This 'n That Thursdays: Cozy Fall Night Routine Video (ASMR Animation)

If autumn is your favorite season and the idea of cozycore slow living appeals to you, then you will love this very short animated video from YouTube - it is adorable!  I have watched way too many fall slow living vlogs lately, and all of the essentials for a cozy autumnal evening show up in this video - hot beverage, hot bath, soothing skin care, fall décor, candles, snuggling in bed under a warm blanket while reading a good book - what's not to love?  And the animated star of the video is a cute kitty with a huge head!  Get ready for all the cute fall vibes here! 🍁🍂🐱☕️🛀📚🍂🍁

This 'n That Thursdays: Pig Caught On Camera Stealing Neighbors' Pumpkins | The Dodo

Happy Halloween, everyone!  I just watched this YouTube vlog post yesterday and had to share it - not only is this pig obsessed with Halloween pumpkins and jack o' lanterns, he also managed to grow his own pumpkin patch!  This is such a hilarious and heartwarming video, and it will make your day.  Enjoy! 🎃🐷🎃🐖🎃🐷🎃

Terrifying Tuesdays: Week Four of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s

From Amazon

Time for my final week of scary movie recommendations for the month.  First up is "The Shining" (1980), which is arguably the best known film adaptation of Stephen King's works.  You have two chances to watch it on BBC America on Halloween day, at 2:00 AM and then again at 1:30 PM on the east coast (check local listings for times in your area).   It is also available on a number of streaming services for a fee.

Next on my list is "The Sixth Sense" (1999), the first and probably best known scary movie from director M. Night Shyamalan.  Watch this movie on Halloween day as well, on FX at 8:00 PM on the east coast (again, check local listings for times in your area).  This film is also available on a number of streaming services for a fee.

Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" (1999) is in my opinion one of his best movies and also a great adaptation of the classic tale by Washington Irving.  While not available on TV before Halloween, it is coming up in early November on several networks, and is available on a number of streaming services, some with seven day free trials if you wish to go that route.  If so inclined, you can also read Irving's short story here.

"Tales from the Crypt" (1972), based on tales from mid-century horror fiction comics, is one of the earliest of many horror anthology movies from this time period, and is one of the better offerings.  Another plus for me is that it also stars Peter Cushing in one of the five segments!  This one is currently streaming for free (with ads) on Tubi, or watch it on YouTube here.

I tend to prefer horror films to science fiction, but "Total Recall" (1990) is in my opinion one of the better movies of the genre, not least because of two strong female characters.  The film is based on a short story by well known science fiction writer Philip K. Dick (which you can read here).  While not available for Halloween, you can watch the movie on IFC on November 9th.  It is also available on streaming sites for a price.

Next on the list is the creature feature "Tremors" (1990), which is a fun and effective blend of comedy and horror.  I could not find this one free online anywhere, but of course there are a number of streaming service options.

"Trilogy of Terror" (1975) is a different sort of horror anthology in that it stars actress Karen Black as the main character in all three tales, the most memorable of which is the last one featuring a killer doll.  All of these stories are based on original short works by science fiction author Richard Matheson.  You can watch this movie on YouTube here.

There are two more movie recommendations for my list this month, and I will add them to this post as soon as I put them on the list. This month seems to have flown by, so enjoy the remaining days to come, and have a fun Halloween! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Okay, the next film recommendation has been posted, and it is "The Uncanny" (1977), which is another horror anthology.  This one has three tales, all featuring cats, and I wish I could have posted it yesterday, which was National Cat Day!   Better a day late than never, though, so if you are an ailurophile, you can watch this movie on YouTube here.

My final movie recommendation for the month is yet another horror anthology (that makes a total of seven for the month!).  "The Vault of Horror" (1973) consists of five short stories told by five men who find themselves inexplicably stranded together in a building sub-basement.  This is admittedly not one of the best anthologies, but it is decent enough if you like this sort of film (as I do).  You can watch it on YouTube here.

And this is it for my October movie recommendations from the 1970s-1990s!  I hope you enjoy at least some of them, and I am already compiling my list for next year with movies from the 2000s.  Happy Halloween! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Foodie Fridays: Sparkling Cider, and a Couple of Quick and Easy Snacks for Spooky Season

Fall is my favorite season, and every year I buy a small jug of apple cider because I consider it to be a quintessential fall beverage.  Unfortunately, even though I love the idea of cider, I usually end up never  drinking it and giving it my husband instead (I have the same problem with hot chocolate in the winter - love the idea of it for the season but almost never drink it).  I rarely drink anything other than water or tea (hot or cold), so I find it hard to get out of my rut and have something different.

This year, however, I finally found a way to enjoy an occasional cider beverage.  We had such a prolonged warm season this year that the thought of hot cider was not appealing, so I decided to try it cold.  Since cider is so sweet I wanted to dilute it to reduce the sweetness, so I bought a bottle of sparkling mineral water.  What a delicious treat it turned out to be!  I am one of those oddballs who does not care for ice in drinks, but adding ice would make this an even colder drink, perfect for the far-too-hot autumn days we have been having until recently.  I also do not care for spiced cider, but for those who do it would be an interesting variation on the theme.  This beverage is so simple that a recipe is not really needed, but I will include one anyway since that is what I do in these posts!

Sparkling Cider

1 C. sparkling mineral water (I used this brand)
1/2 C. apple cider (plain or spiced, your choice)

If desired, add some ice to a tall glass.  Pour the mineral water into the glass first, then add the cider.  Stir if you feel the need, start sipping, and enjoy!  Serves 1.

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I never include more than one recipe in each of these posts, but decided to make an exception here to suggest a couple of quick and easy sweet and salty snack mixes to serve with your glass of Sparkling Cider.  The drink and snacks would be perfect for a family spooky movie night, either along with or instead of the ubiquitous bowl of popcorn (I wonder if combining the two snack mixes with the popcorn in one big bowl would be a good combination?).  If you are a football fan, I think these snack mixes would also be great to serve while watching a game, and the cider drink could work for anyone wishing to avoid alcoholic beverages.

Snack Mix #1 (on left in image above) - combine a bag of Snyder's Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzel Pieces with a 16-oz. jar of honey-roasted peanuts (any brand)

Snack Mix #2 (on right in image above) - combine a bag of Great Value Peanut Butter Flavored Trail Mix with a bag of Great Value Roasted & Salted Pecans

I rarely indulge in after dinner snacking, but for spooky season I think I could make an exception to the rule! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Week Three of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s

From Amazon

Week Three of my scary movie recommendations starts with "It" (1990), the television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.  I know that the 2017 film is considered very good and is highly recommended, but this version will always be my preference, as it stars many favorite actors from my younger days.  I could not find this free online, but it is available on several streaming sites for a price.

Is there anyone who has not seen or at least heard of the Steven Spielberg movie "Jaws" (1975)?  Based on the Peter Benchley novel of the same name, this film probably kept more people away from the beach than all other reasons combined (and also gave poor sharks a much worse reputation than they deserve).  The movie is always available on cable networks around the Fourth of July, but I could not find it online for free right now, although it is available on streaming sites.

If you are a fan of underwater horror movies, then you should enjoy "Leviathan" (1989).  Workers in a deep sea mining facility are just about to wrap up their mission when they discover the wreck of a Russian ship, with disastrous consequences.  While this one is not available for free online viewing right now, it will be streaming for free on Tubi starting November first.

For a completely different change of pace, watch Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993), a stop motion animated film which is an homage to both Christmas and Halloween!  Spooky and fun at the same time, this movie is suitable for all but the youngest viewers.  It can still be viewed on FreeForm's "31 Nights of Halloween", on October 27th at 5:40 PM and on Halloween Day at 4:40 PM (check your local listings for exact times).

From nightmares to the devil himself, my next movie choice is "The Omen" (1976), an absolutely chilling tale of a Satanic child.   A diplomat and his wife are expecting their first child, only to have it die at birth.  Unbeknownst to the mother, the hospital persuades the father to instead secretly adopt the son of a mother who just died.  After a few years, it becomes all too apparent that this switch was a very bad idea.  You can watch the film on YouTube here.

Next on my list is "Phantoms" (1998), based on a Dean Koontz novel of the same name.  While this movie does not generally receive high ratings, I like it because it is set in a small Colorado town and I first saw the movie when I lived in Colorado.  The setting reminds me of the small town of Ouray, which I passed through once but never had the chance to actually visit, although I would still like to some day.  I think it is very effective as a horror movie, and the concept is unique.  I could not find it available free online (except supposedly on Pluto TV but I could not get it to run) but it can be found on several streaming sites.

"Poltergeist" (1982) has been on the cable networks quite a bit this month - it is on AMC right now as I type this, and will be on BBC America on Saturday, October 26th/27th (6:15 PM/12:45AM on the east coast, so check your local listings for your area), as well as on many streaming services.  This is another movie that probably almost everyone has seen or heard of, but it is still worth re-watching even if you have seen it multiple times.

Last up for this week is "Predator" (1987), another movie that is most likely familiar to almost everyone.  This film can be watched on FX on October 24th at 7:00 AM and on October 28th at 8:00 AM on the east coast - check your local listings for times in your area.  You can also watch a rather mediocre copy on YouTube here.

Next week is Halloween week, so I will post descriptions of all of the remaining movies on my list, even the ones that will not have been added to the list yet, since I post on Tuesdays and Halloween in on a Thursday this year.  If you are a horror movie fan, from now until the end of the month you should be able to find a plethora of films to watch, so have fun and see you next week! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Weeks One and Two of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s, Part 2

 From Amazon

Welcome to Part Two of my scary movie recommendations for October.  Up next is "Deep Rising" (1998), a horrific but weirdly fun creature feature set on a stranded cruise ship.  I do not enjoy the ocean, and as a confirmed landlubber my idea of hell is being stuck on a cruise ship, so this film is especially scary for me!  You can watch this one on YouTube here.

If, like me, you find dolls to be profoundly creepy, then you will truly appreciate the terror of the movie "Dolls" (1987).  Six people find themselves suspiciously stranded near an old mansion with a storm approaching, and have no choice but to seek shelter there.  The elderly puppet maker and his wife seem hospitable enough, but the sheer number of dolls and puppets throughout the house is unnerving, and as the night progresses this unease proves to be justified. You can watch this movie on Dailymotion here.

Next in line for your viewing pleasure is "The Fog" (1980), a John Carpenter classic about the vengeful ghosts of a ship's crew who appear out of the fog to wreak havoc in a small coastal town, some of whose residents are descendants of those who were responsible for their tragic deaths.  You can watch it for free on TokyVideo here, but I strongly suggest you do not watch the 2005 remake, which is a major disappointment.

Believe it or not, I have another horror anthology to recommend (I told you this time period includes quite a few anthologies!).  "From Beyond the Grave" (1974) is in my opinion another one of the better offerings - I actually think that all four of the short stories are equally well done.  And as a big fan of Peter Cushing, I was pleased to see that he plays a pivotal role in this film.  I could not find this one free online, but it is available on a few streaming sites.

For a more lighthearted film, my next choice is "Galaxy Quest" (1999), which shamelessly parodies the original Star Trek television series, but in a mostly affectionate way.  While the movie is not especially scary, the space alien villains are hideous and nasty, so I feel I can include it here.  This is another film that is available on streaming sites but not for free anywhere online that I can find.

The final movie for Week Two is "Ghostbusters" (1984), another fun and not too scary movie about a team of scientists who decide to specialize in removing pesky ghosts for a (substantial) fee, coincidentally at the same time that an evil force has caused spooks to run wild in New York City.  A new sequel to this long-running franchise was just released this year, so the original has been available for viewing on multiple streaming sites, as well as cable television networks on occasion.

Okay, that's it for now, and next week I will (hopefully) remember to cover the movie recommendations for Week Three! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Weeks One and Two of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s, Part 1

From Walmart

Since I forgot to post about my recommendations for last week, this week I will quickly run through the films for the past two weeks. Without further ado, let's get started!  I reviewed my first choice on the list in a previous post, so today we start with the second movie listed, which is the horror anthology "Asylum" (1972).  In general, horror anthologies do not get much love, and for good reason, as some if not all of the included short tales can be less than perfect.  However, I personally feel that, if done right, the horror genre can be more effective in a shorter format as it can be difficult to maintain the proper amount of unease and terror for the entire length of a movie or novel.  The best movie horror anthology in my opinion is "Dead of Night" (1945), which showcases some of the best short horror fiction in its vignettes, but I think "Asylum" is one of the better offerings as well.  You can watch it for free on YouTube here and decide for yourself if you agree:

"Beetlejuice" (1988) is up next and surely needs no introduction, as the sequel was just released recently and the original has been available for viewing on multiple sites.  I have yet to see the new movie, but always enjoy watching the first one as I find it highly entertaining.  I am probably also one of the few to find Delia Dietz's house remodel to be far preferable to the Maitlands' bland style!

"The Blair Witch Project" (1999) is notable as one of the first found footage horror movies and the one that popularized the style.  Despite its limited budget the movie became quite a hit.  It is available for viewing on several streaming services, but not for free.

I love a good ghost story, and "The Changeling" (1980) is considered by many to be one of the best.  A New York composer (George C. Scott) loses his wife and daughter in a horrific car accident, prompting him to move to the West Coast to escape his tragic memories.  He rents an old mansion and soon comes to find that it is haunted, but by whom, and why?  If you want to find out, you can watch the film on YouTube here.

For a completely different change of pace, "Creature" (1985) is a space alien film obviously inspired by the movie "Alien" (1972), which was my first recommendation on this list.  Even so, I find the two movies to be just different enough to like both.  Watch this one on YouTube here and see what you think (assuming that you have already seen "Alien", which is not available free online).

The 1970s-1990s was a great time period for horror anthologies, and "Creepshow" (1982) may be the one best known to most people.  This is one of those anthologies where the quality of each segment is variable (I definitely have my favorite and least favorite of the five offerings), but the good ones are very good so I do enjoy this movie.  A couple of interesting facts - the film was directed by George Romero and several of the stories were written by Stephen King.  Also, most of the filming was done in and around the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area (even in my hometown, as I grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb, so I have a special fondness for this film).  I could not find this one free online, but it is available on several streaming sites, including Shudder.  Interestingly, "Creepshow 2" (1987) is available on YouTube here, and there is some disagreement among horror enthusiasts as to whether the sequel is better or worse than the first film.

The next movie on the list is "Cube" (1997), which is an early version of the more recent escape room movies.  Seven people find themselves trapped in a chamber of constantly shifting cube-shaped rooms, some of which are booby-trapped, with no memory of how they came to be there.  They must find a way to escape without getting killed, but the potentially fatal rooms are not the only danger they face.  I like to think of this movie as an example of mathematical horror, because these people must solve a complex mathematical problem to escape, and what could be more horrifying than being forced to do math?  You can watch the movie on YouTube here.

Since this post is getting rather long, I am separating it into two, so this one will be followed by another covering the movie recommendation for Week Two.  See you there! 👽👻🎃💀👿