Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Tag: October

  • October 19 and 20 – Creepy Reads

    October 19 and 20 – Creepy Reads

    Do you ever read a book and it isn’t necessarily scary but it just leaves you with a skin crawling feeling of creepy? These are not always horror books, but are the books that just keep you on edge and leave you uncomfortable even after the book is done. Here are some of the books that have done this for me:

    Mexican Gothic was one of my favorite reads for 2019/2020, but it absolutely left me with some major icky creepies. This is the story of Noemi who is sent to retrieve her cousin after she receives a missive from the cousin claiming that her husband is trying to poison her. She heads to High Place to find her cousin is quite ill, the house is covered in mushrooms, and everything about this home is creepy. I cannot recommend this book higher, but be prepared for the effects to linger.

    Geek Love is the story of a traveling carnival who goes to extreme lengths to create children who can fill their freak show. The book is so good, but just leaves you with this feeling of bleagh.

    Palahniuk was barely scraping the surface of wild in Fight Club and that is never more obvious than in Haunted. The plot is a “writers group” gets locked into a old Theatre and becomes a social experiment. I have whole scenes from this book that I will never forget. Not for the faint of heart, but a truly creepy read.

    The story of an adult man who “falls in love” with a 12 year old girl, gets rid of her mother, and makes himself the girl’s guardian so they can “be together”. Everything about this book is cringy, creepy and leaves you feeling icky.

    The one that started it all. I read this book at an age that was far too young, probably 10. Certainly I was not prepared for child abuse, starvation, incest, rape, and one incredibly graphic scene after being force fed castor oil. Yeah…not horror but horrific.

    This is my list of the creepiest books I have ever read. Have you read any of these? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you have books you would add?

    Here is the video for Halloween Countdown day 19:

    And from the 20th:

  • October 12 – My October Bucket List Review

    • Witch Walk 2022
    • Dark Market 2022
    • Carve a Pumpkin
    • Go to a Halloween Party
    • Celebrate our 10th anniversary
    • Attend Ren Faire at least once a weekend
    • Tales from the Crypt at Green Lawn Abbey
    • Finish and upgrade Mothman Costume for Faire
    • Read 4 books
    • Create a great basket for my spooky basket buddy
    • Have a fire and make smores
    • Send out Halloween Cards
    • Complete the Lionarts Tarot Challenge for October

    I have added a couple of items and I am working on some of these but one is down.

    Halloween countdown for the 12th:

  • Completed: October Things To Do

    Completed: October Things To Do

    I successfully completed everything on my October To Do List. It was a wonderful month and I am going into November with new goals and expectations. I decided to do NaNoWriMo but I am doing it differently this year by commiting to a poem a day for the month of November rather than a word count. I will still track on the site, so if you are interested in following along I am BetsySnowWhite.

    I have other plans that will solidify over the next couple of days that I will share when they take shape.

    Thank you for sharing Blogtober with me!

    • Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Final Weekend: Wearing my new witch hat and having a blast with my friends.
    • Spooky Basket Exchange #1 – finish up and mail out: I need to finish a craft, box everything up and mail out.
    • Medieval Monster Mash at The Forge: Social distanced and monster themed. Our table is Witch themed. And Jameson’s Folly will be performing.
    • Spooky Basket Exchange – Duchess Edition: The ladies of the Duchess Squad will be exchanging baskets. Mine is purchased but needs assembled.
    • Give out candy for Beggar’s Night – Safely. I will figure it out.
    • Hallowest 1: Virginia West and Krystal Something Something co-writing and starring in the first Halloween performance at District West.
    • 2020 Witch Walk : My friend’s Kristan and Susan created this event a couple of years ago. We meet up at Goodale Park and then walk through the Short North dressed as witches.
    • Lady Gang Halloween at Carol’s: It’s Halloween and the Full Moon. We can’t let this go past without celebration.
    (more…)
  • Witch Walk 2020

    Witch Walk 2020

    On Halloween around the stroke of Noon, witches descended upon Goodale Park in Columbus Ohio in order to make merry and celebrate the Day. After grabbing a group picture we began walking down High Street in the Short North wishing a Happy Halloween to all we encountered. We stopped at Prologue Bookstore for some of our witchy companions to purchase tomes, and then at Roaming Goat Coffee to get a Mocha Latte for myself. We continued across the street to Rocket Fizz for old fashioned candy and novelties (I bought a racing possum!). We passed a salon where we waved to a fellow witch who was giving a blow out to a client.

    We stopped to grab a bite at The Eagle where I ordered a Grilled Cheese that features three kinds of cheese and apples, yum! It came out in the shape of a heart. Aww! Next a trip to Torso where I purchased a mask that says “Witch Please”, a gorgeous rhinestone mask and a bracelet that matched my witchy garb. A quick run back to prologue and then we made a stop at Bakersfield for a Margarita and a $3 shot of Hornitos.

    We witches can make a day of it!! Happy Haunting my friends until next year!

  • Did I Need a Skull Tiara?

    The answer to this query is no. Did I buy a skull tiara? You know full well I did. Is it blingy to hell and covered in clear gemstones? Yep. Was it less that $30? It was…which is why I just couldn’t resist.

    Me wearing a tiara made up of a series of small skulls.

    I also recently got a new grouping of bath bombs and my first bath potion from Witch Baby Soap. I had never tried the bath potion before. I bought it in Little Boo which smells like Pumpkin, Marshmallow and crisped rice. Add a cap full or two to your bath water and it not only smells wonderful, but you get a bath full of bubbles! I love it! I was already in love with their bath bombs but now I will have to invest in bath potions as well.

    Here’s to treating yourself to Spooky Halloween Treats!

  • Spooky Box Sent…no true spoilers

    My gift for my partner in the Spooky Basket Exchange went out today, and because the box is so cute I thought I would share. I seriously doubt that my partner reads this but just in case this is the only spoiler.

    How cute it that? It is also filled with goodies and on its way. I kinda want to go get one for myself. My second exchange is Sunday, so more Spooky Basket goodness to come. 👻

  • Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Final Weekend

    Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Final Weekend

    Saturday was the final day of the Ohio Renaissance Festival’s Magical Days, Madrigal Nights and it was an absolutely magical day. For this final adventure it was just me and my friend, fellow wench and lady gang member, Susan.

    We arrived about 3:30 and almost immediately ran into friends who were attending for the first time this year (I managed 4 out of 5 somehow). We arranged some custom pieces from the glass artist, recruited several new wenches with any luck, sat and spoke to friends, sang a bit, conferred with witches and ended singing incredibly anachronistic songs at the pub sing in the Three Fools. It was a beautiful end to the season that wasn’t, but also kinda was. Here’s a health to the Company…

  • 10 Strange Spooky Facts About Me

    1. I have eight or nine different witch hats. Possibly more.
    2. I collect bones, skulls and such. I even have an alligator skull I inherited.
    3. I was recently told that I have a young boy spirit around me by a friend. It was strange, but cool.
    4. I once hyperventilated so hard at a haunted house when I was 12 that they had to carry me out screaming at the actors to leave me alone.
    5. I have a fluffy black cat named Samhain (Sam for short)
    6. I did my beginner’s acting class actor profile on Bela Lugosi.
    7. I love cemeteries and have considered studying funerary art.
    8. I have had 5 weird bat encounters in my life. (I may tell these stories later.)
    9. When I was little (4-5) I wandered in at just the wrong time on Nightmare on Elm Street, inhaled a nacho and had to be given the Heimlich.
    10. After my Grandmother died she returned to talk to me in a series of dreams, including one where she prepared me to deal with my Grandpa getting ill and having to help him and call an ambulance. It was intense and much appreciated.

    What are some spooky facts about you?

  • Things To Do: October Edition

    Things To Do: October Edition

    I have done these lists in the past and they are fun, and I like to see what I have to look forward to the rest of the month.

    • Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Final Weekend: Wearing my new witch hat and having a blast with my friends.
    • Spooky Basket Exchange #1 – finish up and mail out: I need to finish a craft, box everything up and mail out.
    • Medieval Monster Mash at The Forge: Social distanced and monster themed. Our table is Witch themed. And Jameson’s Folly will be performing.
    • Spooky Basket Exchange – Duchess Edition: The ladies of the Duchess Squad will be exchanging baskets. Mine is purchased but needs assembled.
    • Give out candy for Beggar’s Night – Safely. I will figure it out.
    • Hallowest 1: Virginia West and Krystal Something Something co-writing and starring in the first Halloween performance at District West.
    • 2020 Witch Walk : My friend’s Kristan and Susan created this event a couple of years ago. We meet up at Goodale Park and then walk through the Short North dressed as witches.
    • Lady Gang Halloween at Carol’s: It’s Halloween and the Full Moon. We can’t let this go past without celebration.
  • Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Part 2

    Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Part 2

    My husband and I’s 8th wedding anniversary was on the 6th. To celebrate we bought feast tickets to the Magical Days, Madrigal Nights event happening at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. We also decided to indulge and do the Witches of Willy-Nilly Whiskey Tasting.

    The Whiskey Tasting was fun and delicious, for $35 per person you get 7 shots of whiskey including a premium shot. The girl seated beside me, Becca, was absolutely adorable and we had a blast toasting and fist bumping our way through the drinks. My favorite was the black barrel, as was Seth’s but there honestly wasn’t a bad one in the mix. The witches sang an amazing conjuration song, and regaled us with whiskey facts as we got drunker and drunker, oops. I gave out several cards for the IWG to fun ladies, and I hope they join us.

    We met up with some other wenches after that and walked around to kill time. We got soft serve (with sprinkles), I bought a walking stick/crook, and we had a nice conversation with the glass artists about commissions and cats.

    Then we headed back to the feast. While we were waiting I snapped a picture of an adorable gnome and got my photo taken with the witches who I just love!

    The feast was delicious, but I forgot to take photos of the food. There was entertainment throughout including the faire’s improv troop made up mayhem, the queen’s choice singers, the witches and the pirates. It was very entertaining, and once the feast was over we headed home.

    These Magical Day, Madrigal Night events are not exactly like a ren faire day, but they keep the spirit alive. Huzzah!!