Halloween in the Northern Neck

For the last few years, maybe several, we have taken the kids down Main Street, Reedville, in Northumberland County.  Main Street is lined with beautiful painted ladies, many remodeled not too long ago.  There is one For Rent sign I saw today as I drove by to see the sights, and I am sure there are at least a couple For Sale.  The residents of these lovely Victorian homes take Halloween very seriously, as they make such an affair of Trick or Treating.  Almost every home has it's lights on and a big bowl of candy ready to share, and most of these homes are quite decorated with spooky outfitting.  One of my favorite houses has large eyes in the two upstairs dormers, giving the appearance that a house-sized monster lerks inside, spying on us as we approach the house!  My kids enjoy the house with the inflatable Haunted House in the front yard, as well as the inflated black cat and the coffin that opens up and has an undead sit up and howl at you.  These are just a couple of homes that stand out.  Another resident sets up a table and shares hot apple cider and home made goodies, cookies, and brownies!  On cold Halloween nights like tonight, hot apple cider sure does warm the heart!  A few doors down, a family sits together on their front porch, to greet the trick or treaters together, and also to witness the terror as a large stilted swamp thing immerges from the bushes and trees causing tiny princesses and superheros to scatter like roaches! Truly, Main Street in Reedville is a theatrical experience!  

Tonight though, we had different plans.  We had been asked by some very dear friends to help cart some kids around the Mila area, still in Northumberland, near Wicomico Church.  My husband had constructed a beautiful hayride for the local daycare in Burgess, Kingdom Kids, a few years ago.  We agreed to participate, and of course share the Cadillac Hayride!  The Mila Halloween was an equally satisfying event, although vastly different from the Main Street experience.  Hitched to a John Deer tractor, we hayrode around through the woods to countless homes, almost none were decorated, but most had their lights on and were expecting us!  This was our first hayride through Mila, but this tradition has been ongoing for many many years.  Then, a very unexpected surprise, we stopped at a house were not only the children jumped off, but the adults were expected to join as well.  The whole yard was lit up!  A long table stretched down the driveway, decked out in an orange table cloth, pumpkin themed candleabras, and witches.  White ghosts seemed to float in the garded, and a barrel fire roared, welcoming us to come warm ourselves.  The timing couldn't have been more perfect, as I had just gotten to the point where my feet and hands were aching in the cold.  Included in the spread was the famous clam chowder (I say famous because as we approached this haven, 3 separate people asked me if I liked clam chowder and then stated that this was the absolute best), jumbalaya, cheese spreads, hot dogs with chili and cheese, brownies, oh, and my favorite, HOT CHOCOLATE!!!!  Did I mention the timing couldn't have been better?!  The kids all enjoyed a healthy dinner, which is a great surprise, because I was certain people were only handing out junk food on this eve. Of course, the kids also received individually wrapped goodie bags, filled with candy, stickers, pensils and puzzles.  It just couldn't get any better! We enjoyed a great feast, and great company, until the rain set in.  Then we scurried back to the hayride and headed home, after two more stops for trick or treating, naturally!  As we approached the departure location, the teenage siblings to all these youngsters jumped out of the woods attacking our ride! This was something they had planned the whole time.  

Both of these experiences make Halloween ever so enjoyable to me, and to the kids.  All of these beautiful families experiencing this event, or rather, making this event with each other, is a great kick off to the up and coming holidays this season!

Happy Halloween to you all!!!!  :D