring, kind of like a little flight south for the winter.

Then comes the complete transformation from warm weather to cooler weather and fall colors to compliment my homes decorations. What it will be this year is just coming together in my head.

The biggest reason for wanting to get the ball rolling is because my neighbor hosts an annual Halloween Party and hires me to assist her in both decorating and creating the theme for each year.

This is the time when invitations go out and boy do we a great plan in place. I can't divulge it until after the recipients get their packages. What I can show you is how sent out the invitations last year.

We ordered small Chinese take out boxes and filled them with shredded paper. Inside each box was a bloody, chopped off finger wrapped in gauze.

If you were worried that we hurt someone in the process of making these invitations, you are correct.

We hurt our children's feeling because they were not allowed to eat any of the fingers until we were done with the project.

The invitation was produced on crepe paper with the edges slightly burnt to resemble an old piece of paper.

After putting them all together we set out deliver them to each party goer. This was the most fun since we got to play "ding dong ditch".

With my minivan doors open we drove up to the houses, snuck quietly to the front door, dropped the package, rang the doorbell and ran like h-e-double toothpicks.

The funniest part was us flying into the open van door and fleeing the scene laughing our butts off.

I promise this years delivering will be more frightful and fun filled. Stay tuned...next week sometime we will be announcing the party.

PS...I have some great Halloween Wands in the making and should have them ready by the weekend!